KC Basketball and ShotTracker Team Up in 'Buckets for Breakthrough' Challenge
1/8/2026 1:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
Every shot the Roos make supports Operation Breakthrough's new K-5 elementary school “Breakthrough Academy”
Kansas City Men's and Women's basketball are partnering with Operation Breakthrough in a race to hit 250,000 practice shots in support of Kansas City's youth. The campaign runs from December 2025 through February 2026 to coincide with the Roos' Summit League Conference schedule. Every shot tracked by ShotTracker unlocks funding for Breakthrough Academy, a new K-5 school for Kansas City kids. Two teams. One goal.
Mary Esselman, President and CEO of Operation Breakthrough, shared her excitement about this partnership:
"We are excited to partner with Kansas City men's and women's basketball and ShotTracker to showcase how, through one bucket, one milestone, and one child at a time, we all can help build a STEM-infused elementary school with strong social services and health support available for each child. The fundraiser will also highlight how every Roos' men's and women's practice at will help fuel a child's future at our new Breakthrough Academy."
Buckets For Breakthrough is an innovative charity campaign that transforms every shot taken by the Kansas City Roos men's and women's basketball teams into an opportunity to make a difference in the Kansas City community. Through this unique sponsorship initiative, supporters can pledge donations based on shots made during the season, with all proceeds benefiting Operation Breakthrough and their "Breakthrough Academy." Whether it's a three-pointer from the arc or a clutch free throw, every basket scored by the Roos directly translates into support for Operation Breakthrough's mission to provide hope, opportunity, and a brighter future for Kansas City's most vulnerable children. Fans and community members are invited to participate by sponsoring shots at https://shottracker.com/buckets-for-breakthrough/, turning Roos basketball into a powerful force for positive change in our community.
"Our coaches and student-athletes are excited to partner with ShotTracker to make a meaningful impact in the Kansas City community through Operation Breakthrough," said UMKC Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dr. Brandon Martin. "Breakthrough Academy will be a tremendous resource for Kansas City youth, and our student-athletes, coaches, and supporters can take great pride in helping bring such an impactful initiative to life."
Operation Breakthrough's "Breakthrough Academy," is a new K-5 elementary school designed to close academic gaps and support student growth. The academy is currently piloting Kindergarten, 1st, 4th, and 5th grade, and will be a fully-operational K-5 school next year. Breakthrough Academy provides small student-to-teacher ratios in order to fully focus on inquiry and project-based learning, hands-on activities, creative problem solving, and critical thinking while integrating STEM concepts throughout these different subjects. The launch of this school reflects Operation Breakthrough's commitment to innovative education that prepares students for long-term academic success.
"The Buckets For Breakthrough campaign showcases the power of combining sports technology with community impact," said Davyeon Ross, Co-Founder and CEO at ShotTracker. "Our platform tracks every shot the Roos take this season, turning athletic performance into measurable support for Kansas City's kids. When technology meets purpose, everybody wins."
To donate and follow the campaign, please go to: https://shottracker.com/buckets-for-breakthrough/
Operation Breakthrough
Operation Breakthrough is a nationally recognized nonprofit located in Kansas City that provides a safe, loving and educational environment for children in poverty and empowers their families through advocacy, emergency aid and education. For over 50 years, this organization has served children and families living in the urban core, providing early childhood education and wraparound services that create long-term pathways to success for both our children and their families. Through targeted educational programs and strong partnerships within our community, Operation Breakthrough addresses systemic barriers to learning and works to ensure every child has access to equal opportunities. For more information, visit https://operationbreakthrough.org/
About Kansas City Athletics
The Kansas City Roos compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League Conference. Kansas City Athletics is committed to excellence in competition, academics, and community engagement. For more information, visit kcroos.com/
About ShotTracker
ShotTracker is a leading basketball technology platform that provides AI-powered video analytics, automated statistics, and performance-tracking solutions for college basketball programs nationwide. The company's integrated platform—featuring game-day video, practice tracking, and engagement tools—serves championship programs across all divisions. ShotTracker is headquartered in Lenexa, KS. For more information, visit shottracker.com.
Mary Esselman, President and CEO of Operation Breakthrough, shared her excitement about this partnership:
"We are excited to partner with Kansas City men's and women's basketball and ShotTracker to showcase how, through one bucket, one milestone, and one child at a time, we all can help build a STEM-infused elementary school with strong social services and health support available for each child. The fundraiser will also highlight how every Roos' men's and women's practice at will help fuel a child's future at our new Breakthrough Academy."
Buckets For Breakthrough is an innovative charity campaign that transforms every shot taken by the Kansas City Roos men's and women's basketball teams into an opportunity to make a difference in the Kansas City community. Through this unique sponsorship initiative, supporters can pledge donations based on shots made during the season, with all proceeds benefiting Operation Breakthrough and their "Breakthrough Academy." Whether it's a three-pointer from the arc or a clutch free throw, every basket scored by the Roos directly translates into support for Operation Breakthrough's mission to provide hope, opportunity, and a brighter future for Kansas City's most vulnerable children. Fans and community members are invited to participate by sponsoring shots at https://shottracker.com/buckets-for-breakthrough/, turning Roos basketball into a powerful force for positive change in our community.
"Our coaches and student-athletes are excited to partner with ShotTracker to make a meaningful impact in the Kansas City community through Operation Breakthrough," said UMKC Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dr. Brandon Martin. "Breakthrough Academy will be a tremendous resource for Kansas City youth, and our student-athletes, coaches, and supporters can take great pride in helping bring such an impactful initiative to life."
Operation Breakthrough's "Breakthrough Academy," is a new K-5 elementary school designed to close academic gaps and support student growth. The academy is currently piloting Kindergarten, 1st, 4th, and 5th grade, and will be a fully-operational K-5 school next year. Breakthrough Academy provides small student-to-teacher ratios in order to fully focus on inquiry and project-based learning, hands-on activities, creative problem solving, and critical thinking while integrating STEM concepts throughout these different subjects. The launch of this school reflects Operation Breakthrough's commitment to innovative education that prepares students for long-term academic success.
"The Buckets For Breakthrough campaign showcases the power of combining sports technology with community impact," said Davyeon Ross, Co-Founder and CEO at ShotTracker. "Our platform tracks every shot the Roos take this season, turning athletic performance into measurable support for Kansas City's kids. When technology meets purpose, everybody wins."
To donate and follow the campaign, please go to: https://shottracker.com/buckets-for-breakthrough/
Operation Breakthrough
Operation Breakthrough is a nationally recognized nonprofit located in Kansas City that provides a safe, loving and educational environment for children in poverty and empowers their families through advocacy, emergency aid and education. For over 50 years, this organization has served children and families living in the urban core, providing early childhood education and wraparound services that create long-term pathways to success for both our children and their families. Through targeted educational programs and strong partnerships within our community, Operation Breakthrough addresses systemic barriers to learning and works to ensure every child has access to equal opportunities. For more information, visit https://operationbreakthrough.org/
About Kansas City Athletics
The Kansas City Roos compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League Conference. Kansas City Athletics is committed to excellence in competition, academics, and community engagement. For more information, visit kcroos.com/
About ShotTracker
ShotTracker is a leading basketball technology platform that provides AI-powered video analytics, automated statistics, and performance-tracking solutions for college basketball programs nationwide. The company's integrated platform—featuring game-day video, practice tracking, and engagement tools—serves championship programs across all divisions. ShotTracker is headquartered in Lenexa, KS. For more information, visit shottracker.com.
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