The Courtney S. Crooms Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that was established to recognize the academic, athletic, and civic accomplishments of highly-motivated female student-athletes. It was founded in 2006 by the mother and father of its namesake after her tragic passing in a motor vehicle accident. Courtney Crooms was a 14 year old with a special talent that drew the attention of several high school coaches. One institution showing particular interest was Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy (SACA). With a 3.5 GPA, Courtney was offered a full, four-year academic and athletic scholarship by SACA Athletic Director Mr. Dwight Howard Sr. Tragically, on June 25, 2006, her life was cut short while returning from a basketball sporting event; however, her legacy lives on through her foundation.
The CSCF is committed to service within the community, operates at the highest level of integrity, and is a member in good standing of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits. Equally important to note, the foundation is NOT a basketball team or club. The foundation sponsors an annual memorial girls’ basketball tournament in which these young student athletes can showcase their athletic prowess. The foundation seeks to acknowledge, reward and impact the lives of young ladies at the grassroots level; promoting the importance of personal growth, good study habits, and the significance of an ongoing commitment to community service.
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Since our inception, the foundation has awarded 17 grants to well deserving young ladies, and given over $22,500 to nonprofit girls basketball programs. Some thoughts to ponder before you submit your application: Did I do my due diligence and include everything that was asked of me; will the voting members see me before they view my picture and what makes me stand out above the rest. we as an organization have strived to reinforce our message that The CSC Annual Memorial Event is not a Shootout, Exposure TRN, State National, Super Regional or even a Boo Williams event; but a “MEMORIAL” Basketball TRN Fundraiser. An event where young female student-athletes and their respective AAU, YBOA, High School, Rec League or church teams, come to pay tribute and remember the short-lived life of a 14-yr old girl named Courtney Shaley Crooms who had “Big Dreams” of one day financially supporting girl’s basketball teams and programs across the country, and how she lost her life returning from TRN competition in the very sport and game she sought to impact and change. While the award money given at the end of each championship game is part of that dream, the actual TRN itself is another part of that dream coming to fruition to assist with the grants she dreamed of one day giving. This Annual Memorial is just that a “MEMORIAL!”
Specifically for this event a group of female basketball players who meet the same requirements as our grantees are selected and assembled to form the Courtney S. Crooms (or CSC) team. Under the tutelage of the foundation coaching staff, this group of girls suit up and run the floor in Courtney’s honor and compete as part of the annual tournament that bears her name. The team’s colors are blue, black and white; the colors of the team and university (Duke Lady Blue Devils) where Courtney desired to play and attend. A reminder that they are playing for a cause; a cause that reinforces and continues Courtney’s vision of changing the game for female athletes.
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**Courtney would have been a part of the graduating Class of 2010, which makes 2010 our first graduating class of grantees since our inception. We are proud to say that 100% of our recipients from this class have graduated high school AND 100% have gone on to institutions of higher learning by way of academic scholarship, athletic scholarship…or both! This is a wonderful accomplishment for the grantees and their families, an excellent investment (by any standard) of resources by the foundation, and a promising impact on our communities.** (See Grantees tab for details)
The Courtney S. Crooms Foundation Grant
2015
GRANT CRITERIA
Submission dates Dec 1, 2014 (opening date) – Feb 27, 2015 (closing date)
- Must be a U.S. citizen and a legal resident of the State of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia or Alabama.
- Must be a female high school freshman through senior between the ages of 14 through 18.
- Must be a member of a legitimate team/club within the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), Youth Basketball of America (YBOA) organizations, or “High School team.â€
- Must have a “B†grade point average (3.0) or higher on a 4.0 GPA scale
- Must submit an essay: include a full-length “Digital†color photo in your team uniform (preferably an action shot). No less than 400 words about yourself, your interests, and your goals after high school.
- Must have five (5) letters of recommendation: two academic, with one from a current and one from a previous year teacher; two athletic; and one of community/civic-related service or from a guidance counselor stating specific volunteer activities within the school.Letters of recommendation must include the date, contact information (e.g. phone & email), position/title and signature.
- Must submit an official “sealed†transcript of currently enrolled classes which clearly states GPA and letter grade earned.
- Must have participated in a social or civic-related activity within the last 12 months: e.g., church auxiliary, community-based program, and/or volunteer related activity.
- A mandatory interview (via conference call) for all applicants identified as finalists
—We highly recommend that application packets be submitted early. Any incomplete packets, or packets postmarked on the closing date, and/or received (via standard or E-mail) after the closing date will not be viewed or accepted.
—All packets are reviewed within one month after the closing date. Grant finalists [only] will be notified by mail between 30-40 days after submission deadline and a telephone interview via conference call is mandatory for all finalists being considered.
—Absolutely no phone or email inquiries in regards to packet receipt. Additionally, do not send via certified or overnight mail. If receipt confirmation is desired, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your transcript/packet.
—Applicants with a medically diagnosed learning disability (and who meet the other requirements) may apply with a G.P.A. of 2.0 or higher. (Physician documentation is required.)
—Applicants may reapply so long as they continue to meet established criteria and foundation guidelines.
*Packets (submitted in PDF format) and digital photos may be submitted via E-mail as email attachments; however, all sealed transcripts MUST be submitted by standard mail.
(Email to: Mcrooms@c-cfoundation.org or Lbrooks-kennedy@c-cfoundation.
Once grant recipients have been chosen head coaches will be contacted for applicable fees. Any false or misleading information given to the foundation regarding registration or scheduled tournament fees (on behalf of a player) will result in all current and future funding being withheld for players under said coach. The foundation will make every effort to track teams’ tournament participation.