The Organization
Take Back the Neighborhood (TBTN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by former NFL Defensive Back Sherman Cocroft—a man who went from setting untouched interception records at Cabrillo College to picking off legends like John Elway and Warren Moon during his NFL career (1985–1990).
But Sherman’s greatest play happened off the field. TBTN was built on a conviction that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. The organization uses the high-energy environment of football and athletics to engage youth in underserved communities, wrapping sports training with academic support, mentorship, and character development.
The numbers speak for themselves:
- 500+ youth directly impacted
- 83% college enrollment rate among participants
- 100% graduation rate for active members
- 15+ neighborhoods served across California
- 50+ active mentors, including multiple NFL veterans
TBTN events feature direct coaching from NFL legends like Sherman Cocroft, Vince Ferragamo, Mike Alexander, Erroll Tucker, and others—giving kids access to role models and training that would otherwise be out of reach.
The Challenge
TBTN’s mission is powerful. But like many grassroots nonprofits, the organization’s technology hadn’t kept pace with its ambition.
A website that couldn’t match the mission. TBTN’s primary digital presence—the tool for recruiting volunteers, registering youth for camps, driving sponsorship, and accepting donations—needed professional hosting, security, and ongoing management. Downtime or a breach could directly impact fundraising and event registration.
Events with real-time technology demands. TBTN’s flagship events—charity football camps, the Super Bowl LX NFL Players Party, VIP experiences, and community days—require on-site technology coordination: registration systems, check-in, audio/visual, sponsor displays, payment processing, and Wi-Fi for staff and volunteers. A technology failure at a live event doesn’t just cause inconvenience—it undermines donor and sponsor confidence.
No dedicated IT team. Like most nonprofits operating on donated funds and volunteer energy, TBTN had no internal technology staff. When something broke, it meant pulling focus from the mission to troubleshoot IT problems.
Donor and sponsor trust. TBTN handles donor payment information through Stripe, manages sponsor relationships with associated business data, and stores personal information for hundreds of youth registrants and their families. Protecting that data isn’t optional—it’s a trust obligation.
The AdVran Solution
AdVran partners with TBTN as their complete technology team—managing their infrastructure, protecting their data, and showing up in person when events need boots on the ground.
Managed IT Services
Full Infrastructure Management
We own the technology stack end-to-end. Email systems, cloud storage, file sharing, collaboration tools, and user accounts are centrally managed by AdVran. When TBTN staff or volunteers need tech support, they reach us directly—no bouncing between vendors, no waiting days for a response.
Website Hosting & Management
tbtncharity.org is the front door to the mission—it’s where families register their children for camps, where sponsors learn about partnership opportunities, and where donors contribute. We manage:
- Hosting on a performance-optimized, secure environment with 99.9% uptime
- SSL enforcement and security hardening to protect every visitor and transaction
- Automated backups ensuring the site can be restored rapidly if anything goes wrong
- Ongoing updates and maintenance—content changes, feature additions, and platform updates handled by our team
- Donation and registration flow protection—ensuring Stripe integration and form submissions are secure and functional at all times
Email & Communication Management
We manage TBTN’s email environment—ensuring reliable delivery for event communications, sponsor outreach, and donor acknowledgments. Email security protections prevent phishing and spoofing that could damage the organization’s reputation or compromise accounts.
Event Technology Support
This is where AdVran goes beyond the typical MSP engagement.
TBTN’s events are high-profile, high-stakes, and fast-paced. When hundreds of families, NFL legends, VIP sponsors, and media are on-site, the technology has to work flawlessly. We provide:
- On-site IT support for registration check-in systems, payment terminals, and event coordination platforms
- Network setup and management for temporary event Wi-Fi, ensuring staff, volunteers, and sponsors stay connected
- Audio/visual technology coordination supporting presentations, sponsor recognition displays, and event programming
- Real-time troubleshooting—an AdVran technician is physically present, not waiting for a remote ticket
When the Super Bowl LX Community Celebration happens at Santa Clara High School, AdVran is there. Not as a vendor watching from a dashboard—as part of the team on the field.
This case study is different from our typical client engagement because TBTN is more than a client—they’re a cause we believe in.
AdVran team members volunteer at TBTN events personally. We donate our time alongside our technology because Sherman Cocroft’s mission resonates with our values: use what you’re good at to lift up people who need it.
We believe every child deserves access to opportunity, and we believe technology companies have a responsibility to give back to the communities they serve. Our partnership with TBTN is how we live that belief.
The Impact
| Area | What AdVran Delivers |
|---|
| IT infrastructure | Fully managed technology stack for staff and volunteers |
| Website | Secure, fast, always-on platform driving registrations and donations |
| Email | Managed, protected communications for sponsors, donors, and families |
| Events | On-site technical support for camps, VIP events, and community days |
| Security | Protected donor payment data, family PII, and sponsor information |
| Community | Volunteer time and technology donated to the mission |
By removing the technology burden, AdVran lets TBTN focus entirely on what they do best: putting NFL legends on the field with kids who need them most, and turning neighborhoods into launchpads for the next generation.
Beyond the Contract
TBTN is more than a client engagement — it’s a partnership we’re proud to be part of. Our team volunteers at TBTN events because the mission matters. When hundreds of kids show up to train with NFL legends, we want to make sure the technology behind the event runs as smoothly as the drills on the field.
We work with nonprofits, community organizations, and mission-driven companies across the country. If your organization needs a technology partner that understands limited budgets, high-impact events, and the importance of protecting donor and participant data, we’d welcome the conversation.
Learn more about Take Back the Neighborhood at tbtncharity.org, or contact us to discuss how we can support your organization.
