A non-For Profit 501c3 program called the Bridgeport Ballerz which offers kids access to a free travel basketball team, mentorship, and tutoring, is now seeking funding.
Leader
Robert Hill
Location
263 Pennsylvania Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06610
We are a Non-For Profit 5013c free basketball team, that offers kids the opportunity to play competitive basketball team while receiving mentorship and tutoring. The point of the program is to take kids from underserved communities and build them into athletes who have the grades and skillsets to receive college offers.
We use basketball to teach kids how to be accountable and responsible. They learn the value of consistency, dedication, and persistence. We also teach them how to be positive influences in their community.
As we close in on our first-year anniversary, we're now asking for donations to continue doing what we've been doing. Since the creation of our program, no kid has been arrested or had no other sort of trouble, and every child in our program is passing school.
We feel if we keep this going, our program could help lower the crime rate in Bridgeport Connecticut, in help turn more kids into productive citizens.
1. We will continue to rent a gym twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday) to give players an opportunity to work on their skill set.
2 We will use Wednesday nights for tutoring sessions to make sure the kids continue to pass all their classes.
3. Saturday and Sunday are the days we go out to play tournaments.
With the schedule we have, it's hard for the kids to get in trouble because even they're with the team, or with their families.
We do what we do because there are no free basketball programs in the city of Bridgeport Connecticut that go 12 months out of the year. Playing on a basketball team usually comes with a cost associated with it, and if the parents of a kid can't afford the price, the kid is usually disqualified from playing (unless he comes to us).
Giving kids something productive to do 5 days out the week, helps them stay off the streets, and keeps them in a safe environment. Our mentoring program gives kids the confidence that they can see a brighter tomorrow.