2021 Beat the Streets Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT

BEAT THE STREETS WRESTLING, INC.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop the full potential of urban youth and to strengthen the New York City wrestling culture.

BOARD, LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ray Barczak

United Parcel Service

BTS Chairman

Jesse Jantzen

Skylar James Capital

BTS Vice Chairman

Andrew Bonita

Antarctica Capital

BTS Treasurer

Dean Colucci

Duane Morris LLP

BTS Secretary

Emilio Collins

Excel Sports Management

Alberto Ebanks

Ebanks Law Firm

Scott Feinstein

42West David Heidecorn

L Catterton

Chris Henrich

RBC Capital Markets

Chris Lindsey

Jane Street

Yoshi Nakamura

NAKA Capital Partners

Matt Palmer

BNP Paribas

Shawn Rubin

Morgan Stanley

Frank Ryan

DLA Piper

Hooman Tavakolian

Cyrus Capital Partners

Corey Wright

Cahill Gordon & Reindell LLP

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

Sue Ballard

Bank of America

Kevin Beinhacker

United Parcel Service

Ken Bigley

Public Schools Athletic League

Jayson Bowlsby

Apollo Global Management LLC

Kevin Collins

Pacific Investment Management Company

Donald Douglas

Public Schools Athletic League

Rick Gilston

Gilston Electric

Tyler Grimaldi

Morgan Stanley

Michael Piccirillo

CitiBank

Anthony Rinella

Morgan Stanley

David Rios

Columbia University

STAFF

Brendan Buckley

Executive Director

John Rollins

Senior Director of Operations & Finance

Penn Gottfried

Director of Youth Programming

Emma Randall

Director of HS Programming & Head Girls Coach

Barry Hart

Head Boys Coach

Mariana Olalde

Development Coordinator

Ashley Wang Communications Coordinator

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

To say the 2020-21 school year was a challenge, would be quite an understatement.

Everything our student-athletes knew to be “normal” was shattered as life’s daily activities from riding the bus, attending school and wrestling practice was either eliminated or done so with social distance while wearing a mask.

As the COVID-19 pandemic lingered, Beat the Streets rose to the challenge through sheer determination and the love we have for our student-athletes. We knew there remained a need - that was stronger than

ever before - and that we must rise to the challenge and fulfill our mission to help our student-athletes achieve their goals.

While there could not be a more challenging obstacle for a sport like ours with such close contact, we also knew our sport teaches resilience and there were creative alternatives to traditional wrestling practice to keep our student-athletes safe, sharp and physically fit.

We began with virtual training done over video conference with fundamental wrestling stance drills, agility and calisthenics before transitioning to a running program in the fall as well as outdoor wrestling in parks once it was safe to do so.

Off the mat, we met as a group for walks across the Brooklyn Bridge, an occasional meal and continued to offer our Academy program virtually to help our student-athletes by providing academic support,

Our sport teaches resilience and there were creative alternatives to traditional wrestling practice to keep our student-athletes safe, sharp and physically fit.

college prep classes and our annual career fair among various other life skill workshops.

For a second straight year, we made a major pivot with our Annual Benefit. In 2020, we were fortunate to hold a live wrestling event (with a telethon format full of interviews) prior to matches along the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey. But in 2021, we were unable to hold a live wrestling event with World and Olympic-level caliber wrestlers because of the Tokyo Olympics.

Fortunately, our staff, supporters, Board of Directors, Leadership Council, student-athletes and the New York City wrestling community joined together to run a 5-kilometer Spartan Race obstacle course in Bethel, New York. It marked a return to competition for so many and

brought us all together as we ran alongside each other and raised necessary funds to support all our boys and girls that rely on us. Beat the Streets is more than just a wrestling organization. We are a family banded together with a common belief in the power of the sport of wrestling. Not even a global pandemic could sideline us when we are all doing our part to help our student-athletes achieve success. For this, we humbly thank you for believing in us and doing your part to help us!

Brendan Buckley Executive Director

STUDENT-ATHLETES

BOROUGH GENDER

ETHNICITY

74%

New York City students are considered Economically Disadvantaged by the NYC Department of Education

STUDENT-ATHLETE PROFILES

HIGH SCHOOL

JESSICA KEMGNE

MIDDLE SCHOOL

INWOOD ACADEMY SENIOR | MANHATTAN

Beat the Streets allowed me to develop relationships with many important people. I am mostly grateful for the ones I developed with my coaches. They impacted my life in so many ways and are a huge part of my life.

M.S. 129 8TH GRADE | BRONX

Beat the Streets has given me opportunities to get better in the sport of wrestling. They hosted Academy days that focused on leadership and life skills. There are a lot of things I am thankful for in life and BTS is one of them.

GRAND STREET CAMPUS ALUMNI | BROOKLYN

Beat the Streets is one of the most influential programs I’ve been part of. Not only does the staff help you excel on the mat, but they also teach you valuable skills that assist you in life. Even through the pandemic, BTS continues to provide support for NYC youth wrestling.

NATIONAL CHAMP

Beat the Streets Academy student-athlete and junior league alumna Alessandra Elliott won the 138-pound championship at the U16 Nationals in July 2021 in Fargo, North Dakota.

Elliott’s road to the top of the podium took many detours during the 2020-21 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With her practice time limited within New York City, she traveled for additional mat time in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Elliott qualified for the national tournament at 138 pounds in the early part of summer. She then joined the New York state team for a training camp one week out from the tournament.

The Tottenville High School rising junior secured a first period fall then two decisions to earn a spot in the finals. She secured three double-leg takedowns to win the title with a 6-2 decision.

After celebrating the title with her coaches and friends, the gravity of what she had accomplished didn’t sink in until later that night.

ALESSANDRA ELLIOTT

TOTTENVILLE HS | STATEN ISLAND

I just laid down and just reflected on everything. The whole camp, the tournament and that’s when it came to me. Like, oh I’m really a national champ.

THE JUNIOR LEAGUE

The Junior League is the only elementary and middle school wrestling league in New York City. In partnership with New York City’s Department of Education, Beat the Streets provides after-school programming with weekly practice and competition opportunities focused on teaching wrestling basics in a safe and fun environment. The league traditionally serves 650 youth student-athletes

Beat the Streets student-athletes learned to adapt during the 2020-21 wrestling season. Beat the Streets conducted a virtual season in the fall and an outdoor season in the spring. Coaches met virtually with wrestlers twice a week for fitness exercises and wrestling techniques. Student-athletes also participated in weekly enrichment sessions, where they earned points for their team by

attending or winning competitions. The spring season saw each New York City borough represented by one team that met twice a week. A small tournament was held midway through the season, with studentathletes earning points for pushouts and grounding their opponent on the mat. The season ended with a city championship takedown tournament at Roosevelt Island.

ON-THE-MAT SUCCESS

the Streets resumed in-person practices

May for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. After more than a year of virtual workouts, Beat the Streets held practices at Edge Hoboken (New Jersey) Wrestling and New York City Police Department Brooklyn Community Center.

Three Beat the Streets alumnae also found success with their return to the wrestling mat by earning All-American status at the Cliff Keen Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships.

Nia Crosdale and Sophia Mirabella, both of King University, and Naomi Henry of New Jersey City University, each earned two victories.

Crosdale scored two falls en route to fourth place at 170 pounds. Mirabella had two decisions to claim fourth place at 116 pounds. Henry had two technical falls to place eighth at 130 pounds. Henry also made NJCU history by becoming the program’s first All-American.

THE SPARTAN RACE

After the Step into the Circle fundraiser event was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Beat the Streets turned to Spartan for an interactive fundraising event in 2021.

Beat the Streets studentathletes, alumni, coaches, staff members, Board of Directors and Leadership Council members ran the Spartan Race Sprint 5K in Bethel, New York. The event raised nearly $80,000 for Beat the Streets.

FINANCIALS

2021 2020 SUPPORT AND REVENUE

Contributions and Grants $708,597 $576,683

Donated Goods and Services $28,000 $28,170

Special Events (Net) $444,883 $220,745

Other Income $33,508 $12,691

Total Support and Revenue $1,214,988 $988,701

EXPENSES

Program Services $328,308 $596,778

Support Services

Management and General $497,498 $419,922

Fundraising $215,337 $207,428

Total Expenses $1,041,143 $1,224,128

Change in Net Assets

($313,039) $235,427

Beginning Net Assets $437,837 $673,264

Ending Net Assets $750,876 $437,837

LEGENDARY IMPACT

New York City lost an iconic education leader and wrestling visionary when Donald Douglas died of a heart attack at age 58 in February 2021.

Douglas spent more than 35 years working for the New York City Department of Education and was the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) Director since 2004. He also served as a member of Beat the Streets’ Board of Directors and Leadership Council.

Under Douglas’ guidance, the PSAL worked in partnership with Beat the Streets to triple the number of boys high school wrestling programs from 25 in 2009 to more than 75 teams before the COVID-19 pandemic. He also helped add 27 girls teams and formed the first all-girls freestyle high school league in the United States.

BRENDAN BUCKLEY BEAT THE STREETS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Donald’s impact on Beat the Streets was immense. Under his leaderhip, the opportunities for boys and girls grew rapidly as did the strength of the New York City wrestling culture that we enjoy today.

RAY BARCZAK BEAT THE STREETS CHAIRMAN

Donald was such an advocate for wrestling and supporter of Beat the Streets. The success of our program can be directly tied to Donald’s involvement through the PSAL.

SUPPORTERS

The work of Beat the Streets would not be possible without the generosity of our foundational, corporate and individual donors. Listed below are the names of those who gave during the fiscal year of Sept. 1, 2020 to Aug. 31, 2021.

$50,000+

Mike and Sukey Novogratz

$25,000 - $49,999

DLA Piper

Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA Pinkerton Foundation

UPS Corey Wright

$10,000 - $24,999

Andrew Barth Barth Family Trust Brad Beutter Cliff Keen Athletic Dave and Kyra Barry Yaki Faitelson

FloSports Daniel Hyman Christopher Lindsey Edward McBride Patrina Foundation RBC Capital Markets, LLC Tim Reusing UPS Foundation

$5,000 - $9,999

Joseph Alexander Brooks Cullen Eisner Foundation Everbridge Friedman Family Foundation

PARTNERS

Amerigroup

Beat the Streets National

Cliff Keen Columbia University Duane Morris LLP Edge Wrestling

David Heidecorn

Hyde and Watson Foundation James Ritman

Frank and Melissa Ryan Scott Smith

Suvretta Capital Management Patricia Wredd

$2,000 - $4,999

Loren Brown Derek Capanna Samule Cole Emilio Collins Rick Gilston Deborah Heidecorn Sara Hinzman Clinton Matter Henry E. Niles Foundation, Inc. Stephen O’Neil Matt Palmer Denis Ryan Rahul Sharma

$1,000-$1,999

Alvarez and Marsal Kevin Beinhacker Andrew Bonita Brian Buckley David and Denise Chase Dean Colucci Alberto Ebanks Scott Feinstein Fidelity Charitable

Carl Forsythe

Curt Futch

Richard Ginsburg Casey Hoschwalt Kealy Family Foundation Andrew Leonard Margo and Irwin Winkler Charitable Foundation Max Meltzer John C. Morris Michael Moyer Eric Ogden Jonathan Palmer David Rios Shawn Rubin Hooman Tavakolian Seth Thomas Chad Verdi Peter White Simon Ziff

$500-$999

John Abbamondi Matthew Adames Eric Amstutz Jude Arena Sue Ballard Jared Barrick Jon A. Beck Gordon Bierschenk David S. Blitzer William Brasser Gregory Cappello Casey Close

Kevin Collins Kendall Cross Jessica de Rothschild Louis DeStefano John Dunchick Lewis Fischbein Sam Goldfeder

Laurence S. Hughes Jesse Jantzen

Ellen Kealy

KPMG Michael LaSalle Charles LaMantia Salvatore Lentini Zhouhong Mao Michael McGraw Mark McLaughlin Ahmad Nassar Brendan Palmer Stephen Pred Thomas Procida Ellen Regenstreif Anthony Rinella Adam Silver

Zach Tolbert Scott Turner Yero Washington Brett Waters James Well

FloSports

Heisman Trophy Trust, NYCT

Henry E. Miles Ironstate Development Madison Square Garden National Wrestling Coaches Association

NYC Department of Education

New York Athletic Club

NYC Regional Training Center

Nike Community Impact Fund Public Schools Athletic League

RBC Capital Markets Patrina Foundation

UPS

USA Wrestling Varonis Systems, Inc.

VITA Sports Partners Women’s Sports Foundation

Youth Inc.