Operation CARE

Commitment. Accountability. Respect. Effort.

Operation CARE is a community initiative founded by Draft Prep Association Founder Malik Boynton to help at-risk youth and their families bridge the gap between their current circumstances and long-term success.

CARE stands for:

• C — Commitment

• A — Accountability

• R — Respect

• E — Effort

The philosophy behind Operation CARE is simple: young people need more than athletic opportunities. They need consistent mentorship, structure, accountability, academic support, life-skills development, and access to people and resources that can help them build a successful future.

Through Operation CARE, Draft Prep Association works to connect student-athletes and families with opportunities in education, athletics, career development, mentorship, recruiting, leadership, and personal growth. The program is specifically designed to support young people who may face financial, social, or environmental barriers that can make the path to success more difficult.

Draft Prep Association believes that athletics can be a powerful vehicle for development, but the ultimate goal is to develop the person beyond the athlete.

THE MALACHI HAYES SCHOLARSHIP

A central component of Operation CARE is the Malachi Hayes Scholarship, established to honor the life and legacy of Malachi Hayes of Arlington, Texas.

Malachi Hayes was an Arlington Sam Houston High School student-athlete and standout basketball player. A 6-foot-6 guard/forward, Hayes was part of Sam Houston's successful 2022–23 basketball team and earned recognition as a District 8-6A first-team selection. In February 2023, he scored 20 points in Sam Houston's 70–59 victory over state-ranked Arlington Martin.

Hayes graduated from Sam Houston High School in 2024. His life was tragically cut short in March 2026, when he was fatally shot in Arlington at the age of 20. The Arlington Police Department investigated the shooting and subsequently announced arrests in connection with the case.

For those who knew Malachi personally, his legacy extends beyond statistics and basketball accomplishments. Draft Prep Association's program materials describe him as an outstanding student-athlete whose life was affected by a career-altering injury before his death. The organization created the scholarship as a way to transform his story into an opportunity for another young person.

The Malachi Hayes Scholarship is therefore more than financial assistance. It represents the belief that a young person's circumstances do not have to determine their future.

OUR PURPOSE

Operation CARE seeks to:

Develop Character
Teach young people the importance of commitment, accountability, respect, and effort in every area of life.

Create Opportunity
Provide access to academic, athletic, recruiting, career, and mentorship opportunities that may otherwise be difficult for families to access.

Support Families
Recognize that youth development requires a family-centered approach and connect families with resources that can help them move forward.

Honor Legacy
Use the Malachi Hayes Scholarship to preserve Malachi's memory by investing in another young person's future.

Bridge the Gap
Help close the distance between where a young person is today and where they have the potential to be tomorrow.

THE OPERATION CARE COMMITMENT

Draft Prep Association believes every young person deserves an opportunity to be seen, supported, challenged, and developed.

Operation CARE exists to provide that opportunity.

Commitment. Accountability. Respect. Effort.

CARE isn't just an acronym. It's a standard for living, developing, and succeeding.