It’s remarkable to reflect on how the Got Game 3on3 basketball tournament has grown since we first brought it to the community 16 years ago. Some of this year’s young participants were brought by parents who remember playing in the tournament themselves as youth. The Youth Alliance had a wonderful turnout on May 3 at our new tournament location, KNF Clean Room Products, at 681 North Delsea Dr. Vineland. Jaw-dropping highlights included the 8 foot and 10 foot dunk contest and performances at the three-point shootout. We were excited to see Vai Sikahema and former Harlem Globetrotter Seth Franco display their skills on the court. We would like to take a moment to thank all of our sponsors and all the people who volunteered. What a great, FREE annual event for students in the region. See pictures and videos below of the participants. We are looking forward to expanding the tournament by ten courts next year in anticipation of the consistently growing attendance. If you’re interested in helping, please feel free to contact us. Check out this and other events at www.theyouthalliance.com.
With the first quarter of 2014 already behind us, The Youth Alliance is working hard to keep up with increasing programming demands. We have been serving school districts and families around the country along with hosting our annual men’s breakfast with David Akers and Markus Thomas. Schools consistently report that families are positively impacted and connected to support services as a result of our comprehensive programs. These programs include Choices, Anti-Bullying, and Healthy Relationship programs with Seth Franco, Phill Brake, Preston Centuolo, Reggie Dabbs, Vai Sikahema, Chris Hollyfield and Darin MacDonald. We have served in 17 states speaking to hundreds of thousands of students and their families. To catch a glimpse of our services, check out the pictures and videos below and follow us on Facebook. Of course, thank you for your continued support, we could never do this without your help.
First, we would like to wish you a wonderful holiday season. As 2013 draws to an end, we are still energized after eleven busy but productive weeks of schools with speakers including Seth Franco, Jon Pritikin, Reggie Dabbs, Chris Hollyfield, Phill Brake and Preston Centuolo. We served 31 school districts and cities, presenting to all K-12 students and then parents during evening family nights. We had over 10,000 attend family nights this fall which is a new record for TYA. Below are some comments from administrators, students and families about the impact of our presentations along with several photos of our programs. If you wish to follow us daily please follow and like The Youth Alliance on Facebook and see what we’re doing day by day as we serve the community. Check out this and other events at www.theyouthalliance.com.
“Youth Alliance offers comprehensive prevention programs that will cater the needs of your school/community. They offer well rounded programs with district wide assemblies and family nights that address bullying, healthy relationships, self esteem, and good decision making (just to name a few). Preston is extremely professional and responsive in meeting any request your district may have. The speakers are dynamic, captivating, flexible and most importantly relatable/approachable to the student body. Once they come to your school, you will want them to come back every year!”
– Colleen Cech, SAC, West Deptford Middle School
“Hi, I am currently a 15 year old freshman at Washington township high school!! I truly wanted to say your an inspiration and god bless you and your family and I truly thank you for being an inspiration to me and my family!”
“Youth Alliance always provides outstanding speakers. JonPritikin captured everybody’s attention. The community response was tremendous. My staff was speechless and very appreciative of the message he delivered. Next year we will be bringing back Youth Alliance for the school district.”
Tom Murray Principal
“Jon was over the top!! My students all spoke about him again today. Some of the students responses were awesome he can break and bend items, was bullied beat up and he worked through it to become a hero! I loved his presentation he didn’t preach he just told stories and the students absorbed the various meanings behind his stories. He was a powerful speaker while engaging all students.”
Kate. Teacher
“Seth just left Red Bank, and he was excellent. As any first grade teacher will attest, to hold the attention of a 6-year old for more than 10 minutes is no easy task, and the kids were captivated for the entire 45-minutes. Seth brought the content down to an appropriate developmental level, and I have no doubt that the message was well received and memorable.”
– Jon Cohen, Red Bank Elementary School (West Deptford School District)
“Seth delivered a powerful, motivating message to all our students and was able to modify his presentation to an early elementary level. The students loved interacting with Seth and being active participants throughout the program!”
-Ryan M. Dougherty, Principal Oakview Elementary School (West Deptford School District)
“Reggie Dabbs is truly an inspiring individual. His story brought tears to several of my staff members. Throughout the show faces were lighting up with laughter and surprise as Reggie played his saxophone and encouraged everyone’s participation. Great show with a great message.”
Mrs. JoAnne Rumpf, Principal
Radix Elementary School
Hey Friends,
We are off and running with the school year underway. We just wrapped up six weeks of school program tours and will be sharing photos and feedback with you shortly. But for now, we wanted to spotlight the success of an annual favorite, our 2013 Got Game 3on3 basketball tournament. We had an exciting day filled with 8-foot and 10-foot dunk contests and a double elimination tournament for ages 8 thru grade twelve. Below are pictures from the initial tournament setup to the winning teams receiving trophies. We want to thank you, our sponsors, for making it happen, we couldn’t do it without you. Check this and other events out at www.theyouthalliance.com and please follow us on Facebook to see our work day by day.
We are preparing for our busiest back-to-school season yet. While students enjoyed summer break, we were finalizing the details with many school districts who have grown to trust our quality character education programs, staff professional development sessions, and family nights. Stay tuned to see their hard work in action when we share video and photos in our next update.
Even as the school year ended here, two of our speakers headed down under for our third year of schools in Australia. Under the guidance of our Coordinator Phill Brake, we held over 60 programs and events specifically geared to their culture and student needs. Below are some pictures of the events. You may check out these and other events at www.theyouthalliance.com OR to follow our events daily Like us on Facebook.
One in three teens experience dating abuse, the most common type of youth victimization. In response, The Youth Alliance (TYA) has developed a multi-tiered approach that equips young people with information and tools promoting positive dating relationships. Our Healthy Relationships programs target not only young people, but also their educators and families, to build a knowledge base and support network fostering healthy versus unhealthy relationship habits.
TYA’s Healthy Relationships programs raise awareness of harmful power and control patterns that many teens mistake as normal or signs of caring. Our presenters actively engage students in multi-media sessions, elaborating on the confusing, mixed messages bombarding teens in music, television, and Internet. Students receive Identity Cards which reaffirm their personal worth and entitlement to a healthy, respectful relationship. They also receive informative cards with their “Dating Bill of Rights” and characteristics of healthy relationships. These tools help students recognize and respond to physical, emotional, social, and electronic abuse.
Besides equipping students, TYA offers educators teen dating violence training sessions and subsequent lesson planning resources. We also host family nights for the schools and districts, encouraging parents to communicate early and often about dating with their child. Our family night brochure is packed with essential information and discussion prompts to help carry the conversation home.
Since debuting this program, school social workers and guidance counselors have testified of both its initial and ongoing impact on students recognizing relationship rights and responsibilities. Months afterwards, many students report still having and referring to the literature we distributed such as their “Dating Bill of Rights.” Through our Healthy Relationships, anti-bullying and other programs, we continue to build on our commitment to serve and empower young people.
The Youth Alliance wrapped up a great spring season, bringing five vibrant presenters to twenty school districts. Eric King, Barrett Brooks, Seth Franco and Vai Sikahema teamed up to provide daytime assembly programs and district-wide family nights. Schools were pleased to see families attending evening programs in record numbers. TYA offered valuable resources, support, and strengthened the relationships between educators, families, and students over this productive season.Check out the pics below and If you would like to see how we operate day to day please follow us on Facebook.
The Youth Alliance had a great 2-week tour with Guinness World Record holder/Strongman Jon Pritikin. We held 42 programs for thousands of students during this inspirational February tour. It was amazing to see students and staff respond so powerfully to Jon’s story of overcoming learning differences and sharing a message of hope, strength and compassion. We’ve included pictures and video from the tour below. Check out this and other events at www.theyouthalliance.com.
A little late, but wishing you a very Happy New Year from The Youth Alliance! We are happy to share that 2012 was our most successful year ever. We have rapidly expanded into many new areas throughout the country as you have probably already seen from our previous updates. We have been hard at work for students and families, and in the month of December alone, we had 10 family nights, servicing over 60 schools and 100,000 students. Such unprecedented growth only happens because of people like you and the fruit from your investment into students and families. If you would like to see day to day activities of our school tours and family nights, like us on Facebook page, The Youth Alliance. Below is a video and some pictures of our last tour. Enjoy, and please contact us if you would like to be involved. Check out this and other events at www.theyouthalliance.com.
