Christmas has come early for students at Foshay Learning Center, one of the USC Family of Schools. As the result of a letter-writing campaign by one of the players, Foshay’s basketball team has received new uniforms and basketball shoes.

High school junior Jonathan Hess, a USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI) student, was committed to helping his fellow players look like a team.

“When we look at the other team, we don’t look as unified,” Hess said earlier in the semester.

Determined to change that, he contacted several companies throughout Los Angeles, including one of the city’s top sporting goods brands.

That resulted in a special delivery from Sport Chalet, which donated new jerseys and shorts. The team, which frequently showed up for its games in whatever apparel it could muster, also received basketball shoes from WSS Shoe Co.

Teammate Tristan Baizar, another NAI student, said: “Of course we’re going to win because we got the heart and we got the power and we got the mindset and we got the focus. Now we have the uniforms.”

Kim Thomas-Barrios, executive director of USC’s NAI and Educational Partnerships, knows these students and is proud of their determination and success.

“Jonathan’s leadership exemplifies the ‘success mentality’ of an NAI scholar,” she said. “These students are fighting for a spot in college as a team and know that action, as well as sportsmanship, makes it a victorious outcome for all.”

Added Hess: “No more losses. Win all day, baby.”

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