Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Phillips.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My husband David passed away in 2019, when our kids were 18, 15, 15, 15, and 11. An iron-man triathlete, ultra-distance runner, and the ultimate father and coach, the loss and grief hit our family hard, to say the least, and impacted our entire community. But choosing joy every day, as David taught us, and learning that grief and joy can co-exist, allowed us to move forward.
In 2021, inspired by David’s life, and led by his core values and spirit, my business partner and dear friend, Larry Chauvin, along with a small group of community members, started the David Phillips Foundation (DPF). DPF is a 501c3 non-profit, with a mission to “support and uplift children and families through sports and recreation programs, that allow them to heal, grow, and PLAY.”
DPF partners with youth sports and recreation providers to offer free after-school enrichment programs in Title-I schools and low-income communities, and summer sports camp scholarships. DPF currently offers 18 different weekly programs, in 15 Title-I schools, and in COA parks and rec centers as well.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Larry had a long career as an elementary PE teacher in AISD, and we both had extensive experience leading youth programs through our business, Austin Youth Fitness, but we had zero non-profit experience before starting DPF. So the first year was tough, as we learned to navigate the non-profit world. But with the help of and passionate and dedicated board of directors, and with Larry’s connections in AISD, we were able to start our first program, an AYF Running Club at Odom Elementary, within our first year.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
DPF provides opportunities and access, and removes barriers to participation in, quality sports programs for children attending Title-I schools and living in low-income areas. Through partnerships with youth sports vendors, we’re able to offer a wide variety of programs including: running, biking, martial arts, yoga, basketball, soccer, skateboarding, and rock climbing, at no cost to the families, nor the schools. And in addition to contracting with sports coaches, we employ teachers as program assistants.
What’s next?
In the coming years, we anticipate continued growth and expansion, offering more programs in Title-I schools and low-income communities.
And excitingly, we are thrilled to have just partnered with Experience Camps to offer play-based grief-support programs for children who are suffering the loss of a family member. This partnership will allow DPF to fulfill the second part of our mission, “to uplift and support children who have lost a parent.”
Pricing:
- After-School Run Clubs $156/6-week-session
- After-School Bike Clubs $243/6-week-session
- Fit n’ Fun Camps $325/week-long-camp
- Cycle the City Camps $325/week-long-camp
- Personal Training / Private Coaching $80/lesson
Contact Info:
- Website: austinyouthfitness.com / davidphillipsfoundation.org
- Instagram: @austinyouthfitness / @davidphillipsfoundation
- Facebook: Austin Youth Fitness / The David Phillips Foundation
