Fresh Faces on Campus

Football student-athletes hosted local members of the Boys & Girls Club on campus through an NIL engagement with House of Victory.

Not too long ago, every member of the USC Football team was in elementary school. For most of them, it was about 10 years. So, it’s not hard for them to remember what it was like to be a young, wide-eyed child, where almost every experience is a new one. 

During their bye week, they got to revisit that time. Through an NIL engagement with House of Victory, several members of the football team hosted nearly 40 elementary school kids, ranging from third to fifth graders, from the local Boys & Girls Club Challengers Clubhouse for a tour of the football facility and a Q&A session.

The kids had smiles glued to their faces as the football players led them through Heritage Hall, the weight room, training facilities, meeting rooms and more.

“This tour was impactful because it allowed our students to experience firsthand the amenities football student-athletes enjoy at USC,” said the Challengers Clubhouse Director of Athletics and Health Karen Quiroz. “Seeing the practice field and fully equipped fitness gym was eye-opening, as these resources are not available at every school.”

The Challengers Clubhouse has been providing opportunities to local, underserved youth since 1968 and is part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro LA system, which serves several underprivileged communities across Los Angeles.

“For people who don’t know the other side, and haven’t seen what college can be like, it’s good for the kids to be able to get that experience at one of the best universities,” said senior linebacker and House of Victory student-athlete Eric Gentry.

Gentry was one of about 30 football student-athletes who attended the tour and participated in the Q&A. Questions from the Boys & Girls Club participants ranged from topics surrounding the players’ ages and how long they’d been playing football, to what their typical day looks like as a collegiate athlete.

“A key highlight for our students was sitting in the team meeting room and having the chance to ask questions,” said Quiroz. “This provided a unique opportunity for the students to interact with the football student-athletes on a more personal level.”

House of Victory has worked closely with the Challengers Clubhouse on a variety of events, and student-athletes from a variety of sports have visited the Clubhouse including football, men’s and women’s basketball and more. These visits are full of impactful mentorship opportunities as the student-athletes model positive character traits including sportsmanship, respect and more. They often engage in the daily programs and activities going on at the Clubhouse, including physical fitness, sports, music and more.

Community engagements like these provide House of Victory student-athletes with opportunities to connect with the community, make a lasting and positive impact in their community and give back.

For more information about events like this one, follow House of Victory on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X. If you’d like to make a charitable contribution to support the work of House of Victory student-athletes in the community at events like this, you can make a tax-deductible contribution here.