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Empowering Buford’s Youth Through Basketball, Mentorship & Community Care

Creating a safe space where kids can grow, learn, and just be kids.

ABOUT US

My name is Otis Brown, and I, alongside Elise Zamora, am the proud co-founder of Above the Rim Buford. As longtime Buford residents and parents of six, we’ve dedicated our lives to supporting local youth and building safe, inspiring spaces for them to thrive. Having mentored young people for over 25 years, we created Above The Rim Buford to give children access to the mentorship, meals, structure, and love they deserve. We now serve 30 to 40 children regularly through our programs.
This isn’t just our mission — it’s our community.

Mission Statement

To empower and uplift Buford youth through basketball training, mentorship, nutritious meals, and academic support, creating safe spaces for growth, learning, and life transformation.

Problem Statement

Too many children in our community face obstacles like food insecurity, lack of after-school supervision, and limited access to positive mentorship. Left unaddressed, these challenges can lead to risky behavior and missed opportunities.

Our Solution

Above the Rim Buford offers youth a safe and structured environment after school and on weekends. Through basketball training, life skills workshops, and consistent mentorship, we build confidence, discipline, and character in every participant. Our programs are led by coaches, educators, and community leaders who care deeply about Buford’s next generation.

Make a Difference

We believe that transforming a community starts with each of us. Whether you’re a
business owner, parent, coach, or neighbor your involvement matters.

Our Next Steps

Finalize our programming and weekly structure
Recruit more coaches and volunteers
Partner with local schools and organizations
Launch our fundraising campaign
Host a kickoff event to introduce Above The Rim
Apply for grants to grow sustainably
Track and evaluate success to keep improving

Ways to Help

Donate to support meals, supplies, and programming

Your donation directly supports the heart of our mission: providing meals, supplies, and meaningful programming for Buford’s youth. From basketball training to life skills workshops, your gift keeps our efforts going strong.

Sponsor a youth or special event

Your donation provides meals, supplies, and life-enriching programs for Buford’s youth. Want to make a bigger impact? Sponsor a youth for a season of basketball and mentorship or sponsor a special event that brings our community together.

Volunteer your time or skills

Whether you’re great with kids, handy with a clipboard, or just have a heart to serve, we need you. Volunteer your time or skills to help with mentoring, coaching, events, meals, tutoring, or behind-the-scenes support.

Partner with us as a business, church, or school

We’re inviting businesses, churches, and schools to join us in building a stronger, safer future for our kids. Your organization can make a lasting impact by sponsoring events, sharing resources, or co-creating programs that matter.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

DONATE

Your donation helps provide nutritious meals, safe spaces, and life-changing mentorship for Buford’s youth. Every dollar makes a difference whether it's covering basketball gear, supporting academic tutoring, or simply making sure a child doesn’t go home hungry.

VOLUNTEER

We’re looking for people who care people like you. Whether you're coaching basketball, mentoring a teen, helping serve meals, or just showing up your time means the world.

PARTNER WITH US

Are you a business, church, school, or civic group looking to give back? Let’s collaborate. Your partnership can help us reach more kids, expand our programs, and create sustainable change in Buford.