In May of 2007, Jeff Shotwell,Trent Tice, and the Durant Basketball Program started an organization called “Success 101”. The goal of the Success 101 program was to help our student-athletes redefine our culture’s overwhelmingly selfish definition of what it means to be successful. Our culture’s definition of success deals mostly with what we gain and accomplish for ourselves. Things such as what type of car we drive and how big our houses are tend to take precedence over what we do for others. Success 101 has tried to shift that perspective and help our athletes realize that success has much more to do with what you do for others than anything else.
Success 101 hosts regular workshops with our players and their parents to discuss topics pertinent to teens. Coach John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” is the centerpiece of the Success 101 curriculum. Along with that, guest speakers are invited to share their personal stories with our kids at each workshop.
Also, the student-athletes are given regular opportunities to serve their communities by helping to raise money and donate time to various organizations and families in need.
Click here to read about "Success 101" in the news.
During the 2009-2010 school year the concepts of the "Success 101" program inspired the creation of a club called "Success for Student Athletes". Under the direction of Trent and Kristen Tice, Jamin Hollingsworth, Matt Wright, Kyla Donlevy, Kelly Cook and Jessica Brower the transition of "Success 101" from an after school program to an officially recognized school club was a successful one. Now, the foundation of principles that was created by "Success 101," will be continued by "Success for Student Athletes."
In less than two years, the Success 101 program has raised over $17,000 for various organizations and families. The following is a list of the charity work and fundraising that the Success 101 Program has done.
1. Raised $500 to send a local family that experienced a tragedy (The father of two Durant HS students was killed in a motorcycle accident) on a three night beach vacation to the Helmsley Sandcastle Resort on Lido Key in Sarasota.
(May 2007)
2. Fed homeless people in downtown Tampa every Wednesday night during the
Summer of 2007. On one occasion we collected over 80 pairs of shoes to distribute. We regularly cleaned our closets of clothes and other useful items to give to the homeless. On most of the Wednesday’s, our boys were helping to feed over 120 people.
(Summer 2007)
3. Raised exactly $101 (ironic being that our organization is called Success 101) during school lunch periods for the Jimmy V Cancer Research Foundation.
(October 2007)
4. Raised over $500 through T-Shirt sales to send softballs, bats and gloves to troops stationed in Iraq.
(November 2007)
5. Raised over $900 in less than 4 days to purchase games and toys for All Children’s Specialty Clinic in Tampa. Delivered the gifts personally on December 27th.
(December 2007)
6. Raised $3400 in two weeks for All Children’s Hospital to purchase two medical teaching puppets and for the start up costs of The Clouds of Hope Foundation .
(March 2008)
7. Raised $1500 during the 2008 Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game. That money was used to award the first annual Success 101 Scholarship Awards. We awarded one Durant student $1000 who is now attending LSU. And awarded another student $500 who is now attending USF in Tampa.
(May 2008)
8. Raised $1650 for the Giving Hope Through Faith Foundation which uses its funds to help support parents of children with terminal illnesses.
(August 2008)
9. Raised $6800 for the Summer Moll Trust Fund. Summer Moll is a four year old girl who was seriously injured by a drunk driver in Tampa. Summer’s mother was killed in the accident. All proceeds went to Summer’s trust fund to help pay for rehabilitation.
(October 2008)
10. Raised over $700 for Everyday Blessings. Everyday Blessings is a foster home in Thonotosassa that supports children of all ages who have been taken from their abusive parents. The money was spent on items such as diapers, cleaning supplies, books and other needed items.
(December 2008)
11. Raised over $1100 for All Children’s Specialty Clinic of Brandon for toys, games and books to be used in the rehabilitation process of sick and injured children.
(December 2008)
12. Raised over $1300 during the 2009 Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game. All the mony raised was donated to "Family First," a non-profit organization who's mission is to strengthen the family by establishing family as a top priority in people's lives and by promoting principles for building marriages and raising children. For more information about Family First, please visit their website.
(May 2009)