Rising Stars Youth Foundation
Latest Updates – November

To Our Rising Stars Family, 

October was another busy month for Rising Stars! We hosted our Annual Parent Meeting, which had a great turnout. Families in attendance were updated on the Rising Stars’ mission, while being actively engaged in some fun, energizing activities. Everyone in attendance received some new Rising Stars swag.

Our outreach initiative continues to grow. The program has grown to 6 teams (5 boys, 1 girls) throughout various locations in New York City and Long Island. Our first 7th grade girls outreach team is based out of Bay Shore and will be coached by former All-American and Baylor alumni, Danielle Wilson. All teams continue to attend mandated weekly tutoring sessions in order to participate on a Rising Stars team.

Rising Stars scholars participated in a community service through our partnership with the Alzheimer’s All-Star Classic. Rising Stars coach Gordon Thomas is the founder of the event, which helps raise awareness and funds to support finding a cure for this destructive disease. Through a simulator, our scholars received a first hand experience as to what it’s like to have Alzheimer’s and the struggles its victims face each day. We are extremely proud of all of our student-athletes that participated in this praiseworthy event.

Our high school students are counting down the days until their school season begins while our 3rd-8th grade Rising Stars teams season is currently underway. Be on the lookout for all our boys and girls updates throughout the winter season.

Rising Stars scholar Elijah Perry took an unofficial visit to Division I American University. Elijah received a tour of the campus from the coaching staff and an opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a student-athlete at the university. Elijah “The Rifle” will definitely be on the radar of many college coaches this year at Holy Cross High School. We wish him and all of our high school boys and girls the best of luck this season.

Our Rising Stars Elite teams began competing in high-level tournaments around the New York City and New England areas. Our dedicated coaches, parents and players continue to put forth maximum effort and intensity.  Our new 3rd grade team captured the Tri-State championship, beating some of the top teams in the area.

This October the Rising Stars Boy’s winter teams have just got underway! Our teams will be participating in the Super League, Titans League and various tournaments throughout NYC. Pictured here is Rising Stars Elite 3rd grade team coached by Syd Barrington who recently won the Tri-State Halloween Classic!

In addition we had six Rising Stars teams play at Nassau Coliseum on November 4th. This was an amazing experience for the boys and to raise money and awareness for hurricane relief and our Caribbean Outreach Initiative.

The Rising Stars girls launched its first ever outreach team out of the Bayshore YMCA. We are thrilled to be able to offer this unique experience on our girl’s side. It truly exemplifies our philosophy to Play, Learn, and Grow.  Our outreach teams have a mandatory weekly tutoring session, followed by a weekly practice. In addition, Rising Stars covers each player’s yearly membership to the YMCA. These young women are led by the former St. John the Baptist High School and Baylor University standout Danielle Wilson. We are so proud of this group and excited for the year ahead!

Rising Stars 4th and 6th grade teams wore orange to show their support for National Unity Day, a day for everyone to come together-in schools, communities  and in our case through basketball to show that we are together against bullying and united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion. This is one of the many important lessons and activities that make being part of Rising Stars so special.

Updates on Outreach Tutoring Program:

All middle school student athletes on Outreach Teams (60) are attending free weekly tutoring sessions with a state certified educator for homework help and study skills seminar. All 8th grade students and their families have received one-on-one coaching and consulting services to help navigate the NYC High School Admissions Process. Our outreach teams receiving tutoring currently include:

5th Grade Suffolk, LI
6th Grade Queens, NYC
6th Grade Grade Suffolk, LI
7th Grade Suffolk LI GIRLS
8th Grade Queens, NYC
11th Grade Queens, NYC

All 11th grade scholar athletes are attending free bi-weekly tutoring sessions with FUTURE U, college admissions test program with a ratio of 9:1. They are also receiving one-on-one college consulting services.

Rising Stars Scholars paid it forward once again this year at The Annual Alzheimer’s Awareness Night at Oyster Bay Manor. This event, took place on October 25, 2017 and is a pre-cursor to the Alzheimer’s All-Star Basketball Classic which is the brainchild of Gordon Thomas an all-star basketball player at St. John’s University who was drafted by the New York Knicks. He created the event in memory of his late father, helping to fight Alzheimer’s and build awareness among up-and-coming student athletes. Rising Stars volunteers assisted staff from Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation as they educated the attendees about the illness. All the participants were given the opportunity to gain understanding by completing a virtual Alzheimer’s experience simulating the symptoms that patient’s experience.

It was a special night as Rising Stars kids learned the value of helping others.

Join us!

Don’t just put on the jersey, get in the game with us! Support our players, program, and purpose. You can do this by not only going to our games and tournaments, but by also following and engaging with us on social media to spread our message. With your help we can continue to offer our players more opportunities to play, learn, and grow though the Rising Star’s Difference. Donate your time, energy, resources, or funds to make a difference in a student athlete’s life. Click here to see how you can get involved.