Each year, March Madness brings more than just thrilling basketball games — it leaves a lasting impact on local communities. Through a series of initiatives, the NCAA and its partners foster education, community engagement and sportsmanship, ensuring that the legacy of the tournament extends well beyond the final buzzer.
Community Initiatives: Leaving a Legacy
Through community initiatives and projects in the host city, the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Fours leave a legacy that extends far beyond the basketball court. These efforts focus on enhancing the communities by supporting youth development, education and sustainability. By collaborating with local organizations, the NCAA ensures that the tournament’s presence creates meaningful, long-term benefits.
Men’s Final Four Legacy Project Presented by DoveMen+Care
For the 2025 Men’s Final Four, the Legacy Project at Rayburn Clubhouse will transform a long-dormant facility into a revitalized community space for youth engagement. Previously part of Rayburn Elementary, which closed in 2022, the building is now home to a Boys & Girls Club serving over 100 children in an area with limited access to green space. The project includes court renovations, improved lighting, restroom upgrades, track resurfacing and field restoration. This initiative reflects the NCAA’s dedication to community enrichment and youth development beyond the tournament.
Location: San Antonio
Improvements include:
- Refurbished basketball courts
- New exercise equipment and beautification efforts
- HVAC system installation
- Upgraded restrooms and storage spaces
Women’s Final Four Legacy Project Presented by Dove
For the 2025 Women’s Final Four, the Legacy Court beautification project at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in Tampa, Florida, will revitalize the historic basketball facility so that it may reclaim its status as Tampa Bay’s premier basketball hub for youth programs and community engagement. The park, once home to the Riverfront Summer Basketball League, has a rich legacy of developing young athletes. This transformation will enhance programs like Team Tampa Basketball, which serves over 2,000 children annually, reinforcing the NCAA’s commitment to fostering the next generation.
Location: Tampa Bay
Improvements include:
- Indoor court refurbishment
- Facility upgrades
- Community beautification
Educational Impact: Read to the Final Four
Literacy is a game-changer! To support the NCAA’s dedication to education, the Read to the Final Four debuted at the 2016 Men’s Final Four to harness the excitement of college basketball to inspire young students to develop a lifelong love of reading. Through a friendly reading competition among local elementary schools, this program encourages students to increase their reading time while fostering academic growth. By combining education with the thrill of the Final Four, this initiative empowers students and promotes literacy as a key to success both in and out of the classroom. To date, Read to the Final Four has made a significant impact on students nationwide, helping them accumulate an impressive 121+ million minutes of reading!
Men’s Final Four — San Antonio
For the 2025 Men's Final Four, 3rd grade students crushed San Antonio’s reading goal, surpassing 25 MILLION MINUTES read cumulatively in the NCAA® Read to the Final Four® challenge. To reach the Read to the Final Four Celebration young readers have push forward, proving that determination, creativity, and teamwork can lead to greatness not just on the court but in the classroom as well.
- Over 26,000 students across 306 schools compete in a tournament-style reading challenge.
- Schools advance in a bracket based on minutes read.
- Winning schools are honored at the Final Four.
Women’s Final Four — Tampa Bay
The 2025 Women’s Final Four in Tampa Bay Read to the Final Four presented by the Helios Education Foundation provides an opportunity for more than 91,000 Hillsborough County students (in prekindergarten through fifth grade) to earn prizes, including pizza parties, traveling banners and bookmarks. Students at the top two schools from each of seven areas in the Third Grade March Madness Challenge will get to attend Tourney Town during the Women’s Final Four in April.
- The challenge encourages students to develop literacy skills.
- Students at top schools win a trip to Tourney Town.
The Final Four Dribble and Bounce events bring the energy of March Madness directly to young fans, offering an unforgettable opportunity to be part of tournament festivities. These free, family-friendly experiences invite kids to interact with basketball-themed activities and engage with the sport in a fun, hands-on way. By encouraging youth participation, these events cultivate a deeper connection with basketball and inspire the next generation of players and fans.
Men’s Final Four Dribble Presented by Buick
Thousands of young people 18 and under will dribble their way through a 1-mile course in downtown San Antonio, receiving an exclusive NCAA Men’s Final Four Wilson basketball and a branded T-shirt. The course leads participants to the Men’s Final Four Fan Fest presented by Capital One, where they and their guardian receive complimentary access to enjoy interactive games, exhibits and basketball-themed fun.
- A free event for those 18 and under.
- Participants receive a basketball and T-shirt.
- Ends at the Final Four Fan Fest, with free access for participants.
Women’s Final Four Bounce Presented by Buick
Hop, skip and jump into Women’s Final Four action with the NCAA Women’s Final Four Bounce presented by Buick. The first 3,000 participants 18 and under will receive a free basketball and T-shirt as they take part in a parade-style dribble through the streets of Tampa. This high-energy event leads directly into Tourney Town presented by Capital One, the official fan festival of the Women’s Final Four, offering even more excitement and interactive activities for young fans.
- A free event for those 18 and under.
- Participants receive a basketball and T-shirt.
- The dribble course leads to Tourney Town.
