COLUMBUS - The SaMarc Dream and Achieve Foundation returned to Columbus State University to host it's annual youth basketball camp inside the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center on CSU's main campus from July 24-July 27.

Columbus, Ga. natives, graduates of Columbus High School, and childhood friends Sam Mitchell and Marc Upshaw co-founded the Georgia non-profit in 2006 and have been serving the community to enlighten the lives of children and teens since. The foundation instills to the youth the desire to strive for all the best life has to offer to them, by securing an education, having a dream, and fostering that dream. Mitchell and Upshaw believe that no matter what environment, campers can achieve the best life possible.

"As kids we always talked about growing up and if we were ever successful, what we wanted to come back home and do for the community," said Mitchell. "Over 19 years, we've had over 5,000 kids come through the camp; males, females, all different cultures from all different parts of the community."

The SaMarc Foundation offers summer basketball camps for the youth ages 10-18, where campers receive daily coaching instructions, inspirational speeches from local, successful professionals, as well as lunches and snacks. CSU assistant men's basketball coach Jalen Butler, former men's basketball graduate assistant coach, student-athlete and alumni Karl Ivey, and former men's basketball assistant coach Corry Black were selected to work the camp.

"It was an honor and privilege to be selected to work the SaMarc camp and give back to the youth of Columbus," commented Butler. "It was also a great opportunity for these young kids to see everything that we have to offer at Columbus State as an academic institution."

Upshaw played collegiately at the University of Rhode Island, graduating in 1984. A Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame 2014 inductee, Upshaw is the CEO of Global Diagnostic Services, Inc. in Conyers, Ga. Mitchell played overseas for three years, followed by a 13-year NBA career playing for the Indiana Pacers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is the former head coach of the Toronto Raptors and was also inducted into the Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

To learn more information about the SaMarc Foundation and it's basketball camps, visit www.samarcfoundation.org.