APIVEO

Changing the World Through Youth Sports

APIVEO Player of the Month

Mackenna Stewart : : February 2015

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Congratulations Mackenna and thank you for Always Playing IV Each Other!

Watch Mackenna’s inspiring story of leadership that aired on CBS Atlanta.

Mackenna Stewart February 2015

Excerpt from the APIVEO Player of the Month sponsored by Zaxby’s award ceremony;

Mackenna is already a gifted tennis player and I know she will earn a lot of awards and trophies to back that up. But that’s not why she’s standing up here today. At 7 years old, Mackenna is already a true leader. Mackenna already gets “it” and Mackenna already does “it”. “It” is love and concern translated into action. “It” is leadership. There isn’t an opportunity that comes up where Mackenna doesn’t finds a way to help. She is always stepping up and volunteering. Whether she’s at a tennis tournament with her sister or attending the youth ministry at church. Mackenna is not just at the front of the “how can I serve you line” she’s usually the reason there is a line! I recently got to see her in action. A few months ago we were at an event and someone brought a cookie cake. After watching Mackenna take her 5th piece of cake, I looked at my bride, Kristy, and said, “boy, that little girl can eat!!” Kristy looked at me and said, “she’s not eating it. She’s bringing it to all the guys at the front desk” …and she did that before she took her first bite!” That’s “putting others first” in action. That’s leadership. Well done Mackenna… You are a great leader! -Brad Jubin, APIVEO

Mackenna selected the Youth Ministry at Elizabeth Baptist Church as the recipient of the $1,000 donation provided by Zaxby’s.

Thank you Coach Kenny Thorne, Chris Eubanks, the GA Tech Tennis Team, Zaxby’s, Bobby Dibble, Jeff McPhail, CBS Atlanta, and Larry Smith for your enthusiasm and support. You have made a young girl feel appreciated and loved. That’s what is means to Always Play IV Each Other!

Palmer Pressly : : APIVEO Player of the Month : : December 2014

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Congratulations Palmer and thank you for Always Playing IV Each Other!

Watch Palmer’s inspiring story of leadership that aired on CBS Atlanta.

Excerpt from the APIVEO Player of the Month sponsored by Zaxby’s award ceremony;

Palmer is a gifted athlete and I know he has a lot of awards and trophies at home to prove it…I’ve seen the pictures. But that’s not why he’s standing up here today. At the ripe old age of 10, Palmer is a true leader. Palmer cares for people. He regularly volunteers at the Sandy Springs Mission, he has run food drives for the Food Bank and his All Star Baseball team raised money for kids in need. These are the things that leaders do. However, I have to be honest and say that there is something else that Palmer does that really hit home for me. Palmer is the kid on the playground that makes sure everyone is involved; that everyone feels included and valuable. You see, I get to stand here today because I had a Palmer in my life. Up until I was 13 years old I was the outcast. I didn’t fit in anywhere and I certainly didn’t play sports or games with anyone. My Palmer’s name was Mark Mills. Mark reached out to me; he told me, and he showed me that I did fit in and that I could be involved. Mark had the single greatest impact on my life. He was just 13 years old but he put me on a trajectory that lands me right here. After nearly 40 years I can honestly say that without my Palmer…I would not be standing here today. Palmer, keep doing what you are doing…you are changing lives. You are a great leader! -Brad Jubin, APIVEO

Palmer selected the Sandy Springs Mission as the recipient of the $1,000 donation provided by Zaxby’s.

Thank you Brian Jordan, Zaxby’s, Joe Hunt , CJ & Kelli Stewart, Diamond Directors, CBS Atlanta, Larry Smith, and D-Bats for your enthusiasm and support. You have made a young man feel appreciated and loved. That’s what is means to Always Play IV Each Other!

Sarah Foy : : APIVEO Player of the Month : : October 2014

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Congratulations Sarah and thank you for Always Playing IV Each Other!

Watch Sarah’s inspiring story of leadership on CBS Atlanta with special guest presenter, Mary Plant.

Sarah Foy October 2014

Excerpt from the APIVEO Player of the Month award ceremony;

Today we celebrate Sarah Foy because she Always Plays IV Each Other. There is no doubt that Sarah puts others first; but it’s important to know that she doesn’t do it by putting herself second. Sarah doesn’t simply get out of the way so someone else ends up in front of her. She knows that won’t actually help anyone. Instead, she rolls up her sleeves and cares for people; she lifts them up and puts them in places they can’t always go on their own.

Sarah is a gifted athlete. While I never saw her swim, I have seen a couple of inspiring pictures of her in the pool. I have no doubt that Sarah has a lot of awards and victories. But that’s not why she’s standing up here today. At the ripe old age of 10, Sarah is already true leader. Sarah knows the secret of leadership; LOVE! I have a friend that actually wrote a bestselling leadership book titled “Love Works.” Love always works! Sarah loves her sister, Hannah, and that love has led Sarah to become a volunteer with the Special Olympics. As a volunteer, Sarah leads kids to smile and have fun because she cares about them; because she loves them. The simple and pure love between sisters has overflowed into one of the greatest examples of leadership I have ever seen. My friend might have written the book “Love Works’ but Sarah, at 10 years old you are living it! You are a great leader! -Brad Jubin, APIVEO

Thank you Mary Plant, Zaxby’s, CBS Atlanta, Larry Smith and YMCA at Buckhead for your enthusiasm and support. You have made a wonderful girl feel appreciated and loved. That’s what is means to Always Play IV Each Other!

Drew Smith : : APIVEO Player of the Month : : August 2014

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Congratulations Drew and thank you for Always Playing IV Each Other!

Watch Drew’s inspiring story of leadership on CBS Atlanta with special guest presenter, Edwin Moses.

Drew Smith August 2014

Excerpt from the APIVEO Player of the Month award ceremony;

Today we celebrate Drew Smith because he Always Plays IV Each Other. Drew is a gifted track athlete. While I never saw him run personally, I have seen a couple of pretty impressive pictures of him hurdling as well as standing on the top level of podium with a medal hanging around his neck . But that’s not why he’s standing up here today. At the age of 11, Drew is already a true leader. Rather than standing around waiting for track practice to start he organized a pre-practice for his entire team. That’s leadership. On Fridays he helps the staff here at the Ron Clark Academy teach teachers how to teach him. That’s leadership. He volunteers his time in the community and even ran up his mom’s pizza bill by making a hefty donation to St Jude Children’s Hospital!

Now to present the APIVEO Player of the Month award for August 2014, I would like to introduce a great leader and athlete. A man that is dedicated to improving the world we live in by leveraging his unique talents and gifts to enrich the lives of others. For the past 15 years he has served as the Chairman of The Laureus Sport For Good Foundation. Along the way he ran a few races on the track as well. His career includes 2 Olympic gold medals, a world record that he personally broke 4 times along with a streak of 122 consecutive wins. It is my great pleasure to introduce Dr. Edwin Moses! -Brad Jubin, APIVEO

Thank you Edwin Moses, Zaxby’s, CBS Atlanta, Larry Smith, Ron Clark Academy and Jeff McPhail for your enthusiasm and support. You have made a young man feel appreciated and loved. That’s what is means to Always Play IV Each Other!

Bridges Spencer : : APIVEO Player of the Month : : July 2014

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Congratulations Bridges and thank you for Always Playing IV Each Other!

Watch Bridges’ inspiring story of leadership on CBS Atlanta.

Bridges Spencer July 2014

Excerpt from the APIVEO Player of the Month award ceremony;

Each month we present the APIVEO Player of The Month award to a youth athlete from Metro Atlanta that has demonstrated leadership through service on their team, in their home or in their community.

This afternoon we celebrate Bridges Spencer because he Always Plays IV Each Other.

Bridges is a catcher and outfielder for Buckhead Baseball and I hear he has a cannon for an arm. But that’s not why he’s standing up here today. At the ripe old age of 12, Bridges has already served the Atlanta Police Athletic League for several years. He has been a camp counselor and a trusted friend; he has helped organize equipment drives and refereed basketball games. He has rolled up his sleeves and cared for the kids served by the Atlanta Police Athletic League. That’s leadership! That’s Always Playing IV Each Other! – Brad Jubin, APIVEO

Thank you Gwinnett Braves, Zaxby’s, CBS Atlanta, Larry Smith, and Jeff McPhail for your enthusiasm and support. You have made a young man feel appreciated and loved. That’s what is means to Always Play IV Each Other!

Allie Hood : : APIVEO Player of the Month : : June 2014

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Congratulations Allie and thank you for Always Playing IV Each Other!

Watch Allie’s inspiring story of leadership on CBS Atlanta.

Excerpt from the APIVEO Player of the Month award ceremony;

Allie is a middle school student and basketball player at PEAK Performance. More importantly Allie is a daughter, she’s a sister and she’s a friend. Less than a year ago Allie’s world changed forever. She lost her brother, Tyler, to a drunk driver. Her family’s life will never be the same. The loss of a sibling, of a child, of a friend is not something that simply “goes away” with time. I don’t pretend to know why bad things happen and I certainly don’t try to justify this kind of tragedy as “meant to be.” And neither does Allie. Allie didn’t simply accept what happened to Tyler that night. Allie did what leaders do. She raised her hand and made a committed to make a difference. She stepped up to influence kids in a way that WILL save the life of another family’s “Tyler.” The best definition of a leader I have ever heard is “a person of disproportionate influence.” Allie is a leader. Allie is now a GA Teen Influencer for MADD. She is actively encouraging kids to turn away from underage drinking and to help stop drunk driving. Thank you Allie.

I’d like add one thing. There was something that I couldn’t stop thinking about while I was writing out my notes for today’s presentation. Has anyone ever heard the saying…”if you think you’re important, stick your finger in a glass of water, then pull it out and see if there is a hole left in the water.” Allie, Tyler left a hole in the water and so are you. Anyone that cares for and loves others will leave a hole in the water. Tyler is that important, you are that important and WE ARE ALL THAT IMPORTANT! Thank you for teaching me that. Now I would like to introduce the Atlanta Dream President and GM, Angela Taylor and the entire Atlanta Dream team, to present the APIVEO Player of the Month award for June 2014. -Brad Jubin, APIVEO

Thank you Atlanta Dream, Zaxby’s, CBS Atlanta, Larry Smith, Bruce Price and Jeff McPhail for your enthusiasm and support. You have made a young lady feel appreciated and loved. That’s what is means to Always Play IV Each Other!