The College of Idaho men’s basketball team is excited to announce its partnership with the Jae Foundation, a leading non-profit focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. The Yotes will wear Jae Foundation patches on their jerseys throughout the 2024-25 season, raising awareness for the foundation’s mission and fostering important conversations about mental health across Idaho and Wyoming.

Jason Vickrey, Founder of the Jae Foundation, emphasized the significance of the partnership. “We are beyond excited about partnering with the Yotes this basketball season,” said Vickrey. “Sport is the ultimate platform to bring awareness to a very tough topic, and I couldn’t think of a better group to partner with than Coach Blaine and the Yotes.”

The Jae Foundation, founded in memory of Jae Bob Bing, focuses on educating Idaho and Wyoming communities about mental health and suicide prevention, particularly among young people. A signature part of their approach involves donating cowboy boots, which serve as conversation starters about real-life issues. A group of dedicated Treasure Valley Yote and Jae Foundation donors came together to make this impactful partnership possible, furthering a shared goal of making a meaningful difference.

This partnership aligns with recent NAIA legislation that allows sponsor logos on uniforms during competition, making the NAIA the first college sports association to pass such a rule. The legislation, passed during the National Administrative Council’s April meeting, reflects the NAIA’s innovative approach, following its leadership as the first athletic organization to approve Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies.

Rather than settling for a transactional sponsorship, the Yotes have chosen a partnership that reflects their desire to provide a transformational experience—on and off the court. This collaboration represents a commitment to share that transformation with others, using sport as a powerful platform for positive change.

“The leadership at the College of Idaho is truly the best of the best,” added Vickery. “From the board, to President Brigham, to AD Reagan Rossi, and all of the coaches, we are blessed to have such an amazing institution in Idaho. The College of Idaho leads in just about everything, and we are excited to partner with the Yotes to lead in mental health awareness and suicide prevention.”

College of Idaho Athletic Director Reagan Rossi praised the Jae Foundation’s impact. “The Jae Foundation is unique in its approach, pairing mental health with student-athletes,” said Rossi. “Their foundation has been transformational for student-athletes across the West. Partnering with the Jae Foundation is important for our student-athletes to know they are supported now and through their formative years.”

The Yotes will showcase the Jae Foundation patches for the first time at their season opener on October 25 at 6:30 p.m. MT in Laramie, Wyoming, where they face the University of Wyoming in a season-opening exhibition. The Yotes are eager to kick off the season with this meaningful collaboration, and they invite the community to join them in supporting both mental health awareness and their journey on the court.

College of Idaho President Doug Brigham shared his thoughts on the partnership’s significance. “We are honored to partner with the Jae Foundation,” Brigham said. “All of us are impacted by mental health, either personally or by those we’re close to, and the Foundation’s message that we can all make an impact is very powerful. We can all slow down and have a Boot-Check moment with those around us. Thank you to the Jae Foundation for this partnership with The College of Idaho and for helping to provide a space for real conversation.”

Head Coach Colby Blaine also highlighted the importance of the initiative for the team. “We are absolutely thrilled to take our partnership with the Jae Foundation to another level,” Blaine said. “The foundation has an impactful story to tell, and we are honored to help spread the message. With the addition of their logo to our jerseys and multiple Jae Foundation games throughout our season, we will be able to positively impact a lot of people in our community, our state, and around the nation. The foundation has played a large role in our continued success over the last three years. We are beyond thankful for the foundation encouraging us to have bold conversations about real topics. If sharing our experiences with others positively impacts one person, that’s a win for everyone.”