Justin Kittredge (‘00) works at Reebok International in Canton, Mass., in the basketball division as a senior product manager. A basketball junkie his whole live, he recently broke the Guinness World Record for the most basketball free throws under two minutes.

Records are one thing, being the change quite another. Justin and his wife, Lindsey, founded a non-profit in Boston that coaches, educates and mentors young men and women through the game of basketball. They are working on a new ‘Sabbatical Program’ that will grant graduating college seniors the rare opportunity to experience a 10-month international, independent study in Africa and China, its mission being to give back to the global community through the sport of basketball. The Kossengwe Foundation in Nigeria, the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Program in Senegal and Team Yao and the Yao Ming Foundation in China are Shooting Touch, Inc.’s overseas affiliates. The sabbatical nominees will work within each organization supporting the program goals of using basketball to influence positive social change in each country.

A different way to make a difference!

Erin Johnson (‘06) and her friends created www.jumpbecause.com. Great pictures, jumping for fun and for a cause. Check it out.

Newsleader.com reports that gifted and talented program students from Staunton Public Schools got acquainted with the stars at the James Madison University Planetarium as part of the district’s weeklong summer enrichment camp.

Have you had a chance to visit lately? The students say it best: “This is so cool!”

When the National Alliance for Caregiving and MetLife Foundation awarded recognition to innovative caregivers making a difference in the lives of others, JMU’s Caregivers Community Network was on the list. The CCN recruits and trains community volunteers and students to provide respite and companion care services to families caring for the frail and disabled.

An honor well deserved.

…that’s how JMU’s football coach Mickey Matthews explained his 10-day visit with U.S. troops in Qatar and Afghanistan. According to the report on WHSV.com Matthews had a chance to meet up with soldiers with JMU ties during his trip.

Morale boosting, being the change.

Just learned that the JMU Chorale just won the Youth Choir Division at the Llangollen International Music Festival in Llangollen, Wales. Way to go! Competition continues today and tomorrow, and Madison Singers and chorale members will be performing.

Today’s Daily News Record reports on a new partnership for JMU. The university’s agreement with the Center for Advanced Engineering and Research, an energy-research firm based in Lynchburg, should bring more research opportunities to JMU’s students and faculty.

More opportunities for research, more opportunities for positive change.

We’ve had some new faces appear on Be the Change this month: Vickie Dodson (‘90), a teacher with a big heart; Towana Moore, JMU associate vice president for business and a practical environmentalist; Maria Papadakis, integrated science and technology professor and sustainability educator; Avery Daugherty (‘07, ‘09M), who shares his passion for music in a unique way; Margaret Bagnardi, JMU nursing professor; Brittany Williams (‘05), Miss United States 2008; and Bobby McMahon with Habitat for Humanity International.

Check out their profiles!

Just learned that Caitlin Uze (‘10) will also be competing in the Miss Virginia pageant (another JMU student, Erika Thomas is in the competition as well). You’ll enjoy Caitlin’s remarks about her platform “Building Positive Self Image” reported in “The Winchester Star.” It’s a great message.

Read a nice profile on JMU’s Inman Majors, author of “The Millionaires,” in Knoxville, Tenn.’s “Metro Pulse.”… Have you read his novel? It’s popular in Knoxville!