The Step Back Foundation

ABOUT

The Step Back Foundation promotes not only high school athletics, but giving back to your community as well. 

MISSION

My name is Maddie McCracken. I am a freshman at Stockton University in New Jersey. During my high school career at Wildwood High School, in New Jersey, I was fortunate enough to be a part of three different high school sports, for a total of 12 sport seasons throughout my career. Without a doubt, these sports have molded me into the person I am today. Over the past four years, I have consistently been a part of something so special.  I can only hope other students can experience the same thing. So, during the spring of my senior year of high school, I created a non-profit organization, called The Step Back Foundation, to hopefully motivate 8th grade and high school students to participate in high school athletics. Each year, there will be two separate scholarships given out in the name of Mr. Bill Bolle (more information below): one to an 8th grade student and one to a high school student who have the intentions to participate in a high school sport the the next academic year. As athletes all know, sports equipment is not cheap and it does not hurt to have a little extra money to help pay for all of the expenses.

Going into high school, I was very shy, timid, and not half as confident in myself as I am now. Wildwood High School athletics welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to be the athlete they knew I was capable of becoming. Playing sports gave me instant friends and memories I will hopefully be able to share with my kids one day. I am starting this organization with the intentions that more and more kids will join sports, or any club for that matter, their freshman year instead of waiting until their sophomore or junior year to become involved within the school. As a female especially, I think it is very important to build your confidence at a young age, so you can maintain it and grow as a person each and every day. 

I seriously cannot imagine what kind of person I would be if I did not play sports throughout my high school career. Not only do I not know what kind of memories I would have made or with whom I would have been friends, but also who I would be as a person. Sports have constantly changed and made me better as I have gotten older. I have learned how to communicate with others, problem solve, deal with adversity, cope, created a strong work ethic, and most importantly how to be a good human being. I have met so many wonderful people and I can only hope others will be able to experience the same thing.

Each summer, The Step Back Foundation will be hosting two major events, including a 3 on 3 basketball tournament in July and a 5k race in August, which is held on the beach. The money raised will go towards either scholarship funds or for a child in need financially throughout the Wildwoods. With that being said, I am asking that if you or your organization could donate something for this cause and possibly change someone’s high school career or further their life.