About us
The seed for Stroke of Love was sowed early on in DJ Augustin’s life through the teachings of his grandfather, Salvadore “Sal” Dufauchard, who instilled in him a passion for service and love for his community as a young child. Mr. Dufauchard transitioned from this life to the next, but his lessons, coupled with the Augustin family’s commitment to community and demonstrated perseverance, has served as the driving force behind the organization’s mission, core values and programs. Since the start of DJ’s NBA career, the Augustin family has sponsored and managed the summertime DJ Augustin Basketball Camp, which has seen the evolution of young boys train in their primary school years to going on to play in college and even the NBA. In 2019, Stroke of Love became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in order to garner the necessary resources to serve more youth, grow its programs and deepen its roots in the New Orleans and Houston communities. Stroke of Love is headed by an active and passionate Board of Directors composed of members of the Augustin family, and is supported through a network of devoted volunteers and community leaders.
Our Core Values
Youth Leadership Development
Key tenets of positive youth development include self-knowledge, social interaction and physical and emotional health, which can be facilitated through basketball skills development.
Servant Leadership
Through basketball play youth learn that achieving a win lies not in one’s individual ability but, in the collective ability of the team to be victorious. This also translates into a young person’s understanding of how to be an effective servant leader, in which leadership is centered on the well-being and growth of the people and communities in which they belong. 1
Mentorship
Through skills training youth are coached by local community figures, positive role models whom they can learn how to be effective team players and leaders.
Community Service
By exposing youth to acts of service they develop a passion for helping those less fortunate or in need, and grow a desire to transform their community into vibrant places where all can prosper.
Our Vision
The cities of New Orleans and Houston are near and dear to the Augustin Family, communities they call home. This is where Stroke of Love is currently based with the goal that more youth in these cities serve as change agents and are active in giving back in these communities, so
that if disaster should ever strike, as experienced in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey, it will be cadres of young leaders who are at the helm of caring for the city’s most vulnerable populations. In the near future, Stroke of Love will grow to build young
leaders in additional cities that have also had an impact in the lives of the Augustin family. In so doing, Stroke of Love’s reach will expand and more lives can be positively impacted, leaving a legacy of service and growth experienced for generations to come.
Board of Directors + Officers
DJ Augustin
Co-Founder + Board Chair
Vanessa Augustin
Vice Chair
Greer Augustin
Board Member
Brandy Augustin
Co-Founder + Secretary
Mia Wiltz
Treasurer
Darryl Augustin, Sr.
Board Member