$4.2M in state grants go to NYC youth sports; 3 Staten Island programs included

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A state-funded allocation of $4.2 million will allow team sports programs across the city to further support their communities’ youth, including three Staten Island organizations that are hoping to bridge equity gaps in their neighborhoods.

According to the mayor’s office, more than $2.3 million has already been distributed. The other $1.9 million is being used this summer to support 41 more community organizations. Mayor Eric Adams, Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard announced these grants on Friday.

This funding, allocated through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, prioritizes historically underserved communities throughout the city. Of the funded organizations, 17 will provide girls team sports, five are tailored to youth identifying as non-binary and 19 support youth with special needs.

“Sports are more than just a fun activity; they provide a safe space for our young people during the summer days to learn about teamwork, collaboration and leadership,” Adams said in a press release. “Thanks to this multi-million-dollar state grant, neighborhoods most in need of support will be first in line for critical investments to more than 40 local community-based organizations.”

The Staten Island Urban Center (SIUC) in Port Richmond has big plans for the $50,000 grants they received, as the community organization is using this money to start up an entire softball league for underserved children ages 10 to 12. According to Kelly Vilar, the CEO of the SIUC, most of the children involved will be from public housing in Stapleton and those living along Richmond Terrace.

“The idea is to engage young people in a sport that they’re not engaged in at all, and you know, to get them playing,” Vilar continued, “And just learning all the great things you learn when you’re part of a team. You know how to be a team player. You know how to lose gracefully.”

Vilar explained how this league will give children the chance to play in a sports league that they usually would not have access to.

“The unfortunate thing is that the young people who do get to play Little League on Staten Island are not from public housing, and they’re not from communities in need,” Vilar said.

The SIUC is getting together six teams of 12 players to participate in the league. The opening game will be held on July 20 at the Ferryhawk Stadium, formally known as the Staten Island University Hospital Community Park, in St. George.

Integrated Athletic Initiative

The Integrated Athletic Initiative (IAI), located in Charleston, was given $50,000 towards their bowling league for youth ages 5 through 18. This six-week league will begin in August and aims to serve youth with special needs.

Brian Licata, an IAI board member, anticipates about 100 participants to come bowl each day at Rab’s Country Lanes in Dongan Hills.

“It’s a great opportunity for a nonprofit to put on some sort of league play, and not have to charge for it, because if you were going to go out and join a bowling league, you spend a couple $100 at very least.” Licata continued, “But really, the whole thing is to bring together young adults that just don’t get the opportunity to participate in the same way.”

The IAI has hosted similar events in the past and has received the same grant, the DYCD Neighborhood grant, once before.

Powerplay NYC

Powerplay NYC, an organization devoted to uplifting girls through sports, was allocated $47,847 for a baseball team for girls ages 7 to 13. Powerplay NYC did not respond to comment.

The multi-million dollar grant allocations are part of the mayor’s “Summer of Possibility” initiative, which is a series of summer offerings to keep the city safe and healthy, and of the governor’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” Statewide Campaign, which encourages New Yorkers to turn off their screens and get active.

“Youth sports serve more than one purpose: They help our kids stay active and healthy, and provide them with opportunities to develop social skills and work as part of a team with their peers. All our young New Yorkers deserve an opportunity to take to the field, court, or pool to learn some new skills, while also having fun,” Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana J. Almanzar said in a press release.