So far M.A.S. has been able to support 2 different classrooms in two different states. How? With a book I wrote titled “Let The Kids Play” and M.A.S. Apparel.

The mission started when friends of mine were talking about all the money they spend out of pocket for their classrooms each year. Also, some mentioned they couldn’t afford to purchase certain supplies, therefore some projects were simply not able to be completed. A few of them even mentioned not having enough funding to purchase the supplies the curriculum called for, let alone any extra materials. This got me thinking, and made me want to help, although I didn’t realize I had the potential to help just yet, it was just over the horizon. One day my wife (Erin) came home with a copy of the book ” Start Something That Matters”, it is the story of TOMS shoes. After reading that book, and then reading Seth Godins’ Blog, I began to realize all I had to do to make a difference was, SOMETHING.

At this point in time, I began thinking of many ways to help, and the original idea was created in the apartment of Tim and Ali Frankhouse on Front Street in Traverse City, Michigan. Ali, is a fashion designer who is working on her Masters in Merchandising and Marketing. Ali, doesn’t always say something is a bad idea, but here face sure does.

So what was the bad idea? It was an apparel company focused around long sleeve shirts with wristbandd sewn onto the sleeve with the logo on the wristband. Why? Because I thought the wristband would stand out. Ali, said I was onto something, which was a nice way of saying, try a different direction. Well, obviously I did, and thank goodness, because I think the other idea was great in concept but the market for the shirts was small…very small.

So over the course of the next few weeks, with the help of Erin, I settled on M.A.S. M.A.S. stands for Motivate and Support, this is our mission and we do it “Everyday, All Day” the support comes from the supplies we give, the Motivation comes in many different forms, but it is usually direct contact with the youth. We motivate through coaching, baseball lessons, weight lifting sessions, but mostly through positive interactions with the kids we come in contact with on a regular basis, through the indoor baseball facility. The goal is to make them understand anything is possible, and they should dream and dream big, but then put the work into their dream in order for it to become a reality. We talk about failure, and that it is always an option, but that should never scare you away from going after something.

After the concept was finished, I worked closely with a few players I used to coach at Davenport University. Derek Gentile did the design work, and Ty Beatty helped with design concepts, and getting the word out. Also, I would be an awful son if I didn’t say to this day, My mother has been the most successful salesperson and word spreader of anyone involved, and my Aunt Pat has chipped in a ton as well. So as you can see, I have a very strong team. Now that we have a team, we need a product, the only problem was, there was exactly ZERO dollars to order and print shirts. I needed help, but I didn’t want an actual loan, so I created a power point presentation and then reached out to few contacts to help me set up a meeting with a guy who had the means to get me what I needed. What did I need? 100 shirts ordered and printed with no upfront cost and 4 month terms. The meeting was set, and I presented my idea. The response was, “I think you have a lot of energy and passion for this mission, I don’t think selling shirts and a book are going to make you any money, but I believe in you, so I will give you 100 shirts with the terms you need”. He added, “You are crazy to give $5 from each shirt sale away, that is too much”. Funny thing is I still think it isn’t enough, but I simply cannot give anymore away.

VICTORY…well not yet, now I had to get the shirts, sell them, make the drops, spread the word, sell more shirts, find more classrooms, sell more books, make enough money to pay back my debt, order more shirts, sell more shirts, drop more supplies, hopefully build a website, sell more shirts. Why do I have to sell so many shirts? Because I am not going to put any money into the company, I am going to let this grow slowly and surely. I need to build a brand that people believe in, and so far I think it is working. The key is trust and honesty. People have to trust me to do what I say I am going to do with the money, and I have to be honest about where the money is going, and then deliver the supplies. So far so good, and I believe this mission is worth the time and effort, I hope you do to.
So that is the story so far, I hope it gets longer and longer, with your support.

With your support, the first order has been paid off, two classrooms were given supplies they needed and there is still money left over for more classrooms to receive help. Also, some people have sent in more money than they owe, and any extra money sent in goes to school supplies, and I mean 100% of it.

I published “Let The Kids Play” on my own, and I simply send it out via email for $5. I started the apparel company with $0 dollars, simply because I didn’t have any money to put into it. I used my resources and created it based solely on terms of payment.

M.A.S. is a for profit business that gives a portion of each sale (Not Profits) of each sale away to school supplies. The supplies are then purchased by myself, close friends, or other M.A.S. ambassadors that I trust with the money. The supplies are also delivered by us personally as well.

In case you are wondering the concept is simple, make money and give back. My goal is to eventually make a living doing something meaningful and something that truly makes a difference.

For every book sold I give $2.50 to school supplies

For every shirt purchased I give $5 to school supplies

If someone purchases a shirt and a book I give 100% of the book purchase to school supplies. That means a $30 purchase raises $10 for school supplies.

How can you get a copy of “Let The Kids Play” or buy a shirt, or better yet, both? Send me an email at:
samflamont@yahoo.com

I can’t wait to hear from you

Black M.A.S. Shirt

Recently I have received phone calls and emails from former players, and they made me realize I had accomplished what I set out to accomplish as a coach. I wanted to make a difference, I wanted to help the kids I coached become better people. I once said in an interview for a coaching job that I would rather be .500 with a bunch of players who were good people and wanted to do something with their lives, rather than winning a championship with a bunch of guys who didn’t care about graduation, their future, or each other. I meant that then and I still mean that today, baseball isn’t about rings, its about people.

These phone calls and emails made me understand that I achieved what I set out to accomplish, and I want to thank you for making the calls and sending the emails. I had no idea that I made such a difference in the lives of so many young men, and these calls and emails, gave me the push I needed to get moving again.

When I realized it wasn’t the coaching that I truly missed, I decided to do something that would allow me to stay involved in what I am truly passionate about; making a difference in the lives of the youth.

How am I doing this?

I started an apparel company in which I give $5 from each product sold to the purchase of school supplies. Also, I wrote a book that I sell via email for $5 and I give half of the book sales to the purchase of school supplies. I personally purchase and deliver these supplies. I am starting locally, and then hoping to spread out as the mission grows.

I know I cannot solve the issues that are hurting our schools and our children, but I can do something, and that is what I am doing. My question to you is; what if we all did something, not to solve an issue but to contribute whatever we could to help. If we did that we may find that others close to us will support the mission and it may end up growing to something bigger, and you may inspire someone else to start doing whatever they can do.

If you would like to know more about what I am doing please email me at:

samflamont@yahoo.com

Below is a sample of my book “Let The Kids Play” you can get the book for “Free of Five”, just send me your email and I will send you a copy.  Enjoy

Even after my college and professional playing experience nothing beats the front yard baseball game.  Even though I did not become a great ball player in the front yard, the things I learned have stuck with me my entire life.

Let us go back to our neighborhood growing up.  Do you remember when you would go outside to play with the kids on you block.  I remember because I was the youngest and smallest, and if you share that characteristic with me, then you will remember how many times you got beat, and beat bad by the older kids at everything you did. 

It did not matter, you hit a ball, they hit it further, you caught a pass they tackled the crap out of you, you went up for a shot, they blocked it.  Remember all those failures and all those losses, and remember how day after day you went back for more.  You never quit because you could not win, you never went around the block to look for kids younger than you so you could pounce on them, you stuck it out, you played harder, you still lost but you kept on trying.  Then remember the one day, when you finally learned how to pump fake, or figured out how you had to spin when he tried to tackle you, and you made the lay up and you scored the touchdown. 

You have to remember the sense of accomplishment in something as little as a backyard game, but it was way more to you then that, it was proof that you were getting better, proof you could do what nobody thought you could do.  Also, remember how you had no parent there protecting you or teaching you, it was all you, and that made it all the more sweet. 

Think back to you verse the neighborhood Goliath and when you do, remember the sweet sound that is missing from today’s games, that sweet sound of silence.  No fans, no parents yelling at you to do it like this!! Pump fake, pump fake, I said pump fake!!! All you had was yourself, your opponent, and the feeling of accomplishment you could take home.  And take it home is what you did, and at dinner time you told your parents about the days achievements and they smiled and were proud of you.  They were proud of you because you were proud of yourself and then they went on talking about adult things while you mixed your corn and mashed potatoes together and just sat there smiling.

samflamont@yahoo.com

I said 6-8 weeks, but I just shipped in 1 week instead

The Title of the book is “Let The Kids Play”

If you would like a copy please email me.  You will not find this book in stores as I am not trying to get it published through a large publisher.  I am actually not quite sure how I want to distribute it yet, I might just email it to people and if they like it, they can pay for it and if they don’t like it, then it is on me. 

It is all about trust and the honor system, plus I didn’t write the book to get rich, I wrote it because it needed to be written.

So if you would like a copy just email me at:

samflamont@yahoo.com