Community

Good Morning America Honors PCA Grand Prize Award Winner

profile
By LeagueApps
April 30, 2019
2 min

The Positive Coaching Alliance’s mission is to transform the youth sports culture into a Development Zone® where all youth and high school athletes have a positive, character-building experience that results in “better athletes, better people.” Every year PCA recognizes notable members of the youth sports community who have had a positive impact on the lives of youth athletes through sports participation. This year, Charlean Crowell was recognized as the inaugural winner of the PCA Grand Prize.

Over forty years ago, Charlean founded the Lower Russell County Youth Club in Hurtsboro, Alabama. The programs offered at the Youth Club have given athletic opportunities to those not eligible to participate in school sports due to grades, attitude, or accessibility. The positive environment that Charlean created has continually fostered a culture that builds up her players’ self-esteem and confidence on and off the court.

Crowell’s impact on the community of Russell County is immeasurable and cannot be overstated. Over the last forty years, she has stood as a positive pillar in the community and her impact transcends sports through her commitment to making a difference. Her teams fundraise to be able to attend Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) tournaments and buy equipment, and often Charlean and her husband cover additional expenses for the team and players out of their own pocket. She is the epitome of self-sacrifice for the greater good of others.  

As the winner of the PCA Grand Prize, Charlean received $10,000, a fourth for her and the remaining three fourths for Lower Russell County Youth Club, to further facilitate youth development through sport. Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts featured Charlean’s story on Monday morning and her story has been viewed over 15,000 times in just 24 hours. 

At the youth club, Charlean has the title of coach and founder, but she means so much more than that to her community. By caring and investing in all of the children in her programs, she is a role model for the youth in her programs and an example of determination and grit to everyone.