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| Community Outreach |
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Basketball City is dedicated to improving the lives of children through the use of athletics and recreation.
"Participation in high school sports can be a catalyst for academic achievement and can help carry the student successfully to high school graduation and beyond”. Participation in team sports teaches teamwork, responsibility and dedication plus it boosts self-esteem and self-confidence." Today's youth face innumerable challenges, especially in the inner city. Regardless of gender, race or background young people continually face challenges without the necessary support and guidance they need to overcome them. The Institute for Youth, Education and Families and National League of Cities performed a study entitled "The After-school Hours, A New Focus for America’s Cities." In this study, they note that during a typical week, as many as 14 million children and youth across the United States lack adult supervision during non-school hours. According to the FBI, "the lack of structured and supervised after-school programs in American communities contributes to a higher incidence of drug and alcohol use and delinquent or criminal behaviors." Basketball City’s programs strive to provide young people with the tools they need to successfully handle life’s obstacles. Characteristics like self-esteem, leadership, teamwork and communication are essential in the development of young people. These programs aim to infuse those traits and, at the same time, teach young people the value and importance of community service and community building. Basketball City uses team sports as a basis for our programs because sports and recreational activities are inherently exciting and fun ways for young people to learn many life skills. Participation in sports also helps keep young people motivated and focused on schoolwork. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Basketball City provides hundreds of scholarships each year to a variety of our programs including: Youth Development Leagues, clinics and summer basketball camps. Some of these camps include: Boston Celtics // NY Knicks // NY Liberty // NJ Nets, Stephon Marbury // Ben Gordon // Lamar Odom // Walt “Clyde” Frazier // etc…. COMMUNITY BASED YOUTH PROGRAMS Basketball City hosts many youth based programs, hosting thousands of children each year. Some of these programs include: Boy’s Club // Carmine Rec League // Hill House // Police Athletic League (“PAL”) // Sports & Arts in Schools Festival // etc... NET GAIN PROGRAM Basketball City has partnered with Urban Dove and Youth Inc. to provide sixteen NYC public schools with a “home court.” This program, partners with schools that do not have basketball facilities in their school. Without this initiative, these schools would not have basketball teams and their student athletes would not be able to participate in the PSAL. Basketball City provides their “home” court for practices, games and playoffs. Both students and coaches participate in a series of community service projects that serve the needs of their local communities in order to "buy" their court time. Projects include cleaning up a school yard, organizing a blood drive, or providing a skills clinic to disadvantaged youth. This Net Gain program is invaluable. First, it allows schools to maintain their own basketball programs. Secondly, it introduces the students to community service. Thirdly, through volunteering, teamwork and leadership skills are learned and the importance of giving back to the community is ingrained in their character. Students in the Net Gain program have a graduation rate of 85%. The following are some of the schools that participate in this program: Beacon High School // Coalition School for Social Change // East Side Community // Eleanor Roosevelt // HS of Economics and Finance // HS of Health Professions // HS of Leadership and Public Service // Institute for Collaborative Education // Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis // Landmark Academy // Liberty HS // Life Sciences// Manhattan Village Academy // Richard Green // School of the Future // University Neighborhood These unique and progressive programs provide an interesting and fun approach to youth development. Relying on a successful formula of combining sports and education, Basketball City’s mission is to improve the lives of young people. For more information, please call Bruce Radler at (212) 233-5050or e-mail Bruce at bruce@basketballcity.com. |
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