The mission of The Payton Pritchard Family Foundation is to empower children and teens by providing educational and personal growth opportunities to create pathways for a brighter future.
We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances. We know that bright futures are rooted in education—our goal is to break down barriers that stand in the way of a child’s success.
Through scholarship opportunities, we ensure that financial challenges do not prevent access to quality education. By providing enhanced learning resources, we give children the tools they need to thrive academically.
Education extends beyond the classroom—our foundation supports extracurricular enrichment programs in sports and the arts to nurture creativity, teamwork, and discipline for well-rounded development. Our mentorship programs connect children with positive role models, offering guidance and encouragement as they navigate their personal and educational journeys.
We also recognize the power of community engagement. By involving families, educators, and local stakeholders in our initiatives, we create a network of support that inspires children to dream big and achieve their goals.
Drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2020, Payton continues to be a playmaker on the court, with a 2024 NBA Championship title under his belt. Payton’s journey to the NBA was shaped by the support and inspiration of his family. At West Linn High School, he achieved a historic milestone, becoming the only Oregon high school player to win four consecutive state titles. For Payton, his story is not just one of individual triumph, but a reflection of the strong, supportive family environment that shaped him into the athlete and person he is today.
A legacy of commitment and excellence shines in all five of Payton’s family members, each of whom earned a full athletic college scholarship. His father, Terry Pritchard, was a standout tight end for the University of Oklahoma football team, winning a national title, while his mother, Melissa, was an accomplished gymnast at Oklahoma. It was at the University of Oklahoma Oklahoma where their shared passion for sports brought them together, forming the foundation of a family devoted to hard work, dedication, and achievement.
Payton’s siblings have each carved their own paths in sports and life. His younger sister, Lexie, played basketball at Santa Clara before transferring to Samford, where she completed her MBA while continuing her basketball career. His older sister, Taylor, lives in Florida, where she is married and raising her three children—Jagger, Brooks, and Cooper.
His older brother, Anthony, shared the court with him at New Mexico and Oregon before pursuing a professional basketball career overseas. Through the unwavering support of Terry and Melissa, Anthony was brought into the Pritchard household in the second grade, where he found the stability and encouragement that allowed him to flourish, both on and off the court. His success serves as a source of inspiration for The Pritchard Family Foundation to help kids everywhere develop the discipline and determination needed to excel in academics and athletics.
Terry Pritchard is the President of the Payton Pritchard Family Foundation and the driving force behind the Foundation’s basketball camps. A former High School Prep All-American and Division I Tight End at the University of Oklahoma — where he earned a National Championship and multiple conference titles — Terry has spent his life building winners.
That mission carried straight into coaching. Terry personally developed his son Payton from a young player into an NBA starter, and he brought the same hands-on intensity to every athlete he trained. As founder and head coach of FAST, a Nike-sponsored club basketball program competing in the prestigious EYBL, Terry guided young players through a system built on fundamentals, individual skill development, mental training, and physical conditioning. The results speak for themselves: athletes who came through FAST secured millions of dollars in college scholarships at the D1, D2, and NAIA levels.
At the Foundation’s camps, Terry does what he’s always done — he leans in and coaches. He designs the skills curriculum, organizes every detail from practice plans to equipment, and then steps on the court to work directly with kids. His philosophy is simple: develop the whole player. Build the fundamentals first, sharpen individual skills, strengthen the mental game, and push physical conditioning. The trophies and scholarships follow.
While Payton is the inspiration behind the camps, Terry is the foundation underneath them. His proven system of skill development, mental training, and conditioning is what campers experience on the court every day. Beyond his own coaching, Terry has built a network of elite coaches who have traveled across the country and overseas to run camps alongside him — including Coach Eric Viuhkola, the former head coach of West Linn High School and a 4-time Oregon state champion. Together, they ensure every young player who comes through the program gets championship-level instruction.
Melissa Pritchard is a Board Member of the Payton Pritchard Family Foundation and the engine behind its day-to-day operations. From marketing and business development to organizing the basketball camps and the annual golf event, Melissa touches every aspect of the Foundation’s work.
A former elite gymnast and conference champion at the University of Oklahoma, Melissa brings an athlete’s discipline, precision, and competitive drive to everything she does. That background shapes how she runs the Foundation — with clear goals, high standards, and a relentless focus on execution.
As the mother of four children — three of whom received Division I scholarships, including son Payton Pritchard, a starter for the Boston Celtics and former NBA 6th Man of the Year — Melissa understands firsthand what it takes to develop young athletes at the highest level. That personal experience fuels her passion for the Foundation’s mission: giving kids the tools, mentorship, and opportunity to reach their potential both on and off the court.
Professionally, Melissa is the co-founder of TMR Social Strategies and a North American Senior Director of Sales at Vega AI, where she builds high-performance teams and business development systems. She brings that same strategic mindset to the Foundation — building partnerships, driving awareness, and ensuring every event and program delivers real impact for the families it serves.
We believe that every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential, but we can’t do it alone. Your support can make a life-changing difference by helping us break down the barriers that prevent children from accessing the education and opportunities they deserve.
By clicking the “Donate Now” button below, you can make a meaningful financial contribution to support the Foundation’s mission. You can also get involved by sharing our work with others and spreading the word about the impact we’re making.
