CKA SAVE Project

🏀 Big news, basketball fans! Join the CKA SAVE Project and the Odd Coaches Podcast for an epic NBA Finals Watch Party! 🏀

Let’s come together for a night of hoops, community, and advocacy as we continue our mission to bridge the "Resume Gap" for student-athletes. Every dollar raised supports our key initiatives, including the CKA Virtual Internship Program (CKA VIP) and the CKA Post Grad Academy (CKA PGA).

📅 When: Friday, June 5, 2026 | 8:00–11:00 PM EST 📍 Where: The Greene Turtle, Burtonsville, MD 🎟️ How to Join: Suggested donation of $50. 🔗 Donate & RSVP: www.ckasaveproject.org/donate

Help us build a new playbook for the next generation of leaders. See you there!

CKA SAVE Project, Inc | Academic and Athletic Educational Non-Profit | Maryland CKA SAVE Project empowers student-athletes countrywide with consulting, skill tests, academic monitoring, and our book. Based in Silver Spring.

"A student-athlete's identity should never be binary." — Roland Hairston III, VIP Project Manager

Too many elite athletes sacrifice their long-term career readiness for short-term eligibility. When their time in the jersey ends, they are left facing a massive structural void: The Resume Gap.

In our new blog post, we break down how the CKA SAVE Project is tackling this crisis head-on. By enforcing the 100/100 Standard, we demand the same competitive urgency off the field that our athletes showcase on it.

Through our innovative CKA Virtual Internship Program (CKA VIP), we’ve built a 100% asynchronous, location-agnostic incubator. Our interns are building high-level executive portfolios from hotel lobbies and team buses, gaining critical corporate experience without compromising their demanding athletic schedules.

Whether you are a parent looking for an expert "Academic General Manager" to protect your child's future, an athletic department looking to scale your life-skills footprint, or a corporate partner wanting early access to a pipeline of disciplined talent—this framework is for you.

Check out the full breakdown and see how we are leveraging this year’s Exceptional Service Award as a launchpad for the next generation of holistic excellence!

Read and share the article: https://ckasaveproject.org/blog/closing-the-resume-gap-a-framework-for-holistic-student-athlete-success

CLOSING THE RESUME GAP: A Framework for Holistic Student-Athlete Success CKA SAVE Project empowers student-athletes countrywide with consulting, skill tests, academic monitoring, and our book. Based in Silver Spring.

Looking forward to this opportunity.

Thea Rabman (UNC Women’s Tennis) is one of the inaugural members of the CKA VIP program, and she has set the bar high. 🎾🎓

Not only does Thea compete at a championship level on the court, but she has also been a vital asset to our fundraising and digital media efforts. Her work extends to supporting our organizational allies like The Drake Group, proving that student-athletes can be powerful advocates for systemic change while maintaining elite performance.

Help us support student-athletes who are doing the work to "Find the Balance."

Donate today: https://app.schoolfundr.org/fund/cksavevip2026/p1g0T?utm_source=link&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=oneclick

CKA VIP Fundraiser | Schoolfundr Hello! I'm raising funds for CKA VIP Fundraiser and would love your support. You can click here to make your donation - thank you!

Traditional internships often fail to align with the rigorous schedules of elite student-athletes. The CKA VIP was designed to change that, and our Project Manager, Roland Hairston III (University of Washington), is a prime example of our mission in action.

While Roland is not an athlete himself, his work is focused on mastering how to support them holistically. As he graduates this month with his M.Ed. in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership, Roland is preparing for a career as a future Athletic Director by building the structural resources athletes need to thrive.

Next week, Roland will take his professional development to the national stage at the Black Student-Athlete Summit in Eugene, Oregon. He will be assisting with our featured presentation, "Beyond the Scholarship: Empowering Student-Athletes to Not Just Get In, But Get Out of College," while engaging with industry leaders to sharpen his own administrative expertise.

Why your support matters: Your donations directly fund stipends for interns like Roland, providing them with the financial stability to focus on high-impact leadership training. By supporting our fundraiser, you are investing in the professionals who will lead the future of the sports industry.

Support our team here: https://app.schoolfundr.org/fund/cksavevip2026?utm_source=link&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=oneclick

CKA VIP Fundraiser | Schoolfundr Hello! I'm raising funds for CKA VIP Fundraiser and would love your support. You can click here to make your donation - thank you!

Dagny Johnson (UNC Women’s Fencing) is a standout All-American who recently stepped up as an Executive Assistant during the 2026 Sack Symposium. Recruited by her fellow All-American and roommate, Sydney Seabrooks (UNC Women’s Gymnastics), Dagny is now officially a CKA VIP!

She hit the ground running by taking the lead on our Fall Social Media Exposure Campaign.

The CKA SAVE Project provides "Grace-Based" platforms that allow elite athletes like Dagny to gain high-level executive experience without sacrificing their grueling training schedules. Your support directly funds the stipends that make this professional evolution possible.

Support our hard-working interns today: https://app.schoolfundr.org/fund/cksavevip2026/KpMNs?utm_source=link&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=oneclick

CKA VIP Fundraiser | Schoolfundr Hello! I'm raising funds for CKA VIP Fundraiser and would love your support. You can click here to make your donation - thank you!

Success isn’t a solo mission—it starts with a mentor who sees your potential before you do. For me, that was Butch Hillard. He gave me my first shot as a Night Game Manager, teaching me that leadership is about "Conversation over Confrontation."

Today, that same philosophy fuels the CKA SAVE Project. We are paying it forward by mentoring the next generation of leaders through our Virtual Internship Program (VIP). We are raising $15k to provide stipends for our interns and to keep the Odd Coaches Podcast moving forward. Help us bridge the gap between the stadium and the boardroom!

Donate here:

CKA VIP Fundraiser | Schoolfundr Hello! I'm raising funds for CKA VIP Fundraiser and would love your support. You can click here to make your donation - thank you!

Big news! Our Project Manager, Roland Hairston III is heading up a special fundraising campaign to take the CKA SAVE Project to the next level. 🚀

We are raising funds to support our Virtual Internship Program, produce new episodes of the Odd Coaches Podcast, and fund our Find the Balance grants and awards. Our mission has always been to provide the structure, discipline, and support student-athletes need to succeed in all areas of life.

Whether it’s $10 or $100, your donation helps us provide professional development and academic advocacy to students nationwide.

Click below to see Roland’s progress and help us reach our target!

Link:

CKA VIP Fundraiser | Schoolfundr Hello! I'm raising funds for CKA VIP Fundraiser and would love your support. You can click here to make your donation - thank you!