Sponsored Story: Harlem RBI
Sports have the power to transform youth’s lives for the better. Athletes learn at a very young age the importance of self-discipline, teamwork, leadership, and goal-setting. It’s also invaluable in learning how to overcome failures.
Unfortunately, thousands of kids around the U.S. do not grow up with the opportunity to play sports because of their current socioeconomic status.
Paul Caccamo, the executive director of Up2Us, a national coalition of community sports programs says that,
“Kids who participate in sports attend school more, are more community and civic minded, get in less trouble, and tend to be more successful in the workplace. They have done studies from corporate leaders in the country: The number who made honor role was less than 20 percent but those who played sports was 70 percent – 80 percent.”
The New York Yankees’ Mark Teixeira is working to change things in New York City with the help of Harlem RBI. In a neighborhood where almost 60% of residents dropped out of high school and only 13% have college degrees, Mark is helping create countless opportunities for youth through the sports of baseball and softball.
“Harlem RBI is centered around baseball and softball with an academic focus of helping kids get into college. It started 20 years ago as a diamond on East 100th St., part a of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program. It has grown into the largest youth-serving organization in the neighborhood, with more than 1,000 members.” – Ian Bagley, ESPN.
In addition to the $1 million donation Mark made in April 2011, he also devotes a portion of his time to working with Harlem RBI and its youth as well as helping the program campaign for a new neighborhood facility. The project is trying to raise funds for a 450-seat public charter school, community center, 87 units of public housing, and a rebuilt public park.
Mark Teixeria is giving back to the community that so passionately cheers for the pinstripes. By providing opportunities for education & the chance to learn baseball, he is giving many of the Harlem youth a shot at a future once thought unrealistic.
