SAN ANTONIO (March 29, 2023) – The San Antonio Spurs teamed up with Ashley to donate and deliver brand-new furniture to Youth Center of Texas (YCOT), a residential facility providing holistic support to survivors of child sex trafficking yesterday, March 28. Earlier this month, YCOT staff hand-selected the furniture with their residents’ needs in mind during a shopping trip to Ashley, an official Spurs partner. Spurs players Tre Jones and Doug McDermott helped deliver new furniture items including eight beds and mattresses, a kitchen table, dressers and more, and spent the day getting to know the residents. They joined the residents in potting plants and decorating the pots for added decoration throughout the facility.
YCOT was founded in December 2019 to provide a safe transition home to victims of child sex trafficking, many of whom have never had a home. Since its inception, YCOT has successfully provided immediate physical and emotional care for hundreds of survivors, including access to on-site trauma-informed counseling, legal advocacy, case management and financial literacy classes. In 2022 alone, YCOT provided services to more than 100 survivors.
“We are forever grateful to the San Antonio Spurs and Ashley for investing in these young women and their futures and for supporting our vision to end the generational cycle of childhood sexual exploitation by promoting community awareness and collaboration, and to restore hope and dignity for all survivors,” said Adriana McKinnon, President & CEO of YCOT.
As part of the furniture store’s “Purchase with Purpose” program, Ashley is partnering with the Spurs to meet YCOT’s needs. With every purchase made at Ashley, a donation is made to a community organization. The program brings purpose far beyond a simple sofa, bed or room refresh to each customer’s purchase.
“Our commitment to working with partners like the San Antonio Spurs towards well-being for those who need it most is unwavering,” said Meagan Miller, Senior Manager of Experience Marketing at Ashley HomeStore. “It is an honor to work with local charities like YCOT, who are on the frontlines working tirelessly to enhance and strengthen the lives of survivors.”
“The support and services that YCOT provides for its residents is truly awe-inspiring,” said Dr. Kara Allen, Chief Impact Officer for Spurs Sports & Entertainment. “We’re honored that, through our partnership with Ashley, we can champion the work YCOT is leading to protect and empower survivors. We hope the new furniture will help provide a small sense of home and comfort to survivors as they heal within YCOT’s safe spaces.”
About Ashley
Ashley is the nation’s largest supplier and retailer of furniture and mattresses with more than 1,000 retail showrooms worldwide. Like many Ashley locations, the four San Antonio-area locations are independently owned and operated with each store committed to giving back to the communities they serve. Among its national initiatives, Ashley established the Purchase with Purpose program to serve others and support the community at all levels of the organization. Purchase with Purpose creates the feeling of home, empowers worldwide healing, and brings life-changing love and hope to people who truly need it. For many years, Ashley has partnered with sports and community partners to bless people locally and globally. Through our Purchase with Purpose initiative, we want to be a blessing to the community and enact positive change through outreach and service.
About Spurs Give
We are a family - a team - passionate about sports. We are passionate about what sports can do for our community - especially our youth. At the heart of it, we believe sports can provide a family with a common goal, and a hope for a better future. We are Spurs Give - the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of Spurs Sports & Entertainment. Since our founding in 1988, we have invested $32 million in our community. Through our players' passions, our grants, and our impact programs, we are changing lives and leaving a lasting impact. You give. We give. Spurs Give.