Prime Tyme Athletics Gives Back

Since 2004, when Prime Tyme opened our doors, it has been the goal of Prime Tyme Cheerleading to mold the leaders of tomorrow by training the cheerleaders of today.  In competitive cheerleading, as well as in life, success comes from talent, hard work, a healthy lifestyle, self-discipline, and determination.  Prime Tyme helps cheerleaders be successful in both the sport and life outside the gym.  The coaching staff at Prime Tyme has trained many national champions and is always looking for ways to improve the cheerleaders, the staff, and the world of competitive cheerleading.  We will always strive to maintain an environment that is safe and clean.  Prime Tyme's mission is to provide a successful competitive All-star team for any age and ability level, as well as a strong class program and school squad program.  All of our programs are designed to foster and promote one another.  Whether the athlete is a beginner taking a tumble tots class or a member of an advanced senior All-star squad, Prime Tyme will provide the best possible cheerleading instruction.       

            One of the many ways that we strive to achieve this mission is through our annual Prime Tyme Cheerleading Festival. The festival is an event held at the beginning of every competition season and is completely free of charge to those teams in attendance. Not only is this event an opportunity for squads to perform their competition routines, but it is also a philanthropic event that benefits several charities such as: Second Harvest Food Bank, Locks of Love, the Children’s Alopecia Project, and the Prime Tyme Athletics College Scholarship Fund, and the American Cancer Societies Relay for Life.

One of the charities mentioned above, is the Second Harvest Food Bank. The purpose of the organization is to provide a central distribution center for companies, groups, and individuals who wish to provide/donate food for Middle Tennessee's hungry. Second Harvest's mission is to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger issues in our community. Prior to the actual event day, Prime Tyme teams compete in a canned food drive competition. The winner of the food drive competition is announced at the cheer festival, and all donations are then handed over to the Second Harvest Food Bank. During the food drive competition, the all-stars learn the value of giving back and how just a little bit can go a long way. Additionally, we contribute donations to the food bank from spectators who attend the Cheer Festival. Those who choose to donate to the cause receive half price admission. This year in total, Prime Tyme was able to double our goal and donate 2 literal tons (over 4,000lbs) pounds of food to Second Harvest.

Another charity organization that we are fortunate enough to support and donate to was the Locks of Love charity.  Locks of Love is a public, non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada, under age 21, who are suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Most of the children benefiting from this organization suffer from a medical condition called Alopecia Areata; this is a disease in which white blood cells attack the hair follicle, resulting in partial or total hair loss. This season, Sarah Smith (owner of Prime Tyme Athletics), donated 12 inches of her hair to the Locks of Love organization on the day of the Cheer Festival. Sarah spent the entire year growing her hair out, and at noon on event day, Sarah cut 12inches of her hair off in front of thousands of people and handed it over to the Locks of Love organization. This particular philanthropy is near and dear to our hearts. We are trying to raise awareness because two of our very own all-stars have been diagnosed with Alopecia; one of which has suffered total hair loss over her entire body and now competes in a skull cap.

Prime Tyme also partners with the Children’s Alopecia Project to help raise money and awareness for Alopecia. Prime Tyme, along with Discovery Toys organized and assisted in the donation of over $1,000 worth of educational toys. These toys were then given away at various Christmas parties to children afflicted with the disease. Discovery Toys is a toy manufacturing company whose mission is to teach, play, and inspire by creating highly engaging toys, books, games, and music that help parents and caregivers teach their children a love of learning, while boosting their early childhood developmental skills. Seeing the faces of these children when they receive their toys really teaches our all-stars the value, and especially, the impact that a smile can have.

Prime Tyme All-Stars and PT-trained school teams were VIP at the 2010 CMA Festival!  Prime Tyme hosted the CMA Festival's cheerleading competition in the Kids Zone.  PT teams performed and participated in the opening ceremony and parade in Downtown Nashville.  This year's event raised money for the restoration of Nashville after the great 100 years flood damaged and destroyed many businesses and homes.

Also to help after the flood, Prime Tyme Athletics organized groups of volunteers and hosted a clothing drive.  Many homes of our cheerleaders were damaged and even destroyed by the flood waters.  To help them and others in the area, Prime Tyme athletes, coaches, and families helped with the clean up and demolition of water-damaged areas.  PT hosted a clothing drive to pass along to flood victims and their families. Prime Tyme and UCA jointly hosted a summer camp and encouraged the camp participants to also participate in the clothing drive.

During October 2010, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Prime Tyme hosted a Pink-out PT Practice for our all-star teams to help build awareness for Breast Cancer.  We decorated the gym with pink ribbons and served pink refreshments on a Susan G. Komen breast cancer awareness table.  All of our athletes, coaches, and family members who attended the practice dressed in pink.  Prior to the Pink-Out, Prime Tyme hosted contests encouraging athletes and their families to post on Facebook about breast cancer awareness, hopefully inspiring others to get involved with the cause.

This Christmas season, our all-star teams had a Prime Tyme Toy Drive and Holiday Themed Program Practice to send toys to less fortunate children in the area. Prime Tyme partnered with Kathy Smith, from Discovery Toys to match the donations from our athletes and families. Together, we were able to donate approximately $500 worth of toys to Toys for Tots! Contributing to good causes like the Prime Tyme Toy Drive has such an impact on our cheerleaders. Many of our athletes have stated how good it felt to give back to those less fortunate (the intrinsic reward).

            Prime Tyme also believes in the importance of, as well as the pursuit of, higher education. We want to do our part in assisting young athletes as they continue to pursue, and progress in, the sport of cheerleading through their college years; Prime Tyme offers a college scholarship to select qualifying seniors. Prime Tyme has worked hard to provide college scholarships in excess of $3,000 to those qualifying seniors. All graduating seniors who have been a part of the all star program for 3 consecutive years, & had a GPA of 3.0 submit a 1500 word essay on how cheerleading at Prime Tyme has a had positive impact on their lives. Once all submissions are collected, a selection committee reviews all applicants and then awards the scholarships as they deem necessary. In the past, Prime Tyme has awarded up to 3 scholarships a year and is excited to continue to offer this scholarship in the future. Funding for this scholarship comes from a silent auction held during our annual Prime Tyme Cheer Festival, profits from our vending and drink machines, and donations from Prime Tyme Athletics, LLC. Formerly known as the Prime Tyme All-Stars College Scholarship Fund, the Joshua David Pfister Memorial Scholarship Fund for Prime Tyme All-Stars was renamed in honor of one of PT's cheerleaders who made a huge impact on the lives of others but tragically passed away in 2010.

            Prime Tyme firmly believes that working with these various philanthropies allows our athletes the opportunity to learn valuable lessons for life and contributes to the greater good of the community. Prime Tyme strives to put our cheerleaders in situations that may teach them valuable life lessons, such as the importance of giving back and selflessness, the impact a smile can make on ones day, the value of intrinsic rewards, and how sometimes your time is the most valuable thing you can donate to someone. Through these life lessons, we are able to mold the leaders of tomorrow by training the cheerleaders of today.

YOU can make a difference!!