Give a Coach This Holiday Season

For this holiday season, will you give a coach? Often when I meet successful adults, I ask them what, if anything, contributed to their accomplishments.  Do you know what many of them say?

“It was my high school coach who believed in me…”

“It was my football coach who inspired me…”

“It was my track coach who wouldn’t take ‘no, I can’t’ as an answer from me.”

Anyone who’s ever played sports knows the power of a coach as a mentor and role model. Many of us still remember some of the life lessons that our coaches taught us.  But today, the state of youth sports in America is in sharp decline especially in low-income neighborhoods where young people need coaches the most.  Schools that face continuing budget cuts have been forced to eliminate youth sports programs.  The result is not just gyms that are now empty, but for millions of kids, life lessons that will never be learned.

That's why I am writing this today.  I need you to help me reverse this trend.  I dream of a country in which every child has a coach who believes in him, who helps her get through school, who teaches him a healthier lifestyle, and who inspires her to believe in success.  This is not just about sports; it’s about improving educational outcomes, reducing youth violence and ending childhood obesity.

My program, Coach Across America, has hired and trained over 1,750 coaches to work with more than 260,000 disadvantaged youth over the past six years. These coaches have motivated kids to be the first in their families to go to college.  They have influenced kids to say no to gangs and violence.  They have encouraged children to exercise and make better nutritional choices.

Half of the coaches I have hired have been women.  Most of the coaches I've hired have come from the same community where they serve.  An increasing number of coaches I've hired are veterans returning from war who have discovered that the values they upheld abroad are just as valuable here at home.  The values of teamwork, leadership, and discipline define success on a basketball court, in a classroom, in a community, and throughout a lifetime.

That’s why I’m asking you to give a coach this holiday season.  I will use your donation to hire and train more coaches to inspire more youth to overcome challenges in this nation’s poorest communities.  I can promise you that your donation will have impact.  We have undergone an external evaluation and found that every dollar you donate saves this country $29 in costs associated with poor health, neighborhood violence, and kids dropping out of school.   

I won’t stop until we build a national workforce of trained coaches who ensure that all children learn these lessons and discover their own capacity for success.

Won’t you help me get there?

Happy Holidays,

Paul Caccamo Up2Us Sports CEO & Founder

Chicago’s Local Champion Coaches at Joakim Noah's Foundation

With Chicago’s history of violence, a non-profit organization called Noah’s Arc Foundation, has taken a stance to help children by promoting peace and positivity in the community using arts and sports. Founded in 2010 by Joakim Noah, a center for the Chicago Bulls, and his artist mother, Cecilia Rodhe, this foundation promotes peace in Chicago by providing children in the downtown area a safe refuge to express themselves and channel their energy and emotions through arts and sports. Joakim’s vision for the program is to help the children improve themselves in positive ways rather than turn to the streets, start a fight, or join a gang. Noah’s Arc Foundation started as a small organization, which ran its art and sports programs only a few times a year. Fast-forward five years, and the organization is now running several programs each week. Partnerships - like the one with Up2Us Sports - has made that growth possible. Shannon Pagels of Noah’s Arc recalls, “we received a call from someone at Up2Us Sports who was interested in getting to know Joakim and his work. As the conversation went on, we said hey, we have these great programs but we need coaches, talented and trained coaches, to be a part of these programs.”

Enter EJ Ollison, Noah’s Arc Foundation’s first and only full-time basketball coach. EJ coaches the youth at Noah’s Arc three times a week at Major Adams Community Center. Located on the near west side of Chicago near the United Center where the Bulls play, Major Adams Community Center serves youth and families with out-of-school programs. Shannon mentioned, “it’s an independent center, not your typical Boys and Girls Club or YMCA. They were in need of support and they welcomed us with open arms.”

Through the partnership, EJ has been able to create a team program that allows the children access to a safe place to come at night to hone their skills, become better players, and better community members. Noah’s Arc now hosts a Moonlight Basketball League two nights a week from June to August.

EJ was born and raised in the same area as the Community Center and understands the need to give back to his community. He attended Crane High School just three blocks from the Community Center, where he excelled at basketball. EJ candidly shared, “I was born and raised in the projects. After high school I stayed home for two to three years and tried to improve my grades so I would be up to par to get a Division-1 scholarship. I was blessed with the right coaches that got me out of Chicago and out to California.”

However, the road to his success was not always straight. EJ felt lost and aimless during his first year in Riverside City College, a community college in California. “I did not have any major or purpose so it ended up taking me three years to finish my Associates Degree in Liberal Arts,” shared EJ. “Then I was offered a full scholarship in Oklahoma.”

His switch to Oklahoma Panhandle State University, a Division-2 school, was a tumultuous one. “I had anger problems. We lost a game in Texas and I had an altercation with a teammate. We got into each other in the locker room. I got the bad end of the stick. My scholarship was not taken away from me but I was not signed for another year.”

Because no school wanted to take a chance with EJ, dejectedly, he came home and went to East-West University, small private NAIA school in downtown Chicago. He switched his major and went there on and off for one or two years. He said that he was not really focused and ended up stopping altogether with only two semesters left.

With no real purpose but with a burning hunger and determination to help others, EJ started volunteering everywhere he could. EJ divulged, “I started volunteering all over the place. I started doing what I love doing and doing it from my heart. I volunteered with summer programs and coached teams. We started a dance program at Crane High School. I was busy with no money but I loved what I was doing.”

Over the years, his love of volunteering paid off because he got involved with Noah’s Arc Foundation, where he was offered the coaching job through Up2Us Sports’ CAA program. Shannon said he was the perfect fit as their first full time basketball coach. As a local champion, EJ knew the kids and their families. Shannon shared, “He knows the politics and situation of the area. He knows the game. He knows the people and he knows a great way of mediating. He’s made Major Adams Community Center a safe place for these kids. He's been through a lot. He’s a great basketball player in his own right. He has gotten out and created something of his life. We saw his passion and it’s something that’s so great.”

Asked what kind of impact this program gives to the community, EJ enthusiastically shares that “the impact is very clear – you make it about the kids. The program allows for the children to be themselves but with structure and discipline. It also allows for them to express who they are and not to be ashamed. We understand the situation of most of these kids go through on a day to day basis.”

EJ said that the training he received as a CAA coach has made him realize that he needs to have the connection with the kids more than anything else. It gave him the ability to listen and understand what the kids need instead of what they are not doing or what they do not have. EJ shared that he was trained to “look for signs and to be there and be helpful and give the kids the one on one attention they need, which could not have been possible elsewhere.

EJ believes that the difference is the connection, because “these kids are a little rougher and they didn’t care at first that I was from here. I had to earn their respect and their trust like any other kid. What’s important to me is to create a safe environment, just like what Up2Us Sports emphasizes - the vital connection – getting to know the kids, not always talking, giving them more control and not telling them what to do.” He feels he has a responsibility to mentor these kids because the time spent with them makes a difference in their lives. He believes there is more work to do on his part, but he is getting there.  

For the rest of the year, EJ will be coaching kids six to 17 years old, five days a week. He is also very enthusiastic about the future.  Asked what he would love to do down the road, EJ readily replies that his vision would be to create a tournament, March Madness style. “Maybe a team of 32 girls and 32 boys if we can pull that off, that will be great! But we will need more than one facility to do something like that. It is just an idea for right now.”

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Thanks to Vian Wheatley, a volunteer through our partnership with Humana, for helping us compose this inspiring story.

Operation Coach Launches in Philadelphia

Up2Us Sports, with the generous support of several partners, will be launching Operation Coach - our veteran coaching program - in Philadelphia in early 2016. On Monday it was announced that ESPN committed $100,000 to the program, half of which will support the placement of veteran coaches in Los Angeles and the other half to support veteran coaches in Philadelphia. Josh Harris, Co-Managing Owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and affiliate of The Josh and Marjorie Harris Family Foundation, has also pledged an additional $50,000 in support for veteran coaches. Furthermore, the Philadelphia 76ers, with support from Toyota, have pledged $25,000 to place one veteran coach to support 76ers local initiatives, bringing the total number of veteran coaching opportunities in Philadelphia to six. The Josh and Marjorie Harris Family Foundation has been crucial to funding programs in Philadelphia that support youth in some of the city’s highest-crime and lowest-income neighborhoods. In August of this year, they announced a $3.5 million grant to the Philadelphia Police Athletic League (PAL). The Philadelphia PAL, a multi-year member organization of Up2Us Sports, will serve as a host site for the newly hired veteran coaches.

Additionally, Drexel University Online will be providing support for Operation Coach and veterans in Philadelphia. Through their Yellow Ribbon program, Drexel Online will offer free tuition support for any veteran coaches serving in Operation Coach.

 Watch our Operation Coach PSA, courtesy of ESPN, in English or Spanish.

Miami Marlins Closer AJ Ramos Becomes Up2Us Sports Ambassador

Up2Us Sports is happy to announce that AJ Ramos, a pitcher for the Miami Marlins, has been named the organization's newest Ambassador. In his first season as an MLB closer in 2015, he pitched for 32 saves, which ranked him ninth in the National League. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, he played collegiately at Texas Tech University and was drafted in the 21st round of the 2009 MLB First Year Player Draft. Ramos will connect with youth in the Miami community and share his experiences as a professional baseball player, as well as serve as a voice to promote how powerful coaches can be in the lives of children. “Some of the best mentors of my youth were coaches,” said Marlins Pitcher AJ Ramos.  “Serving as an Up2Us Sports Ambassador means supporting young athletes in Miami with well-trained coaches who can properly develop their life skills,” concluded Ramos.

“Up2Us Sports is a valued Charity Partner of the Miami Marlins,” said Alfredo Mesa, Vice President and Executive Director of the Marlins Foundation. "Coaches who apply the organization’s curriculum for youth development are stronger mentors for young athletes.”

Earlier this year, the Miami Marlins named Up2Us Sports as one of their 2015 Charity Partners. The Marlins have funded Up2Us Sports’ work in the Miami area and provided sports-based youth development (SBYD) training for all baseball coaches in MLB’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program. The addition of AJ as an Ambassador will further support the important work Up2Us Sports and the Marlins are doing in Miami Dade County.

Follow AJ on Twitter and Instagram.

AmeriCorps VISTA Makes an Impact in Philadelphia

It has been nearly one year since Zurrell Toney joined the Philadelphia Police Athletic League (PAL) as an AmeriCorps VISTA. Zurrell has a unique connection to both PAL and AmeriCorps and knows firsthand how valuable they can be, because they were a vital part of his teenage years growing up in Philadelphia.Zurrell faced adversities early in life, and dropped out of high school before he could graduate. It was during his attendance at the alternative school YouthBuild that Zurrell learned about AmeriCorps. He became a member through one of the service projects offered and completed 900 service hours before graduating at the top of his class and being named Valedictorian.

As Zurrell continued his higher education, he spent time at West Chester University, but it was during his time at Temple University that he discovered his passion of working in the field of sports and leadership. Being accepted to Temple University was a significant milestone for Zurrell. “It gave life back to the idea of getting an education for me,” he shared. He made it his goal to take advantage of every opportunity available to him.

As a Sport and Recreation Management major, Zurrell took a course that allowed him to participate in a recreation program that, coincidentally, reconnected him with the PAL in Philadelphia that he had grown up in. Through Up2Us Sports, he was able to sign on as an AmeriCorps VISTA and begin working at the PAL as a Capacity Building Associate. His leadership of several key initiatives has positioned the organization to provide greater opportunities for young people to take on leadership within the organization and established a continuum of connection from PAL member to alumni status. He has demonstrated a strong understanding of the value and potential for the alumni program to strengthen multiple areas of the organization, especially fundraising.

In a sense, Zurrell has come full circle with PAL and is able to connect on a personal level with the participants, because he was once in their place. He strives to be a role model for the youth and hopes they view his personal success and achievements as motivation to excel in their own lives. When asked about the best part of being involved with this organization, Zurrell describes the personal connection he is able to develop with the kids: “giving back and helping kids in the neighborhood is the best— because those kids used to be me.”

Zurrell attributes much of his success today to the support system that he had as a participant in the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Zurrell is grateful to provide a mentor relationship to the youth of Philadelphia, and is thankful for the opportunity to give back to an organization that he was part of as a child.

“With the passion I bring, I intend to not only become an asset but also the person that’ll help (an organization) move forward and adapt to the changing needs of our most valuable youth.” 

**Special note: After the completion of his VISTA term on November 21, Zurrell will begin a full-time position with the Columbia North YMCA in downtown Philadelphia.

ESPN Donates $100,000 to Up2Us Sports

ESPN has announced it will grant $100,000 to Up2Us Sports to hire and train veterans to serve as youth-sports coaches in underserved communities in Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Up2Us Sports' innovative coaching program provides returning, post-9/11 veterans the opportunity to transition to a career in sports while giving back to their community as a coach to as-risk youth. Veterans are hired and placed in youth sports programs that focus on using athletics to inspire life skills development among at risk youth. "Active service members and veterans are an important part of the fabric that makes up ESPN—these incredible individuals are our employees, our family members, our fans," said Kevin Martinez, vice president of Corporate Citizenship. "We are honored to give back to those who have sacrificed so much for us."

Tune in to ESPN this week for special programming and tributes honoring active military and veteran heroes. On Veterans Day,SportsCenter will be telecast from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and First Take will be live from Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, Mass. ESPN also will televise the annual Armed Force Classic college basketball game on Friday from a U.S. Marine Corps base in Okinawa, Japan. For more information, visit www.ESPN.com/Citizenship.

My Visit to the Up2Us Sports Office In Philadelphia

Back in April, we posted a blog that our Philadelphia-based Senior Regional Manager, Claire Perry, wrote on why she loves being an assistant coach for a local girl’s high school basketball team. She spoke of the connection she has to the girl’s on the team and how important those relationships have become to her. Today, we’re going to hear from one of those girls. Maddie Maio is a sophomore JV/Varsity swing player at Central Bucks West High School, where Claire is her assistant coach. This past summer, Maddie and another teammate of hers spent a day interning in our Philadelphia Up2Us Sports office. This is her story. -

I first  learned about Up2Us Sports from my CB West basketball coach, Claire Perry. She and I had the opportunity to talk on a personal level when I was injured and standing on the sidelines watching my teammates play. Coach Claire mentioned to me about her work at Up2Us Sports, and I immediately became interested because of the program’s focus on the power of sport to support underserved youth. She told me and my teammate that we could visit her work site in Philadelphia to learn more about what Up2Us Sports was all about.

At the end of August, Coach Claire drove me and my teammate to her office in Philly. I had spoken with my parents about visiting as both of them grew up in Philadelphia and they were familiar with the area. They mentioned the area was different than the town we live; different schools, buildings, people, and parks. I had no idea what to expect.

Once we got into her office, we met some of the Up2Us Sports staff and had the opportunity to play squash with coaches from SquashSmarts, an organization that teaches squash and provides academic support to kids within North and West Philadelphia. As a member of the network of organizations that Up2Us Sports supports, SquashSmarts hosts two coaches through Up2Us Sports’ Coach Across America (CAA) program. I, fortunately, was taught and played with these two CAA coaches, Tempest and Rabbi. It was such a fun and amazing experience to learn how to play squash with the both of them. Even though my teammate and I weren’t very good at first, they were so encouraging, energetic, positive, and patient with us and they turned us into experts (well, almost) by the end. As I write this, we are dying to get back onto a squash court to play against each other because of Tempest and Rabbi.

After we were done playing, we had an opportunity to sit down with Tempest and Rabbi to talk to them about their lives and about how much squash has helped them turn their lives around in a positive direction. They value the importance and impact that squash had on their lives. They found it had helped them through tough times and positively affected their development psychologically, emotionally, and socially in ways they never thought possible. Without squash, they wouldn’t be where they are today, and they have the program SquashSmarts to thank for that. As CAA Coaches, they’ve received over 30 hours of sports-based, youth development coach training and are excited to receive more training to develop the skills necessary to provide a positive experience to the kids they coach and hope to serve as coach mentors, combining both sport and life skill coaching as they support the SquashSmarts kids both on and off the court.

As we drove back home with Coach Claire, we reflected on our time with Up2Us Sports and SquashSmarts. Hearing Tempest and Rabbi’s stories really opened my eyes and showed me the benefits and positive impact sports can have on someone’s life. I never thought playing a sport would be a way to help kids going through challenges in their lives, but Up2Us Sports showed me it can completely turn a child’s life around for the better. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have spent the day learning about the great work Up2Us Sports does for youth and coaches in the Philadelphia area. It has truly changed my view of sports’ impact on my life. I can’t wait for this upcoming summer so I can go again!

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The Lady Bucks kick off their 2015-16 season in November. They finished the 2014-15 season as PIAA State Runner-Up, D1 Champions, and SOL Champions with a 32-2 record. Follow along with Maddie and the team this season on Twitter at @CBWGBB.

From a Coach: Serving the Los Angeles Community with Up2Us Sports

By Coach Gerry ZatarainHollenbeck Police Activity League -

I hear a voice scream, “Coach Gerry!” I turn around and see a hand waiting for a high five.

I have to say that is the best feeling ever!

I am Coach Gerry out of the Boyle Heights Hollenbeck Police Activity League (PAL).  Soccer has been in my life since I can remember, watching games at home with family, playing in the park and participating in soccer leagues all across Los Angeles.

I am truly blessed to be doing what I love to do and to have opportunities to give back to the community in such a positive, vibrant, and creative way. Up2Us Sports’ training helped me become a better coach and mentor—allowing me to witness my players discover how much they can grow as an athlete and a person.

Last Saturday, October 24, I attended a Service Day with the Up2Us Sports Los Angeles team at Heninger Elementary in Santa Ana. First, I want to say that I think it’s awesome that Up2Us Sports does helpful things like this for the community. My experience was amazing! From the beginning to the end, I felt there was love, happiness and companionship. It was obvious that everybody’s purpose that day was to help.

We started the day with a great orientation, which set the tone for the rest of the day. Being able to work next to good people and people that love what they are doing, made it feel comfortable. I could just feel the good vibes in the air. With everyone productive and committed we finished faster than we thought, which gave us time to talk and get to know each other a little better.

We were happy to be able to work on both the inside and outside of the school. While working outside, some of us were surprised at the type of plants that were chosen to be potted; they were water friendly plants. These gave the yard a welcoming feel and a meaningful message: don’t waste so much water. Inside, the colors chosen for the classroom were a combination of blues and grays. After it was finished, the room was left with a sense of calmness, comfort, and a sense of welcoming.

The end of this event was very significant to me because it gave me the opportunity to learn valuable leadership skills from some great people. I also got the chance to catch up with some coaches that I haven’t seen since our Chicago training [National Coach Training Institute]. The best thing about the day was the look in the Principal’s eyes when she saw the completed project. She was truly appreciative and excited to have this room ready for her teachers to enjoy on Monday morning.

I am glad I was part of this Service Day, and can’t wait for the next one. It feels good to work together and give a helping hand to the community as a team. It’s one step closer to making this world a better place.

Support Up2Us Sports on Give Miami Day

Up2Us Sports is partnering with The Miami Foundation and the Marlins Foundation for Give Miami Day on November 19, 2015.  This 24-hour provides giving period boosts donations to registered non-profits making a difference in the Miami community.  Donations to Up2Us Sports will provide coach-mentors to guide at-risk youth to make better decisions that lead to their lifelong success. View the Up2Us Sports Give Miami Day profile here. 

Donations made on Give Miami Day will be eligible for a bonus match from partners of The Miami Foundation.  All donations are tax deductible.  Email lcavallo@up2ussports.org for more info.

Fill out the form below to pledge your support.

THE WINNING TEAM: Meet Coach Beth

What does the small town of Memel, South Africa have in common with New Orleans? Her name is Beth Henkle (pictured in red) and she has left her mark in both places by using sport to affect change in the lives of underserved youth. After graduating from Bard College with a degree in Anthropology, Beth worked with a small nonprofit called SheWinS. She travelled to Memel to teach soccer as part of an after school program to 150 girls in first through seventh grades. While in South Africa, she realized her passion for using sports to make an impact in the lives of young girls. She wanted to do more and learn more, so she came back to the United States, where she found out about Up2Us Sports and Coach Across America (CAA).

In the fall of 2014, Beth started her CAA term at KIPP Central City School in New Orleans as part of a brand new initiative. Up2Us Sports placed 20 coaches in one school to facilitate a structured recess and after school sports-learning curriculum. The urban school had limited space, which was a unique challenge for the Vermont-raised Coach. Beth shared that, “in terms of managing so many kids at once and making sure [recess] stations were separate, it was hard at times. These are small things that you don’t really think about when you’re from a very rural environment and used to having large amounts of land.” They had limited access to the outdoor courtyard area, and had to use classrooms for coaching. Having 12-15 children dribbling soccer balls in a classroom around desks and chairs wasn’t always ideal, but Beth and her fellow coaches made it work.

Soccer was relatively unknown to kids in Central City, but with Beth’s influence, the KIPP students adapted and learned to love it. This was a key moment of success for her. “Soccer is not as popular here among kids as where I’m from, so it was exciting to see so many kids have their interest sparked in this great game.” Beth is also proud of her work with the young female students at KIPP. She made sure to connect with the girls that were on the periphery at recess - the ones who preferred to be gossiping or not participating or shyly standing alone. At an age where recognizing their emotions is not easy, Beth introduced them to journaling as an outlet for releasing their thoughts and feelings. At times, the girls would confide in Beth on what they wrote, even though it wasn’t required. For them, she had become not just their coach, but a mentor. One girl, Mariah, said journaling “helped her deal with some of the frustrations she was feeling in life and, in turn, is now receiving fewer deductions and staying more focused in class.”

Stories like Mariah’s have made the largest impact for Beth. “I think ultimately, this experience has just solidified what I want to do. In South Africa, I was in a very new program and there wasn’t much research behind it, it wasn’t labeled sports-based youth development (SBYD), even though that’s what we were doing. Coming here, going through [National Coach Training] Institute and realizing this is happening with so many people involved across the country—this is what I’m supposed to be doing.” Discovering that her passion has a name and a movement, with Up2Us Sports leading the way through ground-breaking research and one-of-a kind training, has inspired Beth to pursue a career in the SBYD field.

Now, a few months out from finishing her term at KIPP, Beth is back home in Vermont studying for the GRE with plans of obtaining a Masters in Public Administration (MPA). She is excited at the thought of going back to school and expanding her knowledge, but also sharing the experiences she’s had so far and spreading the message of the power of SBYD.

Beth isn’t too concerned about knowing exactly what comes after two years of school, because she knows she has found the world she was born to be in. It’s easy to hear the passion in her voice as she talks about why she loves coaching: “The thing I find the most satisfying is empowering youth to feel like they can use their voice. When a young girl really feels that she can speak up and be heard, especially in sports, they are standing up a little taller and feeling more confident. When they can say ‘we’re girls and we can do this and this is our thing and we’re strong and we’re awesome’ - helping them find that voice is what I love the most.”

Doubles Tennis Champion Pam Shriver Joins Up2Us Sports as Ambassador

Up2Us Sports is happy to announce that doubles tennis champion and Olympic gold medalist, Pam Shriver, has joined the organization as an Ambassador. Shriver - who captured 21 singles titles and 112 doubles titles in her illustrious career - will connect with youth participating in sports by sharing experiences from her athletic career and helping to relay the message that coaches trained in sports-based youth development make a difference in the lives of young people. “For two years I have been aware of what Up2Us Sports is about. By training sports coaches to work with at-risk urban youth through their Coach Across America program, they are creating a powerful force of trained coaches who are helping these kids find trusting mentors that can help them make safe, healthy choices. It's important that coaches know how to teach multiple sports, but even more vital that the coach-mentors understand child/human development so that they can help navigate the many minefields that are too prevalent in poor, urban neighborhoods,” said Shriver. “I’m thrilled to continue working with this incredibly impactful organization.”

Since 2013, Pam has been involved in outreach we’ve done in the Los Angeles area. She attended our 2013 Los Angeles Coach Training Institute, hosted a tennis clinic in 2014 for kids from South Central Los Angeles and, just last month, sat on a panel with various Los Angeles stakeholders to discuss the power of coaches to decrease youth violence.

Follow Pam on her website, Facebook and Twitter.