Mission Statement

HUFOY’s mission is to provide economic development and educational opportunities and equality for underserved youth in Greensboro NC and surrounding areas. Through strategic partnerships with organizations, community leaders, and businesses, we create programs for the educational growth and personal development of those we serve. Our goal is to empower youth to overcome barriers, achieve academic success, and thrive in their communities, fostering a more equitable and prosperous future for all.

Everything we do is centered on the premise of making life better for the youth and their families in our community. Every positive encounter, every risky behavior that is diverted and every thoughtful choice made is a testament to the work we do. Every positive outcome for the youth we serve is a positive outcome for us all, and it is with help from caring individuals , community leaders and businesses like yours that we are able to expand our reach and create a lasting impact for our children.

Meet The Founders

Help Us Celebrating a Decade of Impact: 

HUFOY’s 10th Annual Back to School Rally


As we mark ten powerful years of service, Heads Up For Our Youth (HUFOY) proudly announces the upcoming 10th Annual Back to School Rally, taking place on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the First Horizon Special Event Center in Greensboro, NC.
What began as a local initiative to help ease the burden for families has grown into one of the most impactful back-to-school events in the region—serving thousands of students and families with the resources they need to succeed.

🎒 Why This Event Matters

Education is the foundation of opportunity, and no child should start the school year without the tools they need to thrive. That’s why we are committed to distributing 1,000 bookbags filled with essential school supplies—free of charge. These bookbags are more than just items—they represent hope, confidence, and preparedness for the classroom.
For many families, this rally helps close the gap between financial hardship and academic readiness. When students feel prepared, they walk into the school year with their heads up, ready to learn, grow, and succeed.
 

🏀 More Than a Giveaway – A Celebration of Youth

 
This year’s rally will feature our most dynamic programming yet, including:
  • A Youth Basketball Tournament for ages 12–15
  • A Halftime Show, Dunk Contest, Skills Challenge, and Tug of War
  • Face painting, games, and fun for all ages
  • Over 20 community resource partners offering:
    • Voter registration
    • Free health screenings
    • Job opportunities
    • Mentorship, enrichment, and more
       
🤝 Call for Sponsors, Partners, and Community Resources
 
As we prepare for this milestone event, we’re inviting sponsors, vendors, and resource organizations to be a part of this celebration. We are especially seeking organizations and businesses that:
  • Serve youth and families
  • Offer educational, health, or career development services
  • Want to make a measurable impact in our community
     
If you are interested in sponsoring a portion of the rally, becoming a vendor, or offering your services as a community resource, we want to hear from you!
 
📍 Register or learn more at: www.hufoy.org
📧 Email us at: hufoy.org@gmail.com
📞 Call us at: 336-340-2171

💬 A Word From Our Founder
 
“This event has always been about more than school supplies—it’s about lifting our youth, reminding them of their worth, and surrounding them with a village that wants to see them win. Ten years in, and we’re just getting started.”

Dwayne Shaw, Executive Director
Join us this August as we celebrate “The Big 10: Ten Years. One Mission.” Let’s honor a decade of empowering youth—and build the foundation for ten more.

Back To School Rally 2024

This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, whose contributions were key to making the rally a memorable occasion:

– Truliant Federal Credit Union
– Smart Flip
– Red Classic
– Greensboro Coliseum Complex
– Heads Up Barber and Beauty
– Batson-Cook Construction Company
– Modern Infiniti

Your partnership helped us make a lasting impact on the lives of so many young students, and for that, we are deeply grateful.

Message from Jelani Boone

Our Story

Rick Morton, DC Creighton, Tank Robinson, Kirk Thorpe, Michael McGorda, Jason Cox, Phil Lawson, Jarus Rice, Dwayne Shaw

 (not show in photo Grade A Dre, Myles and Crystal) 

Heads Up Barber and Beauty was more than just a place for haircuts; it was a hub of community spirit and service. Rick Morton and Dwayne Shaw, along with their team of barber brothers, had cultivated an atmosphere where conversation flowed as freely as the clippers buzzed.

One day, while Rick was deftly shaping a client’s hair, he was approached by none other than Kerry Charles, a Fox 8 News anchor. Kerry, struck by the camaraderie and sense of purpose in the barbershop, proposed an idea to Rick: What if they offered free haircuts to a group of students in need?

Rick, always receptive to opportunities to give back, immediately embraced the idea. And thus, the Big Brother Barber program was born. With the support of Dwayne and their barber brothers, they began offering free haircuts to students, coupled with mentorship and guidance.

The program quickly gained traction, with each event drawing more students and volunteers eager to make a difference. As word spread, so did the impact of the program, touching the lives of countless young individuals in the community.

However, Rick, Dwayne, and their team realized that there was more they could do to support the youth in their community. They saw a need for financial literacy education and resources, recognizing that empowerment went beyond just a fresh haircut.

So, they expanded their efforts, launching the Financial Literacy Program to equip young people with the knowledge and skills they needed to navigate their financial futures confidently.

But they didn’t stop there. They knew that education was key to breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering young people to reach their full potential. And so, they established the Annual Back to School Rally, providing students with essential school supplies and resources to start the academic year off right.

To date, the impact of Heads Up For Our Youth continues to grow, touching the lives of countless young people in Greensboro and beyond. From humble beginnings in a barbershop to a thriving nonprofit organization, Rick, Dwayne, and their team remain committed to uplifting and empowering the youth in their community, one haircut, one lesson, and one school supply at a time.

© 2022 Heads Up For Our Youth All Rights Reserved.

501(c)(3) Nonprofit, Tax I.D. 47-3146377