University Advancement

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

NEWS RELEASE

CSUN Business Professor Teaches Success to At-Risk Youths
Through the Reach More Foundation

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Aug. 24, 2007) — When he’s not teaching undergraduate courses in Business Administration, Cal State Northridge professor Norris "Rashe" Dorsey reaches out to the community through the Reach, Reach, Reach More Foundation, "Reach More," a nonprofit organization that helps at-risk youths get off the street and gain entry to college. His medium? Personal success in higher education and basketball.

"They say once you graduate from high school, you should be able to take care of yourself. Most of the time, that isn’t the case," said Dorsey. "These kids just get tossed out and have no guidance."

The Reach More Foundation was started in 1995. The foundation uses basketball as the main vehicle in getting their participants to succeed academically; it’s the only nonprofit in Southern California that runs year-round with a basketball league and event sanctioned by NCAA guidelines.

"We have kids coming from all over Southern California to participate in our program," Dorsey said. "We have good relationships with a lot of the colleges, so when they call and ask for referrals, we can recommend students to those schools."

"Our summer basketball league is currently run out of Chatsworth High School, but we are working on getting our own facility," Dorsey said. "We need the support of an endowment to help build and operate a state-of-art multiplex facility in the San Fernando Valley."

Dorsey joined the foundation in 1999, assuming the role of vice president of student services. "It’s my duty to create that link for student athletes to academic mentoring. I act as counselor, father, role model and friend in providing support for young men in that transition phase between adolescence and adulthood," he said.

Dorsey’s efforts have been recognized by the university, which recently awarded him and Reach More a $2000 community service grant. Because the Reach More Foundation is a smaller nonprofit, Dorsey said he is often set to juggling many different tasks. "I do the business end, marketing, grant writing, conducting research and going on interviews. I also volunteer my time coaching one of our summer basketball teams in the Summer Jam League."

He said his personal experience and success in basketball and higher education came in handy to his role as a positive role model for the young men. "I spent a lot of my childhood growing up in tough neighborhoods around Chicago and Los Angeles."

"I’m a former student athlete who’s gone through the same path they travel now," said Dorsey. "I received a scholarship out of high school and ended up dropping out to work. I went to community college, which helped me mature, and was able to earn another college scholarship. I’m able to give these kids real world experiences on how I was able to overcome my early troubles, get to college, play basketball, get scholarships and successfully transition into teaching for higher education."

Dorsey said the foundation is making a positive impact on the community. "We’re definitely making an impact; we’re just a little under the radar, but we keep growing through word-of-mouth and effective marketing."

The Reach More Foundation currently has over 100 young men actively involved in the program. "We have lots of great success stories. We’re giving students a chance to get to college."

Dorsey explained that his commitment to the program stems from a personal obligation to give back. "This program wasn’t available to me when I was a youth coming up. The main reason I do this is because I want to see these students make it."

For more information about the foundation, contact Dorsey at (818) 402-5050, norris.doresy@gmail.com, www.norrisdorsey.com or www.rrrmore.com.