Thomas W. Ford '42 Community Outreach Program Mission:

- To bring Yale Athletics and Yale student-athletes into the New Haven community

- To provide Yale student-athletes with the opportunity to become involved in community programs

- To provide opportunities for community groups, organizations, and schools to attend Yale athletic events and utilize Yale's athletic facilities and fields

- To continue to develop new creative programs that benefit the New Haven community.

In 1994, Director of Athletics Tom Beckett initiated a focus on community outreach. The program could not be possible without the tireless efforts of the Yale student athletes. The Thomas W. Ford '42 Community Outreach Program was established in 1996 to bring Yale Athletics and Yale student-athletes into the New Haven community. The program is overseen by a member of the athletics department and run by our Community Outreach Committee (COC). The COC is an organization made up of student-athletes who are committed to enhancing the Department of Athletics Community Outreach Program in the New Haven community. Each of our 35 varsity teams has a representative on the committee running the academic year outreach program.

The Thomas W. Ford '42 Outreach is growing each year and has become recognized as a tremendous resource for bringing many New Haven children and their families to Yale's Campus. The program runs a number of clinics, activities, and provides a number of tickets to Yale sporting events for the youth of New Haven.