As the Bucks kicked off training camp in Madison on Tuesday, co-owner Wes Edens announced that the team would continue its ticket donation partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County's AVID/TOPS program for the 2016-17 season.

The franchise launched the initiative last year, resulting in more than $70,000 worth of Bucks tickets, merchandise and concessions being donated to the club, giving more than 300 Madison-area students the opportunity to enjoy dinner and a professional basketball game.

"We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Boys & Girls Club of Dane County," Edens said. "Supporting youth education initiatives is a priority for our entire organization, and not just in Milwaukee but throughout the state. We look forward to another great season of aiding and rewarding Madison-area students who are working hard to be successful in the classroom."

Once again during the 2016-17 season, Edens will donate his personal courtside seats for 10 Bucks home games.  The team will provide an additional 30 lower-level tickets for each of those games, along with merchandise and concessions vouchers for all students invited to attend a game. The tickets will incentivize Madison-area students participating in the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County AVID/TOPS program who demonstrate significant improvement in areas of literacy, behavior and attendance.

The AVID/TOPS program is a Boys & Girls Club initiative in partnership with local schools in the Dane County area to help prepare high school students for college. The AVID/TOPS program offers tutoring, mentorships and paid summer internships, with participants also eligible for college scholarships. AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) is the classroom component, used in over 3,000 schools nationwide, while TOPS (Teens of Promise) is an outside-the-classroom initiative focused on college preparatory activities and real-world experience. Together, the AVID/TOPS program has resulted in college enrollment rates of over 95 percent.