Conversations with David Kelley

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Kelley.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Our Goal is 2: Make People Smile 😊 with just a pencil

I run a ewaste removal service here in California for businesses schools & hospitals since 2003 King of Ewaste aka 1st Free Ewaste Removal “free since 2003”
(We were the 1st free ewaste removal service in Los Angeles)
I found that other companies didn’t have to charge for removal because they reselling the product, double dipping so I changed the game and soon others followed 😎

Setting up the Map:
In 2019 John Volkmann a friend and former shipmate (82-86) from the US Navy USS Flint AE-32 based out of Naval Weapons Station Concord Ca, passed away from cancer. myself with another another former shipmate Brent Austin visited him at Kaiser Hospital Walnut Creek the night before he left us. It was John’s birthday and he was dying from cancer, what John shared with us while we visited him is why this all started and I started my
Massive
Action
Plan (Anthony Robbin’s inspired)

not knowing it would involve the Bryant Family until 2020

plus I found out I had a daughter not just a daughter but 2 granddaughters the same month via Ancestry.com

In the beginning:

On Feb 14th 2020 just before the lockdown I was in the park with my dog running and decided to run up some metal bleachers and jump off from the top and I landed and broke my left foot,

So I was grounded at home and for the next 2 weeks played the game in my mind, what could I done different in my life if I had a known if I had a daughter, ( I have 3 boys from 2 previous relationships ) I didn’t get much sleep to the point I was getting delirious so my wife Barbara a nurse took me to the VA Rancho Cordova and had me get checked, I was admitted in mental health care for observation, I just needed sleep, while I was there they give a bible so i read it and didn’t get passed Genesis because we never was told what really happen in the Garden of Eden and we never celebrated the life of our Mother Eve. After I got some sleep I was sent home , with the same bible. When I got home and I tried to think of the best way to celebrate life of those that inspire and have inspired us with saying thank you to Mom not just Mom but to all Mothers. I then read another book by Betty Eadie “Embraced By The Light” and then I found my answer I was looking for to say thank you with a group hug and In numbers with just a word

“Acquiescence” 🎁
from Betty’s book

I 1st started an online platform called
“Mamba for the win” during the nba palyoffs Feb 2020 to honor Kobe & Gigi Bryant’s legacy and celebrate life by continuing 2 move the game forward on IG FB X platforms and after one year evolving 2 the University of 8 and started a mental health program for the youth with our free smart pencils

Social
Mental
Awareness
Recon
Training

Adding positive life mottos to pencils with the exhibit A

The Sheffield Foundation:

In 81-82 I was stationed on the USS Proteus As-19 a sub tender and our shipped pulled a 90 day stay in Diego Garcia Dec-81 March 82 during that tour we had the opportunity to meet the HMS Sheffield D-80 ship & crew while moored next us and had some welding repairs done (Wikipedia has details)

After the repairs were done and we had spent 2 days with the crew and we took pictures as she left port March 1982 and we went off to Perth Australia. Right after the Falkland Islands broke out and the “Shiny Sheff” was called into war.

On May 4th 1982 the Sheffield was struck by a Exocet missile and 20 sailors onboard were lost and sadly on May 10th she sank and not all sailors were recovered.

In 2017 the Sheffield family and I reconnected through FB and I found out they were forming a massive action plan to raise monies from sales of Sheffield related items to get metal from the Shiny Sheff in the Atlantic Ocean and make their memorial for the 40th anniversary May 4th 2022 in the city of Sheffield.

Then 2020 and the pandemic changed everything, the Sheffield memorial family found themselves having to regroup and rethink their plan. The family got together and start making homemade items representing the Sheffield, Scarves , hats, banners, flags and together with help from other naval families including HMS Arrow raised the monies to achieve their goal.

The Sheffields emblem is 8 crossed arrows and that’s were I got the idea of the smart pencils by looking at their arrows and the family having the Mamba mentality and

honor & respect them with just a pencil and share their amazing story of overcoming and understanding the mission

“Jobs Not Finished”

And share with the youth

So we started with our inspiration with 8 arrows by making 8 points with 8 pencils Feb 2022 we started

No.1 Pencil (The Golden Rule)

IF IT IS 2 BE ITS UP 2 ME
KOBE BEAN BRYANT 1996
#2FOURTHEWIN
(year Kobe joined the nba)

No.2 pencil

I GOT THIS
GIGI BRYANT
#2FOURTHEWIN
(While Kobe was on Jimmy Kimmel he was asked what he heard out there “Kob Kob if you and V just had a boy, Gigi said “I GOT THIS!”)

No.3 pencil

BE REAL & BE YOURSELF
GARY GOODRIDGE
#ILIFTTHIS
(Gary is a social media mental health warrior with always posting positive meanings and inspirational quotes on X/ Twitter for the youth, I reached out to him to let him we would like to have his permission to continue 2 to move the game forward with him and his positive impact and honor him with his own smart pencil and he gave his personal motto he loves by)

No.4 pencil

ALWAYS FOLLOW THROUGH
WAYNE WEBB 1980
#ILIFTHIS
(In 1978 I met Wayne when I was 15 while I was training for a upcoming bowling tournament, he was also at the same bowling alley practicing for the PBA tour and I watch his technique as he was rolling only strikes I asked him what can I do to improve my game, I had only 133 avg at the time in league play) he said “Always follow through” and so I trained to follow through and won state of California that summer and Wayne won his 1st pro tournament and in 1980 won pro bowler of the year) by following through, Wayne had his bowling lanes now in Columbus Ohio and I had the honor to visit him his wife in April while attending my navy reunion and share what he inspired and what we share with youth,
he has stage 4 cancer) he inspired our U8 Victory Pen also

No..5 pencil

HONOR & RESPECT
HMS SHEFFIELD D-80 1982
#ILIFTHIS
(We sent them their smart pencils prior to their memorial unveiling to be shared with the Sheffield family ⚓️♾️⚓️ May 4th 1982 and they were the 1st to receive our smart pencils and had the honor of the Sheffield family receiving them at the ceremony)

No..6 pencil

6-4 6-3 6-3
Love Always 73
#ILIFTTHIS
(inspired by Billy Jean King 1973, a woman that beat a man in professional sports 🎾 in front of of the world and changed the game)

No.7

UNLEASH YOUR POWER
ANTHONY ROBBINS
#ILIFTTHIS
(I got the massive action plan inspiration from his tape cassette ✏️)

No.8 pencil

MY PEOPLE
DON ROBINSON
#ILIFTTHIS
( A personal friend that I got to know while we were neighbors in Sacramento and we are going to start a college fund for his 2 children to say thank you for what he inspired) he doesn’t know yet.

No..9 pencil

CAN U DIG IT
THE CHEETAH
#SMARTPENCILPROGRAM
(Honoring Fredia Gibbs)

No.10 pencil

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
SISTERS OF WATTS
#SMARTPENCILPROGRAM
(Honoring 8 amazing women that give 8 days a week to their cause in lifting the youth and have fun in their communities)

No.11 pencil

MY WORD
GEORGE ZIMMER
#ILIFTTHIS
(Honoring the founder of the Men’s warehouse by setting the standard of ethics in business and customer service for over 35 years) his pencils have donated to 2 of his favorite places Lighthouse elementary school Oakland Ca & Oakland Zoo, which he gives his proceeds from his book back to the Zoo.

No.12

2 LEGIT 2 QUIT
HAMMER TIME
#SMARTPENCILPROGRAM

No.13 pencil

WHEN THEY GO LOW, WE GO HIGH
THE FIRST LADY
#ILIFTTHIS
( Inspired by our 1st Queen Michele O)

No.14

SO IT BE WRITTEN SO IT BE DONE
1984
#SMARTPENCILPROGRAM
( Honoring Music Producer Mike Bulkholtz of McHammer also both are former US Navy and we all were in Japan in 84 when Mc & Mike collaborated and did not know at that time 40 years later I can honor them both, McHammer dream was to be big in Japan and Mike made the words into music)

No.15

GOODWILL HUNTING
UNIVERSITY OF 8
#SMARTPENCILPROGRAM

NO.16

EL CONDOR PASA
EL GUERRERO
#SMARTPENCILPROGRAM
(It’s the story of why I joined the navy at the age of 17 and the high school I left was the warriors, with just a pencil)

No.17
THE GREAT RACE
WE GOT A RUNNER
#SMARTPENCILPROGRAM
(Inspired by Florence Griffith Joyner and added to her school in Los Angeles to continue her legacy by passing the bar ♾️✏️ to bring higher education to epilepsy awareness , I lost my Mother at age of 27 due epilepsy shock I was only 6 so we must go deeper ✏️

No.18

PUT ON THE BAR
C.T. FLETCHER 2016
#THEBEASTOFFAITH
( inspired by the story of his heart transplant with his dream being fulfilled 💜 and passing on the hope with his mental toughness online presence to inspire others by “Putting On The Bar” Daily
ISYMF🦾

No.19

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS
DR JUMAINE JONES
#SMARTPENCILPROGRAM
(Inspired by Dr Jones and his passion to continue 2 move the game forward through his youth mental health workshops and free 8.24 basketball camps)

No.20

DON’T STOP BELIEVING
DR ORSON PRINCE CHARLES
#SMARTPENCILPROGRAM
(New addition inspired Dr Charles, his commitment to youths mental health development and his other projects to lift others and make them smile)

No.21

MASTERPIECES TAKE TIME
SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME LA
#SMARTPENCILPROGRAM
(Inspired by the Nuns that helped us celebrate Eve’s 1st official birthday in their church and they lit the candles on Christmas Eve 2023 we call Thank U Eve) Sister Mary lit the candles on our 1st cake, sadly she passed away last July and the nuns has disbanded.

No.22

12-15-22-05
THE 5TH ELEMENT
#HOTCHOCOLATE
( On 12-15-22 on a Thursday I went to Edwin Markham Middle School in Watts to officially start our smart pencil program for the youths mental health and talked to the 5th grade classes via zoom with the principal Yumi aka Mom, I told our goal was to make their Mom smile and in order to make our pencil work we needed their 5 on it each 5th grader received their smart pencil and place under their Christmas tree at home till Christmas Eve, 8 days later and at 8:24am go to their school webpage and see what the code is and before have got chocolate ready with your Mom and watch her smile🎁

It’s decoded with the alpha code L O V E in numbers

On that day we made history and the class still doesn’t know the impact the will have around the world “it’s elementary Watson”♾️✏️

No.23

ACQUIESCENCE
EMBRACE THE LIGHT
#2TALK2THEHANDS
(Inspired by Betty Eadie book and our Thank U Eve events in celebrating life by honoring the 5th commandment honor thy father honor thy mother

No.24

U8 VICTORY PEN

has 5 Gold rings, A Crown, our U8 logo and a Victory on top👑

It embodies and embraces all U8 values

GORN GORN GONE ERASER
INSPIRED BY BOBBY CLARK
ORIGINAL GORN : I met Bobby at Wondercon 2022 and got his permission to use his image on our custom eraser free for the youth, Bobby also served in the Navy and was in over 100 films and tv shows as a stunt director

(Send you mailing address and shirt sizes so we can onboard you all♾️✏️)

Edwin Markham middle school was the 1st school in 2022 to say yes to our smart pencils after I was rejected by schools, local teen center and even my old high school Galt high said no so I went south to LA and while I was visiting LA I saw a Kobe & Gigi mural and it was by Tehrell Porter designs, I took a picture and tagged him on IG and he responded back saying Thank you , I found out he was in LA also so we met and I told him that I was looking a elementary school in LA to start our U8 Training Program with our smart pencils and he called Yumi at Edwin Markham Middle School and we found our foundation on 12-15-22 we onboarded♾️✏️

Then it went from there to Sisters of Watts and them inspiring their own smart pencils and we were honored to be a part of Sisters of Watts free event on the 7 year back 2 school event and launch their pencils. We have since added other amazing youth groups Marching Beauties, Eastside Riders, Lend an ear, R.A.P.S

Our 2nd school was Calvine High School Elk Grove Ca with Staci Bettis assisting with the onboarding, their school has the challenge of getting those that are following behind to get them on track, focused and understanding the youths mental journey and each teacher understands the mission

I went back to Galt to Valley Oaks elementary to say to them , 6 months earlier their school posted online that they were in need of school supplies so my wife and I bought everything on the list to fulfill their dreams. I received 3 handmade Thank you cards from the kindergarten teacher and 3 students, those thank you cards are now in Hawaii waiting for their special day this Christmas Eve Thank U Eve 🪔🎂🪔 , the students don’t know yet.

In 2023 I went to Paradise Ca, they had a fire that wiped out the town earlier so I found a bakery woman owned and had a special cake and then I took down to LA 2 days before Christmas Eve and dropped at Sisters of Notre Dame Church and with special friends attending to honor Eve’s 1st official birthday, I was not in attendance, it was a gift 🎁 to the City of Angels 💕💜💕

Our 2nd Thank U Eve we celebrated in Watts at Sisters of Watts youth house with our Thank U Eve Cards with our love in numbers smart pencils with embrace the light colored pencils.

In 2025 on May 1st Gigis 19th birthday I met author Steven Cooper Love Always & Dribbling Across The USA
at Pearson Park “Dreamcourt” in Anaheim and participated in Dribbling 2 Disneyland event

Bouncing from the park 2 Disneyland 2 miles to honor Gigi & Kobe

Steve was and is a gift with a heart bigger than a box 🎁

He introduced Dr Jumaine Jones to our program and we had the honor last year being part of his 8.24 free basketball camp honoring Kobe & Gigi

On May 4th The Sheffield family once again received their honor & respect smart pencils for the memorial ceremony

On May 14th John Volkmann’s birthday we delivered 80 cupcakes from Paradise to his school College Park high staff with special gifts and a watch

Last August I met Fredia Gibbs in the city of Upland at one of my favorite restaurants “Vince’s Spaghetti” not knowing she would change the game before we finished our dinner and we agreed we have souls 2 save.

On Aug 22nd 2025 Fredia Gibbs The Cheetah went to Ascot Elementary School Los Angeles with Principal Dr Ortiz and started her youth mental health & anti bullying program with all 600 hundred students, “School of Champions”

3 weeks later I was in her home town of Chester PA for her statue unveiling in front of city hall with Mayor Roots, Dr Jumaine Jones and Fredia Gibbs

Thank U Eve 2025
Last year we went to city of Compton and celebrated at a women owned business Bevs Flowers & Balloons celebrating 35 years in business with Fredia Gibbs as master of ceremonies 💕🎂💕

1st we started our Thank U Eve event in Newcastle Australia with a friend and his Mother at 2:24pm

Next Chester PA
with Mayor Roots with Dr Jumaine Jones celebrating at city hall and honoring Fredia Gibbs 🎂2:24pm

Next Columbus Ohio
Wayne Webb’s bowl
Elaine Webb hosted 🎂2:24pm

Next Paradise Fire Department
Honoring them & victims of the fire of Paradise 🎂12:24pm

Next Elk Grove Ca
Sandwich Spot East
💕Love All Feed All💕
Woman owned business with
Myself (1st event) with Stacy Bettis from Calvine high school, representing city of Elk Grove Rod Brewer with Chaplain Greer from VA medical center lighting the candles

Then our main event
With Fredia Gibbs in Compton
Bevs Flowers & Balloons with Dr Ortiz from Ascot Elementary School and members from Travel On Set
This years event will have more additions with celebrations including Treasure Island San Francisco with the US Navy including the color guard with the paradise fire department delivering the cake from paradise and we will be having our closing ceremonies in Hawaii with the largest church in Hawaii, celebrating life and honoring our 5th commandment in sight💕🎂💕

We are going to be lifting up some amazing people in our program , it’s a honor to share our story and celebrate life together In honoring The Bryant Family Our Foundation

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The first schools I went to I got no traction and even had a church hang up just by saying I want to celebrate my friends life

Timing is everything

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are a youth program inspired by Kobe & Gigi Bryant in continuing 2 move the game forward with our s.m.a.r.t.
Social
Mental
Awareness
Recon
Training
youth programs including our limited edition smart pencils for the youths mental health development and training with actual heroes to model 2 with Fredia Gibbs The Cheetah mental health & anti bullying workshops 🌹FREE🌹

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Ethics ✏️

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Uof8.com
• Instagram: university_of08
• Facebook: University of 8
• Twitter: U8Training
• Youtube: University of 8 #SMARTPENCILPROGRAM

Image Credits
Pictures courtesy: Dribbling Across The USA
Author Steven J Cooper
“Love Always”