KABC News: Nonprofit Starts Watts Kids on Road to College
By Lori Corbin, KABC News | Read it on KABC NEWS
Monday, July 24, 2017
In order for children to be good in sports and make a team, they have to be good in education. Coach Derek says all it takes is for parents to read to their kids about 21 minutes a night. (KABC)
Even though it's a hot and sticky day in Watts, Coach Derek Locklear and his team are giving kids a little extra time with sport skills and studies.
"So we work with the teachers to help those children who really, really need extra special help," said Locklear.
Locklear's "Coach Derek" program is successful, but it's his "Let's Give Them a Shot" program that he is most passionate about.
It's a non-profit that gives second graders and older kids help in the classroom as well as on the field.
Jerson Ramirez, who went through Locklear's coaching program, grew up in South Los Angeles, so he understands the challenges of growing up in the area.
"I don't want to blame the teachers, but sometimes they don't hire people who have the experience, the time," said Ramirez, who enjoys teaching.
"We're meeting children in the second, third and fourth grade that just don't know their letters. If you don't know your letters, then how are you going to read?" asked Locklear.
In order for children to be good in sports and make a team, they have to be good in education. Coach Derek says all it takes is for parents to read to their kids about 21 minutes a night.
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From a Dream
Underprivileged Children
Derek Locklear, owner of Coach Derek Inc., founded Let’s Give Them a Shot with the vision of creating a program that would serve underprivileged children in at-risk neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area.
At-Risk Community
Due to low resources and limited funds, this at-risk population is missing what every child deserves; the opportunity to learn and play with quality instruction and equipment.
A study reported in the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport finds that disadvantaged children may fall short in basic motor skills: "The vast majority of underprivileged preschoolers who were tested scored below the 30th percentile of children across the U.S... That ranking is considered developmentally disabled."
Being the Best They Can Be
Throughout the Let’s Give Them A Shot program, children learn sports skills, game rules, and life lessons such as teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership, as well as being the best they can be individually and collectively.
Our Mission
Young people who succumb to risk factors are often unable to find a helping hand; are without a caring adult who can offer a positive alternative. Let’s Give Them A Shot offers positive, non-competitive sports instruction within the at-risk community.
Our mission
Let's Give Them a Shot
Let's Give Them a Shot is a non-profit organization that helps kids get the sports instruction they need regardless of whether or not they can afford it. Derek Locklear's goal is to teach and reach as many children as he can through sports programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body.
LGTS News
Radio Interview
Coach Derek: Interview on Sheldon Eskin Show
Sheldon Eskin interviews Coach Derek Locklear, founder of Coach Derek Inc. along with Let's Give Them A Shot!. Coach Derek's goal is to teach and reach as many children as he can through sports. He subscribes to the belief that teaching the fundamentals of sports enriches children at all levels, ages and skills. These are things that last beyond the end of the game.
Listen to the Interview Now
Hermosa Beach Reporter
Want to play sports? Spend some time with a book first
By Daniella Segura, The Beach Reporter | Read it on Hermosa Beach Reporter
Tuesday, August 3, 2017
When Derek Locklear started the nonprofit, Let's Give Them a Shot, 13 years ago, he thought he would simply be bringing sports instruction to kids in at-risk areas in Los Angeles who couldn't afford it.
After a few years, Locklear, better known as Coach Derek in the South Bay, noticed a problem he couldn’t ignore: Many of his athletes were struggling in school because they had trouble reading.
Now, in a new after school program in Watts, students learn different sports, like baseball, soccer, basketball and football. However, the program is focused first and foremost on literacy.
Before being released to the field or court, children must read for 21 minutes with a volunteer or coach.
"Our job at Let's Give Them a Shot is to pick up the children that have been left behind," Locklear said. "The solution was reading and I couldn't ignore that."
So, Locklear created a branch of Let's Give Them a Shot called the Alpha Leadership Academy at 112th Elementary in Watts. The program takes the bottom 20 percent of second graders and puts them into an after school program.
"We can teach them how to play sports all day long, and they may be really good at soccer, basketball or baseball, but if they can't read, it's all going to be for naught, because they're not going to be in school anyway," Locklear said...
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LGTS Program
Alpha Leadership Academy
Afterschool Programming for At Risk Elementary Schools
Celebrating our 2nd year of Alpha Leadership Academy powered by 'Let's Give Them Shot' at the 2017 Volunteer celebration at Centerfield Media. LGTS says thank you to Centerfield Media for their donations both of their time and monetary contributions.
LGTS Program
Alpha Leadership Academy
Afterschool Programming for At Risk Elementary Schools
- Alpha Leadership Academy tests Reading and Math skills early and often, instilling a program that keeps our kids on track.
- Improving the Parent-Child Relationship
- Alpha Leadership Academy uses uplifting, positive talk with students in our program.
- Engaging whole families encourages positive behavior both in and out of school settings.
LGTS Video
This Is Let's Give Them A Shot
When Derek Locklear lost his dream of being a pro athlete, he gained a new opportunity. His nonprofit now brings free sports to underprivileged children.
Watch the Video Here
LGTS New Sponsor
Wells Fargo
We are proud to announce Wells Fargo as a sponsor to and
for Lets Give Them A Shot!
LGTS at the
Rod Dedeaux Foundation Ceremony
(Left to Right) LGTS Assistant Program Director Patrick Fusaro, Founder Coach Derek, Chairman of the Board Bill Bergstrom
Donate To Let's Give Them a Shot Now On
Amazon Smile
What is AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. You can choose Let's Give Them a Shot!
Check Out Amazon Smile Now
(Click on above photo for larger image)
Learn more about us...
How We Help...
We bring fundamental sports instruction in Basketball, Soccer and Baseball to children age 5-12 in areas where children would otherwise not have the means to participate.
We use athletics as a vehicle to give young people a stronger sense of self-esteem and provide lessons about sportsmanship and interacting with others that last far beyond their time on the field or court.
Donate
We currently offer two different ways to donate to Let’s Give Them A Shot.
Testimonials
Find out what some of the key people involved in Let’s Give Them a Shot have to say about the LGTS program.
Fundraisers
Our Annual Poker Tournament & Silent Auction Fundraiser was a huge success for underprivileged kids served by Let’s Give Them a Shot. LGTS Fundraisers
