Sports

Kelvin Ervin, or more fondly known as “Coach K,” recently won one of 12 national Maytag Dependable Leader Awards by The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, with $20,000 to go toward scholarships for the Tinker Youth Center. Coach K coaches youth sports on base including basketball, football, soccer and baseball to kids ages 3 and up and works for the 424th Supply Chain Management Squadron. (Air Force photo by Kelly White)

Coach earns $20,000 for Tinker Youth Center

Published Dec. 12, 2014
By John Parker
Staff Writer

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The volunteer work of a Tinker youth sports coach recently earned $20,000 for the Tinker Youth Center.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a youth center affiliate, recently named Kelvin Ervin, aka "Coach K," a B-2 equipment specialist with the 424th Supply Chain Management Squadron, one of 12 national Maytag Dependable Leader Award winners.

"I truly appreciate being nominated for this award, but it's the children that truly earned it by coming to the youth center to learn and develop those social and physical skills that will help them to succeed as they continue into adulthood," Mr. Ervin said.

"The $20,000 is an amazing gift and will allow the youth center to provide financial support to some very gifted children as they continue their education," said the 3-year youth center coach.

Mr. Ervin earned the award for his "dedication to keeping youth on the path to achieve great futures," a press release said.

The honor included the grant money for the youth center, which will help fund educational scholarships to club members.

Jason Blackwell, sports director at the youth center, nominated Ervin.

He said Coach K "sees the importance of making an impact in the lives of our youth, and he has a real gift when it comes to working with children. He helps members who need financial assistance for an opportunity to play, brings snacks and drinks for his teams and is always the first person to arrive at the games and the last one to leave."

Coach K also teaches sportsmanship, teamwork and the value of respect - all while making games and practices fun, Mr. Blackwell said.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America serves nearly 500,000 youth on about 400 U.S. military installations worldwide.