New Partnerships Expand
Tennis Plus in DC Area
A young African American girl, nicknamed "Serena"
by coach Jumanne, accepts her "gold" medal
for perfect attendance at the Gum Springs Tennis Plus
program for fall 2002. This is Serena's fourth round
of Tennis Plus programming through the Gum Springs
Community Center and she is rapidly improving. Along
the way she has earned her own tennis racquet, balls,
t-shirt, and a greater sense of self-confidence, focus,
and cooperation. Her mom reports she wants to be a
tennis star! Well, she is on her way… and thanks
to a new partnership through the Fairfax County Consolidated
Community Funding Pool (FCCCFP) and the Fairfax County
Community Centers she will have access to free Tennis
Plus through 2003.
After successfully piloting our Tennis Plus program
at Gum Springs in summer and fall 2001, JSF designed
a program that would bring Tennis Plus to three Fairfax
County Community Centers (Gum Springs, Bailey's and
Pinn) for three seasons a year--spring, summer, and
fall. These centers enjoy excellent tennis facilities,
but unfortunately cannot support tennis programming
on their own. The FCCCFP agreed to partially fund
our initiative for two years. The Community Centers
and USTA/Virginia have further helped with funding.
So far this year, 130 children have participated at
the three sites, with interest building in a community
tournament. JSF's board member Lew Baker first introduced
JSF to the Concerned Black Men of Washington, DC (CBM)
in July of 2001. CBM has been providing volunteer
mentoring programs to at-risk youth in Washington,
DC for over 20 years. Synergy from that first meeting
lead to a partnership that now includes use of the
wonderful tennis facilities at the Southeast Tennis
and Learning Center (SETLC).
With pilot funding from the Fannie Mae Foundation,
JSF and CBM began offering a Saturday afternoon tennis
and mentoring program in July 2002. The coaching team
of Micheal Taylor of CBM and Jumanne Jahi of JSF plus
volunteers from both organizations provides 15 children
(ages 8-11) and parents from Ward 8 with three hours
of tennis, mentoring, and life skill learning year
round at SETLC.
Coming in 2003, children in the program will be invited
to some of CBM's special events for DC kids including
a day trip skiing, a tour of the United Nations, and
inclusion in CBM's annual youth recognition banquet.
JSF looks forward to providing children in Ward 8
with this free tennis outlet for years to come.
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Healthy Kids 2005 Starts
Strong
This fall, the Joy of Sports Foundation (JSF) launched
our most ambitious project ever. Healthy Kids 2005
is a comprehensive, long-term effort to reduce risk
factors for obesity and increase the overall health
and fitness of an entire school population. The project
incorporates everything JSF has developed over the
past 13 years and adds some exciting new elements.
It is funded through a three-year $400,000 grant from
the California Endowment, a foundation dedicated to
improving the health of underserved populations.
We are partnering with Del Rio Elementary School
in Oceanside, California. Del Rio serves a population
that is particularly at-risk for obesity and other
health problems. It is located in a low-income, heavily
Latino neighborhood. We chose Del Rio as our first
healthy kids site not only because of the population
it serves, but also because its Principal, Phyllis
Morgan, is a dynamic leader who understands the integral
role physical activity plays in children's overall
development and their academic success.
In this era of budgetary cuts and over-emphasis on
standardized academic tests, few elementary schools
provide children with the quantity and quality of
physical activity they need. This is a major cause
of the epidemic of childhood obesity that is sweeping
our country.
Del Rio is fortunate enough to have an extremely
dedicated and capable Physical Education (PE) specialist,
Tammy Fahey. But, Tammy's schedule only permits her
to provide one thirty-minute session per week to each
of Del Rio's 30 classrooms. JSF is also providing
additional classes to supplement Tammy's efforts.
The classes feature our Star Power, Star Soccer, and
Tennis Plus programs, all of which are designed to
build key life skills such as self-esteem and concentration.
These programs also develop gross and fine motor skills
and overall fitness. We are also training the classroom
teachers, very few of whom have education in this
area, to make the best use of the time they can carve
out for PE. So far, our classes have been very well
received. As one teacher recently remarked,
Healthy eating is another key to reducing obesity
and building health. Most children consume alarming
amounts of soda and junk food and nowhere near enough
fruits and vegetables. Working with Robin Pelletier,
a dietician who specializes in school nutrition, JSF
is providing both daily nutrition mini-modules (1-3
minutes in length) as well as materials for longer
lessons to all teachers at Del Rio.
JSF is also providing an after-school program for
40 children who have been identified by their teachers
as being highly at-risk for obesity. The Healthy Kids
Club meets three times a week. The program is divided
into one section of twenty 2nd -3rd graders and another
of twenty 4th -5th graders. The younger children started
with Star Soccer this fall, while the older children
began with Tennis Plus. We are also working with the
children to increase their nutritional knowledge and
build healthier eating habits. Throughout the year,
the youngsters will participate in a variety of sports,
as well as programs on conflict resolution, communications,
and a wide range of life skills.
We're working hard to get parents of Healthy Kids
Clubbers involved in supporting their children in
developing healthy new habits. Recently, we had our
first Parent/Child picnic. The parents participated
in tennis and soccer activities along with the kids.
Afterwards we had a chance to chat with the parents
while enjoying the healthy potluck dishes they had
brought. I was thrilled to hear the mother of one
of our 5th graders remark that, "Judy never wanted
to play sports before. I think she thought it wasn't
cool for a girl to sweat. Now she comes all the time
telling how much she's enjoying playing tennis."
Our goal is to develop a model program, which can
be replicated both by JSF and by other organizations
at many sites. Everything I hear from the teachers
and parents, not to mention the looks I see on the
kids' faces, makes me confident that we're off to
a great start.
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Shane Smith Back on Board
In early 1996, in an effort to "give something
back," I became a volunteer for The Joy of Sports
Foundation (JSF). Initially, I contributed by serving
as a member of the Marketing Committee. Later in 1996,
after learning the intricacies of JSF and showing
a high level of commitment to its mission, I was fortunate
enough to be voted onto its Board of Directors. Over
a period of four years, I served on the Board and
watched JSF transform in many positive ways. Year
after year I saw exciting new initiatives, solid growth
and refreshingly, I met many kind-hearted and committed
people.
In late, 2000, my fiancée Allison (and wife,
as of 2001!) and I moved to New Hampshire. I gradually
transitioned to JSF's Advisory Board and wished everyone
well. Although I missed the organization greatly,
overseas travel truly kept me out of the mix. In late-2002,
the opportunity to serve as JSF's Executive Director
appeared and I was quick to seize the moment! As of
September 9th, I came full circle in my JSF journey:
from Volunteer, to Committee Member, to Board Member,
to Staff Member.
Deciding to join the JSF staff team was easy for
me, because JSF's mission and its use of sports are
so clearly in tune with my own journey. Growing up
as an only child in a single-parent household (Mom
worked full-time to keep us afloat) gave me exposure
to "latchkey kid syndrome." Lacking guidance
at times, I naturally gravitated toward sports and
have been playing ever since! It's hard to describe
what a great force sports has been for me-truly enabling
me to grow in mind, body, and spirit (all key JSF
tenets).
Upon joining the team, I was very impressed with
the state of the organization. As a result of the
superior organizational abilities of Pam McDonald
(JSF's previous Director of Operations, and our new
Development Director), many steps forward had been
realized. It didn't take long for me to realize that
I have a lot to learn about the non-profit world,
and I'm truly looking forward to it!
I'd like to thank Andrew and Pam for having the confidence
to re-invite me into the JSF family. That same thanks
goes out to the Board of Directors for supporting
the efforts to "bring me into play!" I would
also like to extend a hearty thank you to Cyndy &
Jack Porter, and Chris & Nicole Del Rosario for
their ongoing support (and for housing and feeding
me on my frequent visits to Virginia).
Finally, what good would a new Executive Director
be, if he or she did not call out to the community
for support? So, now that 2002 is coming to a close,
we all have one more opportunity to make a difference
in the lives of children who so clearly need our help.
I hope that you will feel inspired to give to this
worthy cause. After all, there are many kids out there
who are counting on JSF to be a beacon in their lives,
and it's up to all of us to make that a reality.
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Happy Hearts Equal Happy
Families
JSF Trainer Rachel England shares with our readers
her experience of working with families in San Diego's
first Parent and Child Star Soccer program funded
by the San Diego Children's and Families Commission.
"My daughter is tired today, we might have to
leave a little early," says a first time parent
of the Parent and Child Star Soccer Program.
"All right, feel free to go anytime," I
respond.
What do I tell them? From my experience as a Joy
of Sports trainer, I could tell them, "well your
daughter will have so much fun playing with you that
she won't want to leave, and, when you do leave today,
your relationship with her and her self-esteem will
greatly increase." But I already know they won't
leave early, because they will be having too much
fun. So I leave it at that, with the decision in her
hands. And sure enough, they are the last ones to
leave.
As a trainer, I take no credit or pride that they
were the last ones to leave. I know it is the beauty
of love between a parent and child. Laughter and smiles
are so powerful in a relationship, yet often too easily
covered up with the busyness of daily lives. Physical
activity is important for good physical and mental
health, yet smiles and laughter are just as essential.
Joy of Sports is just that: the perfect combination
of joy and sports. The parents often come hesitant
and pessimistic, yet they always leave happy-talking
and laughing with their child, or often, children.
It is such a beautiful moment, to see the children
and parents come out and share some laughter and smiles.
They leave thinking happy thoughts, filling their
relationships and lives with positive energy.
My favorite part of the program is at the end, when
I get the kids together and tell them to find their
parents, give them a hug and say, "I love you."
That is the most amazing part of the program, the
parents and children light up, their hearts are so
happy.
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JSF San Francisco Bay Area;
A Five Life Skills Update
Self Esteem The confidence of the San Francisco team
is building! With the addition of two tennis trainers,
Brent de Groot and Margo Oven, our tennis programs
have expanded in the Bay Area! This growth has tripled
the sites we have been able to reach, most importantly
putting racquets in the hands of over 100 children
in the last several months!
Our Star Power team is on the rise as well! We have
successfully partnered with a large network of childcare
centers through Contra Costa County. We served seven
of their classrooms, opening the door to numerous
more in the East Bay. Thank you to trainer Michael
Simpson (a tennis trainer as well) for your inspiring
efforts!
Cooperation JSF has been fortunate enough to form
an outstanding community leadership board with strong,
giving individuals. Those board members include John
Cervantes, Brent de Groot, Jeremy Howell, Richard
Holden, Lisa Neuberger, Timothy O' Shea and Kandee
Shuken. With the backing of the board, we have a wonderful
support network.
One partnership that deserves special note is the
collaboration with Western Athletic Clubs (WAC). Board
member Jeremy Howell has set in place a unity that
has already brought JSF two interns (for San Francisco
and San Diego) and has added 2 Star Power trainers
in the Bay Area. We are looking forward to the solidarity.
Relaxation A strong exhale can be heard by the Bay
Area Regional Coordinator. A University of San Francisco
student, Kim Hawkins, has joined the team to intern
(through WAC) and assist in the growth of programs.
Kim is a wonderful addition to JSF!
Concentration With a talented staff of trainers on
board and many leads for Tennis Plus and Star Power
sites, the Bay Area JSF team is concentrating on fundraising
to support programs.
Imagination The Bay Area JSF team is looking for
a successful partnership with Western Athletic Clubs
that will bring us talented individuals to teach our
programs. In addition we are excited about our affiliations
with several youth organizations. We see ourselves
forming a strong association that will reach numerous
children. We are confident in our staff, trainers
and leadership board and imagine a very bright future
in the Bay Area.
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New Talent Joins JSF Board
Don Doering, partner and CFO of Columbia Capital,
brings a wealth of financial and operations expertise
to JSF. Don discovered JSF through the Greater DC
Cares Board Development program and joined the board
in June 2002. Since then he has been actively participating
on the finance and development committees and bringing
corporate sponsors to the table for JSF's special
events. Columbia Capital sponsored the Ramsay Tennis
Program for the fall 2002 semester. Don resonates
with JSF's mission of helping at-risk youth to fully
develop themselves in body, mind, and spirit through
the joy of sports.
Anh-Thu Mai, a litigation attorney with the Department
of Justice, has been a volunteer for JSF since 2000.
Anh has been an enthusiastic contributor to JSF's
special events and our youth tennis programs. She
brings a passion for sports, children, and life to
the organization as well as a deep commitment to thoughtfully
participating in philanthropic activities. Anh appreciates
the gifts the children give her as well as sharing
her own positive energy with them. She sees great
potential for JSF and the kids we serve.
Gil Winters, an independent consultant with GWC,
Inc. specializing in capital and business development,
joined JSF's board to satisfy his desire to be more
involved with mentoring kids in his community. Gil
has been involved with competitive sport for over
half of his 30-years. He was a decorated high school
track & field and football athlete and earned
a full athletic scholarship to play collegiate football
at Duke. Gil attributes his life successes to the
life skills he has learned through sports.
