Give to Lincoln Day 2025: Future Elite develops skills for on and off the basketball court

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Future Elite is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing athletes and shaping futures.

And this Give to Lincoln Day, it’s hoping for more than just points on a scoreboard.

Future Elite is helping young athletes rise not just on the court, but in life.

It’s focused on mentorship and providing opportunity.

Stanford Bradley, the director of Future Elite, said this cause is personal to him.

“Being a kid that was a juvenile felon and that was in the detention center that experienced those things, I understand the importance of doing the work,” Bradley said. “I understand that if people don’t step up and services are not figuring out the right way to service kids that look like us, the discrepancies will only get worse.”

Bradley, a Lincoln native, founded the organization to reach kids who might feel left behind, many of them from underserved communities.

“We have kids from all over Lincoln and that are involved from many walks of life that are learning from each other and they’re seeing what other people are experiencing,” he said. “They’re realizing what opportunities they have and other kids don’t have and the value of hard work and willingness to do what you need to do.”

With Give to Lincoln Day on Thursday, Bradley said donations are critical to keeping the doors open and the lights shining on the young boys — so that they can shine.

“We have kids or families that come from situations where there’s multiple kids. One mom, she can’t figure out to pay for multiple kids to play sports.” he said. “Any support we get will help. It will be an investment into a kid’s future.”

He said Future Elite is about more than just building teams; it’s about building confidence, community and the next generation of leaders.

“Having the support to make it easier gives us that foundation where we are able to keep building and keep growing and allow more kids to see the basketball experience that I feel like they deserve.”