FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Minnesota Basketball Legend Joins MYAS as Basketball Impact Coordinator
Minneapolis, MN; October 23, 2024
The Minnesota Youth Athletic Services (MYAS) is pleased to announce that Jake Sullivan will be stepping into a pivotal role with a focus on enhancing and expanding youth basketball programs throughout the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas.
Sullivan, a former MYAS alumnus, standout high school player at Tartan HS, and a superstar at Iowa State University, will be instrumental in strengthening youth basketball across the metro area. His key responsibilities and goals will include a focus on strengthening and growing community-based basketball programs in Minneapolis and St. Paul. To achieve this, he will develop partnerships with schools, community centers, and local organizations to create a unified travel basketball structure that benefits youth athletes across the Twin Cities.
“I am a strong believer in community-based basketball that is offered to athletes throughout the state of Minnesota through MYAS,” says Sullivan. “I believe community-based initiatives during the winter portion of the basketball season provide a healthy balance to the year-round basketball environment and enhance spring/summer basketball opportunities. I am looking forward to providing more youth in both Minneapolis and St. Paul the opportunity to compete on community-based teams with the ultimate goal of enhancing high school basketball in our city, while complementing the many great clubs that make up Minnesota spring/summer basketball.”
Additionally, Sullivan aims to increase engagement and awareness among youth, families, and stakeholders in both cities in collaboration with Akua Kennedy, MYAS Director of Community Engagement, other MYAS staff, and key stakeholders. The goal for Sullivan is to implement grassroots marketing campaigns, attend local events, and engage directly with leaders, parents, and coaches to build meaningful relationships within the community.
Another priority for Sullivan is creating a clear and effective organizational structure to support outreach and program delivery. This involves defining roles, responsibilities, and communication channels for outreach personnel and partners, ensuring smooth operations.
Sullivan is also tasked with identifying new opportunities to expand programs and services across Minneapolis and St. Paul. He will regularly assess community needs, monitor participation trends, and seek partnerships with other community-based organizations to extend each program's reach.
Moreover, Sullivan will establish a scholarship fund to support basketball associations in both cities. He plans to raise funds through local sponsorships, grants, and community fundraising events, with scholarships awarded through the MYAS Community Impact Fund. Collaboration with local schools, community centers, and associations will be key to promoting these scholarship opportunities.
In addition to these focus areas, Sullivan will serve as a youth basketball ambassador for the MYAS, the Minnesota Youth Basketball Alliance (MYBA), and youth basketball as a whole by promoting the importance of accessible sports opportunities for all children throughout the state.
"Jake Sullivan is a tremendous addition to the MYAS team," said Jeremy Innes, Associate Director of MYAS. "His experience and leadership will help us continue to grow and support youth basketball in the Twin Cities and the rest of the state of Minnesota, while creating a lasting, positive impact in the communities we serve."
For more information about the MYAS and its programs and services, visit www.myas.org.
About Jake Sullivan
Jake Sullivan is currently campaign director at Pulse Evangelism headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Jake grew up in Oakdale, MN, graduating from Tartan High School in 2000. Following high school, Jake went on to attend Iowa State University on a Division I basketball scholarship.
Jake completed his time at Iowa State University as a three-time All-Big 12 selection and three-time Academic All-American, graduating with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Political Science. Following graduation in 2004, Jake played an instrumental role in starting a youth organization called All Iowa Attack.
In 2008, Jake left All Iowa Attack to form his own nonprofit organization called Kingdom Cares that worked locally with youth through a sports-based outreach called Kingdom Hoops. Kingdom Cares also expanded its work into Ghana, West Africa in 2009 and by 2016 had expanded into four African countries. In 2016 as Kingdom Cares was blossoming both locally and globally, Jake led the split of Kingdom Cares into two separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations called Kingdom Hoops and Acts 2 Collective to bring more clarity to the local and international efforts. Jake has nine amazing children – Jacoby, Reese, Jasara, Jayla, Jennifer, Mikai, JJ, Jermell, and Justice with his wife Krystal Queen-Sullivan. Jake and his wife are excited for this next journey into the nonprofit sphere here in the Twin Cities through an initiative called One City.
About Minnesota Youth Athletic Services, Inc. (MYAS)
Minnesota Youth Athletic Services, Inc. (www.myas.org) originated in 1991 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving and enhancing youth sports programs and services (leagues, tournaments, events, training/development, and educational offerings and resources) for Minnesota’s youth athletes, coaches, parents, officials/umpires, and parent-volunteer athletic associations. Today, the MYAS is Minnesota's largest multi-sport organization and acts as a central clearinghouse for youth sports with more than 150,000 kids participating in programs and services each year. The MYAS is committed to providing a safe, positive, and productive experience for today’s youth athletes.
What is the Minnesota Youth Basketball Alliance (MYBA)?
The MYBA is a collaborative effort between the MYAS, the MYBA Basketball Board of Advisors, and youth basketball leaders from around the state working together to strengthen and enhance community-based basketball during the winter travel basketball season throughout the state of Minnesota.
