While our roots are in athletics, our vision has grown to support the community in diverse ways and passions from sports to the arts, scholarship funds, holiday toy drives and beyond. — ACF Cares is a nonprofit arm giving back to the Central Florida youth and families supporting education, life skills programs and community awareness projects. Together, we’re building brighter futures, breaking generational cycles by empowering at risk youth through critical support one child at a time.
The “Bessie” Scholarship Fund is named after Athlete Connections Foundation Founder Dan Cross’ Grandmother, Bessie Cross. He named it in honor of her because of all the hard work and dedication she instilled in him at an early age. She believed in him and provided opportunities for him to pursue his dreams. She taught him to never give up and not to be afraid of hard work!
Grandma Bessie migrated from Mississippi to Chicago during the northern migration to find a better opportunity for life and pursue her own dreams of freedom. She sacrificed to put a roof over the family’s head, paid for Dan to go to camps, have school clothes and shoes and to help him pursue his goals and dreams to attend college on a basketball scholarship!
She helped raise him to be a strong young man who knows that he can be anything he wants to be if he puts his mind to it. For these reasons, he chose to honor his grandmother by naming this scholarship award in remembrance of her.
The Bessie Scholarship Fund is a critical lifeline to youth who are facing challenges, needing encouragement and an opportunity to achieve personal excellence!
Scholarship Program Application Requirements
1. To be eligible for “Bessie” scholarship, students must be in their senior year of high school. All students must have completed at least four years of high school to be eligible.
2. Applicant must be a full-time high school or college student with an un-weighted grade point average of 2.5.
Holiday Toy Drive
The ACF Cares Holiday Toy Drive is a community impact initiative led by Athlete Connections Foundation to support at risk youth and families during the holiday season. The program delivers toys, essential resources, and moments of joy to families across Commissioner Bakari Burns District 6 and Commissioner Shan Rose District 5.
At the 2025 Day of Giving, the Foundation distributed more than 4,000 toys, 450 bikes, and 300 hams to families at the Grand Avenue Neighborhood Center. In total, over 875 families and 2,200 individuals were served, creating thousands of meaningful moments during the holiday season.
Made possible through strong community partnerships, the Holiday Toy Drive reflects the Foundation’s commitment to access, dignity, and long term opportunity for the families and youth it serves.
Celebrity Golf Event
The Celebrity Athlete Connections Foundation Golf Classic is a high energy fundraising event designed to deliver a memorable day on the course while supporting the Foundation’s scholarship fund and youth programs. The tournament blends competitive play, entertainment, and a relaxed social atmosphere that keeps golfers engaged from start to finish.
Participants enjoy a premium golf experience featuring a team based scramble format, on course contests, interactive challenges, and beverage stations throughout the day. From unique putting competitions to friendly rivalries between foursomes, the event is built to be challenging enough for serious golfers while still being fun and accessible for all skill levels.
Beyond the course, the Golf Classic creates opportunities to connect with fellow supporters, community leaders, and celebrity guests. Raffles, auctions, and post round awards add to the excitement, making the event as enjoyable as it is impactful while directly supporting opportunities for youth through education and sport.
