AAU URBAN INITIATIVE

Our mission statement, which clearly defines the purpose of the AAU Urban Initiatives, is to offer amateur sports programs through a volunteer base to all people, to foster the physical, mental and moral development of amateur athletes, and to promote good sportsmanship and good citizenship.

The Urban Initiatives of the AAU are used to create relationships within the community and through sport programs. Essentially, we seek to bring together the youth of the community in a safe and welcoming environment, where healthy relationships can be forged.

Bringing the youth of the community together to help heal, strengthen and forge positive relationships is truly the heart of these Initiatives.

The AAU is a family; a family of citizenry that extends beyond the walls of our homes to society as a whole.

Like sport itself, the Urban Initiatives tries to transcend boundaries or barriers to provide a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment for our athletes to learn life-changing skills.

We recognize that only one in ten thousand will achieve athletic greatness in any community. However all of the ten thousand could be active members of our community.  We intend to give all participants the opportunity to become productive members and leaders in our community.

The AAU Urban Initiative is forging partnerships with municipalities as well as faith based organizations to provide outreach programs to the youth of the community through sports.

The AAU Urban Initiative is a supportive athletic structure which embraces energy, enthusiasm and healthy competition for all community participants.

Below is a short summary of what the Amateur Athletic Union has done and (are currently doing) during our 130 plus year history:
  • The AAU was founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in amateur sport. During its early years the AAU served as a leader in international sports representing the U.S. in the international sports federations.
  • In the late 1970's, the AAU re-focused its efforts toward providing sports programs for all participants, of all ages, beginning at the grass roots level.
  • One of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, multi-sport event organizations in the world, the AAU now is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.
  • The AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is shared by over 700,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 42 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts.
  • The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) has been raising champions for more than a century. Since its inception in 1888, the AAU has set the standard for amateur sports in the United States.
  • Our dedication to providing "Sports For All, Forever", is only eclipsed by our strong advocacy for instilling a sense of social responsibility in our members nationwide.
  • Our organization strives to provide not only athletic opportunities but also life lessons in learning and social responsibility in the community.
  • AAU Sports Programs provide opportunities for participation in 42 sports. As an organization the AAU continues to explore opportunities to expand its horizons and add new emerging sports to its profile of programs.
  • The AAU conducts the AAU Junior Olympic Games, which is the largest multi-sport event in the country,
  • In 1996, the AAU joined forces with Walt Disney World.  Later that year, the AAU relocated its national headquarters to Orlando, Florida becoming one of two anchor tenants at what is now ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex (the Atlanta Braves being the other).
  • More than 60 AAU national events are conducted annually at the ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex.
  • The Junior National Volleyball Championships, which is the largest volleyball event in the world, with more than 2,700 teams and over 45,000 participants, is conducted by the AAU.
  • The prestigious AAU James E, Sullivan award has been given out to America’s top amateur athlete since 1930.
  • The AAU Cares Program was created in 2016 as a way for the AAU to give back to the communities in which it hosts events.
  • The AAU is also a member of the International School Sport Federation (ISF), which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee, to promote the values and interests of education through sport.
  • New this year is The AAU Presidential Youth Fitness Program.
  • The AAU was the first founding member of the National Youth Sports Fund, which is an endowment managed by the National Fitness Foundation (NFF).
  • This is the only Congressionally chartered, non-profit, focused on youth sports, health and fitness in the United States.
  • The AAU, in conjunction with the NFF, will be administrating the Presidential Youth Fitness Program.
  • This program is aimed at modernizing fitness education in school physical education, through student health goal setting and personal progress.
To summarize, The Urban Initiative seeks to partner with organizations and institutions, to offer all participants opportunities to develop to their highest ability, through a national and local network of sporting events and activities.  Through participation in AAU Urban Initiative, we as volunteers model and teach our most precious asset, the youth of our nation, life skills and good citizenship.