About
What Is It?
An adaptive program for those with a variety of medical, developmental, and intellectual challenges, where all can participate in sports, aided by Buddies, in an inclusive, safe, and protected environment.
Help Needed:
Buddies help their challenged partners, enabling them to participate in football, basketball, or cheer. Other volunteers may help with check-in or with other tasks. Please visit the Challenger website for COVID-related updates.
Details
Minimum Age to Volunteer
Volunteers must be in high school.
Time Commitment
There are approx. 5 football games, on weekday evenings or on Saturdays in September-November. There are approx. 3 basketball games, on Saturdays in January / February.
Training Needed
For this Challenger program, high school Buddies must be football, basketball, or cheer team members at the partner schools/programs: Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, St. Thomas High School, Episcopal High School, St. Agnes Academy, Duchesne Academy, Incarnate Word Academy, and Southwest Football League.
If you’d like to volunteer at check-in or in other capacities, please contact Joni Hruska Fichter (below).
Help Needed
BE A FOOTBALL / BASKETBALL / CHEER BUDDY
A Buddy’s job is simply to be a friend, engage the participant in conversation, if possible; help him/her participate in the sport; help keep his/her attention on the game; and make sure that the players are safe.
Contact Details
Contact
Joni Hruska Fichter
Email: challengersportshouston@gmail.com
There is also a Contact Us form on the Challenger website.
Location
CHALLENGER FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, & CHEER
Location Details
Varies. Recent host campuses were Strake Jesuit, St. Thomas High School, Southwest Football League (South Campus Sports Complex), Rice University, and Episcopal High School.
Gallery
Joni,
My boys are at St Thomas HS
Want St Thomas to host more of these! Happy to be your lead organizer anything you need! Let me know I’ll get it done!
Thanks
Susan
Dear Ms. Welch,
Thank you for your commment! I would suggest reaching out to Joni Hruska Fichter by emailing challengersportshouston@gmail.com, to see if the organization can host more events at St. Thomas. I hope this is helpful!