‘Start by changing the mindset’: GameTime Prep teaches the game of life to student athletes in need

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - When the game of life gets tough, student-athletes may need to know more than just football.

That’s why the Tallahassee nonprofit GameTime Prep is giving players the tools to win both on and off the field.

Since 2016, GameTime Prep has impacted the Tallahassee community by empowering student-athletes through financial literacy, educational support and reducing health and economic disparities.

The nonprofit helps students like Deborah Perez, a first generation college student enrolled at Tallahassee State College.

Ed Hill is the CEO and Founder of GameTime Prep. He originally founded the organization to help kids like his own two sons get to the next level in football. But, Hill said he soon realized there was a greater need in the community and the organization expanded its scope.

“Today, we help kids with mental health, the college process, and financial literacy,” Hill said.

The program is for both girls and boys from age 6 until the 12th grade. Hill said participants come from all over the surrounding counties and state.

“We had young ladies who wanted to be in the program and those young ladies didn’t play football so we introduced them to the production side. They would take pictures and stats. We started helping them through their process of getting into college and finding out what their goals and dreams were,” Hill said.

Alexus Hill is Ed Hill’s daughter. She is a 7th grade teacher and a volunteers teaching finanical literacy at the nonprofit.

She said with student-athletes entering college getting credit cards and stipends, there is a big need for financial literacy training.

“The kids were getting all of this money that they’d never seen before and it was really helpful to show them what they can do to set themselves up for success. College is a great time to start, not after college,” she said.

The highlight of the nonprofit is their annual ‘Marvin’s Magical Christmas.‘ The event is named for Marvin Wilson who played at Florida State University. GameTime Prep works with counselors at several Leon County Schools to choose kids in need. Hill said about 100 of them get to go on a shopping spree at Target.

“Just to see the tears in the parents eyes because they don‘t know what they’re coming for. They‘re just told they have been selected. You have kids that may have recently lost a parent or parents who say, ’I had no clue how I was going to do Christmas this year,” Hill said.

Ed Hill’s vision, to help kids become the best versions of themselves, continues to grow.

And as it expands, so does the success of student-athletes far beyond the gridiron.

“To truly effect change in this community you have to start by changing the mindset of what these kids are doing,” he said.

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