Rodney Hood Quotes

My mission is to let black kids know that their dreams can happen.

In Kenya, I met wonderful girls; girls who wanted to help their communities. I was with them in their school, listening to their dreams. They still have hope. They want to be doctor and teachers and engineers.

I am building a foundation in Cameroon, and it's not just about the sport. The goal of the foundation is not to make a UFC fighter. It's to help kids believe in their dream, to have a dream, to have a purpose in life.

I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would have my very own school - no way. And I had no idea I'd be coaching girls. It's wild.

Now that Obama's president, it changes inner-city youths. They can now not just dream to be Lil Waynes and 50 Cents, but they can now dream to be Obamas.

I want to be a beacon to kids like me, the ones who grow up without hope.

I plan with the BBC African Player of the Year award to become an agent of hope and positive change in the lives of the millions of African youths who have lost hope and are deprived.

It's an honor for me to contribute to Houston's younger generations and show them that 'smart is cool.'

When I come to schools like Norton Primary Academy and meet children who have their lives and careers before them, I hope in some small way that I can inspire them to do better by sharing my own story with them and telling them never to give up on their dreams.

If I can give that back to one little girl, much less thousands, and if they start on this journey because they saw me do this, then I did a good thing with my career and my life.

A lot of those young folks look up to me in the city of Houston. I give hope and inspiration and try to change people's lives for the better in the city of Houston.

When I started Giants of Africa, I envisioned providing African youth access to the game and empowering them to achieve their greatest potential.

I realise I have inadvertently become a source of inspiration and hope for people in India simply by the fact that I grew up there, went to my local university, but could go on to do well internationally.

I've achieved 'the American dream.' I feel it's my duty to help others achieve their vision, too - especially the youth.

When I go speak to these kids through my foundation and am able to sit down and tell them some of the things that I've been through, they can look up and relate to me, and they can understand the feelings I had that are similar to what they're going through and feeling.

Education is our greatest opportunity to give an irrevocable gift to the next generation.

'Million Dollar Arm' touches on many of the Safe At Home Foundation's core values, such as children, teamwork and family.

You can do anything if you set your mind to it. Look out for kids, help them dream and be inspired. We teach calculus in schools, but I believe the most important formula is courage plus dreams equals success.

Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.

I do feel I have a responsibility to the youths. For real.

Nancy Lopez has always been a role model of mine... so to have the opportunity to play for her and spend time with her has been amazing.

No matter what color you are, if you mentor some little boy or girl, you make a huge difference in their lives because they then model behavior that leads to success versus modeling behavior that doesn't.

On 'Sufferer,' I'm talking about the younger generation that has no other option for success than to find a gun somewhere. I try to appeal to them: 'I know you a sufferer, but it doesn't mean that you can't or shouldn't expect any better.' It's a lot different than from what I usually say, like, 'Get busy, shake that thing.'

Encouragement from my high school teacher Patty Hart said 'you need to focus and theater might be your route out of here.' I created the program, went to college and graduate school and now here I am.

The way that I opened the door for the young people that come from where I come from and that have a different background, that is what I want to be remembered for.