A fee should never be the reason a kid misses their chance.
Dr. Meshach McKnight
Dr. Meshach McKnight, known to most as Coach Tafa, grew up in Jamaica and found in sport the same things he later found in the classroom: discipline, community, and a way forward.
From 2012 to 2016, Dr. McKnight played libero for his university’s men’s volleyball team while also competing on the triathlon team. In 2016, he was named a finalist for the Erik Shoji Award, which recognizes the top libero in NCAA Division I/II men’s volleyball. He held the program’s career record for digs until 2024 and will be inducted into his university’s Hall of Fame in October 2026.
As a senior, Dr. McKnight received the prestigious Bill White Student-Athlete Award. Presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete, the award recognizes outstanding athletic achievement, meaningful community involvement, and a demonstrated commitment to personal growth.
He holds a doctorate in Mathematics and Educational Leadership, and has spent his career working with students and young athletes from elementary school through college, including youth outreach and classroom work across the US and in Malawi.
The Foundation exists because he has seen, again and again, how much talent gets left on the sideline for reasons that have nothing to do with ability, only access. This is his answer to that.
Every figure below is read from the Foundation’s own ledgers, not typed by hand.
Four pillars, one goal.
Athlete Access
Scholarships that remove cost as a barrier to playing.
Program Excellence
Coaching, training, and development resources.
Community Growth
Expanding clinics and outreach into more neighborhoods.
Organizational Sustainability
Building a Foundation that can serve kids for years.
Read more
Foundation events
Come play. Our fundraisers pay for the same scholarships, equipment and clinics a gift does.
Apply for a Scholarship
The scholarship covers registration and club fees, plus equipment and gear, for young athletes with financial need. Awards are based on need alone and reviewed on a rolling basis each season.
- Open to registered or registering athletes
- Covers registration, club fees, equipment, and gear
- Reviewed and issued on a rolling basis each season
- Optional media consent for photos and highlights in Foundation posts
Make a Gift
Every dollar funds scholarships, equipment, and free community clinics for kids who need it.
Or partner with us as a corporate sponsor:
Season-defining support — underwrites multiple full scholarships and anchors a community clinic.
Funds full-season scholarships and equipment for athletes with financial need.
Covers an athlete's registration and club fees for a season.
Outfits athletes with the gear they need to step on the court.
Volunteer with us
Fundraisers, clinics, paperwork — the Foundation runs on people who give an evening. Leave your name and we’ll reach out when the next one needs hands.