The Hartford Knights is a non-profit organization that began in 2000 by Executive Director, Bernard Thomas. The Hartford Knights Youth Organization (HKYO) began as a basketball-centric association and grew into a mentoring service organization for at-risk youth.
Thomas realized after years of coaching young men in basketball, that there was a need for long term changes for these youth. He decided to utilize athletics to influence their academics. In 2005, the Organization had begun an academic enrichment and mentoring program. As time went on, the HKYO connected with local schools, the Department of Family and Children Services (DCF), Connecticut’s Court Support Services Division (CSSD), and other referring agencies to mentor youth in Hartford’s Promise Zone.
Mission Statement: Hartford Knights Youth Organization's mission is to enhance the lives of youth in the Greater Hartford Area by providing academic enrichment, youth intervention services and organized sports programs that promote career readiness, character building and other leadership skills development.