Our Background

AYO began in May 2004 with a grant from the Iddings Family Foundation to launch the Tiger Woods Start Something Program. Using the Tiger Woods Start Something Program as a teaching and training tool, the AYO programming quickly grew in response to the high demand for youth after school mentoring and entrepreneurship training.

In 2007, AYO developed a 36 week entrepreneurship program, which includes business and technology curriculums. The Youth Entrepreneurship program helps bridge the gap between academics and real world entrepreneurial experience with a supportive environment that includes local business advisors and mentors. In collaboration with local businesses during our 48 week entrepreneurship training we motivate students to stay in school, stay out of trouble and visit local businesses and institutions, which would otherwise be impossible.

February 2008 16 student’s ages 12-19 successfully complete the Tiger Woods Start Something Program

May 14 – 17, 2008, in collaboration with Dayton Design Technology high School we took 12 students and three adults to the Black Enterprise Conference in Charlotte, NC. This conference provided the youth EXPOSURE and the opportunity to have an interaction with other youth and business executives.

September 2008, Dr. Kurt Stanic, Superintendent Dayton Public Schools received a presentation of the AYO Youth Entrepreneurship Training Program and stated that the AYO Youth Entrepreneurship after school training program would be good for the Dayton Public Schools.

In January 2011, Mr. Jones met with Dr. Carole Hardeman at Langston University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and discussed the potential for a collaborative training initiative.  This meeting led to Dr. Hardeman accepting to serve as the FOUNDATION Board Chair.

March 2011, Dr. Hardeman presented the collaborative concept to the Superintendent of Millwood Arts Academy Middle School and Langston University. A collaborative agreement was formed with Millwood Arts Academy Middle school and progress on-going with Langston University.

On April 7, 2011, Dr. Hardeman, and William T. Pollard, Jr., the Foundation Board Co-Chair participated in a joint program development meeting at Langston University

July, 2011, Dr Jeanette Jones, Professor/Director Center for Biomedical, Behavioral and Environmental Health Research at Alabama A&M University joined our National Development Team to chair the STEM after school training program

July, 2011, Dr, Arthur Thomas, Former Central State University President, Currently Program Manager at Morgan State University joined our National Development Team to support Alliance Development.

October 21,2011 Grady Davis, a member of our National Development Team made a brief president on the Foundation to General Electric Management Group.

October 27, 2011, The Foundation received a partnership offer from NASA to improve our after school STEM training.