New Heights 10 Year Anniversary Gala Program

CHANGING THE GAME TAKING YOUTH TO NEW HEIGHTS

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OCTOBER 8, 2015

GALA HONOREES: NICK BLATCHFORD JACK GRUBMAN ALLAN HOUSTON MICHELLE LEFTWICH TOM QUINLAN EVENT CO-CHAIRS: DUANE FIEDLER* NINA LESAVOY* HOST COMMITTEE: DICK & CAROLE BERKOWITZ RODERICK BLAYLOCK* MELINDA BRETT* SCOTT BROWN ANDREW COLAO CHRIS DORMENT BRANDON ERNST AARON FINKEL PETER GATOF RICH KLEIMAN* ROCKY KURITA* BRIAN LAPIN MICHAEL & MICHELE LITT JON MAROTTA DERRICK MASHORE ANDY NATHAN* MARK PATRICOF* RICHARD ROBERTS* JOE SAMBERG* STEVEN SCHEINFELD ALAN SCHRAGER TED SMITH* LANCE THOMAS RON TRICHON* ANDREW WALKER* JOSE TAVAREZ MICHAEL YORMARK TY WALLACH* JARED WEISS VICKI ZUBOVIC* *Board of Directors SPECIAL THANKS: CHRIS FAIN PHOTOGRAPER CHARLIE MYSAK VIDEO DIRECTOR

W

elcome to the New Heights 10 Year Anniversary Celebration. Tonight is very special for our organization as we recognize 10 years of achievement and accomplishments of our studentathletes. New Heights started with the belief that sports, when provided in a safe, structured and supportive environment, can have a huge impact on a young person’s academic, leadership and personal development. This concept started in a small gym and classroom at IS 90 in Washington Heights as a pilot program of the Children’s Aid Society.

With the support of a dedicated group of founding board members, advisors and volunteers, the organization took a leap of faith and launched as an independent non-profit in 2005. Fast forward to tonight, and we are proud to say that we have helped 271 studentathletes matriculate to college and maintained a 100% high school graduation rate in the process. Tonight you will hear from several of our alumni and we hope that you will be able to meet some of them yourself – they are the greatest examples of the impact that sports, combined with the support of a program like New Heights, can have on people’s lives.

Our New Heights Family is made up of so many individuals who give their time, support, resources and love, that tonight is not only a celebration of the hundreds of young people who have come through our program (who are now teachers, analysts, NBA players, and graduate students to name a few) but also of the amazing people involved with the organization over the past 10 years (and more).

Tonight we are also honoring a “Starting Five” of true champions for their commitment to New Heights and supporting youth across NYC. THANK YOU for joining us tonight and being part of the lives of so many impressive and deserving NYC youth. You truly are Changing the Game.

In thanks,

TED SMITH Executive Director

MARK PATRICOF Chairman of the Board

DINNER PROGRAM WELCOME Peter Rosenberg, Host Hot 97 & ESPN

A Toast to New Heights Youth, Inc.

NEW HEIGHTS IN ACTION

Niki Avery, New Heights Class of 2004 Marquis Barnett, New Heights Class of 2011 Duane Fiedler, New Heights Board Member

AWARDS PRESENTATION Felix Navarro, New Heights Class of 2007 SPIRIT OF NEW HEIGHTS AWARD Jack Grubman Michelle Leftwich VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AWARD Nick Blatchford LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE AWARD Tom Quinlan Allan Houston

10

YEARS:

A look back

DREAM IS BORN: Founded by Nick Blatchford, the program starts as the Washington Heights Warriors, as part of the Children’s Aid Society, providing after school academic support and basketball skill development.

2000 to 2005

2005

LET THE MADNESS BEGIN: New Heights hosts its first MADNESS fundraiser, an NCAA viewing party, and that same year begins “Saturday Skills” at Tolentine, offering a weekly basketball and life skills program to the community.

2006

HAPPY DEAL: Lance Thomas becomes the first New Heights studentathlete selected as a McDonald’s All-American. He moves on to Duke University where he wins a National Championship in 2010 as team captain.

IT’S OFFICIAL: New Heights Youth, Inc. is incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit. That same year, the organization relocates to St. Nicholas of Tolentine School in the Bronx and hosts its first Summer Academy at the prestigious Philips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire for 25 boys and girls, providing leadership development, academic enrichment and basketball training.

STARTING 5 HONOREES

THE

MICHELLE LEFTWICH

JACK GRUBMAN

VP & Assistant General Counsel, NBA

Managing Member, Magee Group

Spirit of New Heights Award

Spirit of New Heights Award

Jack Grubman formed Magee Group, LLC in 2003, and began business operations in 2004, providing strategic consulting for telecom and technology companies, especially focusing on those companies in the IP, wireless, broadband and next generation network areas. Mr. Grubman worked on Wall Street from 19852002.

Michelle Leftwich joined the NBA in 1996 and currently serves in the league’s Salary Cap group. Leftwich’s principal responsibilities include assisting with collective bargaining, advising NBA team management on matters relating to the NBA/National Basketball Players Association Collective Bargaining Agreement and league rules, and overseeing the player contract review and approval process.

He received a BA in Mathematics from Boston University in 1975 and an MS in Mathematical Statistics from Columbia University in 1977. Mr. Grubman serves on the Board of Directors of MB Technology Holding Company and Landover Wireless. He also is on the Advisory Board of Loyalty Alliance (China) and WI Harper, a VC fund based in Beijing and San Francisco.

Leftwich is a 1993 graduate of New York University School of Law and a 1987 graduate of Canisius College. Following her graduation from law school, she joined the New York law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker where she worked in the firm’s corporate law practice area. She is a member of the New York and Georgia State Bar Associations and is a Certified Public Accountant. Her son Brandon is a member of New Heights Class of 2016.

NICK BLATCHFORD Sports Marketing, Under Armour

New Heights Founder Visionary Leadership Award

Nick Blatchford is currently Director of Grassroots and College Basketball at Under Armour, where he has worked since 2014. Prior to joining Under Armour, Mr. Blatchford was CEO of the Fivestar Sports Media Group and Fivestar Basketball from 2010-2014. Previously, Mr. Blatchford was the founder and Executive Director of New Heights Youth, Inc. A native of Washington, D.C., Blatchford graduated from the prestigious St. Albans School and Duke University. After graduating from Duke, where he played wide receiver on the football team, Mr. Blatchford moved to New York City, where he was a middle school teacher and coach in Washington Heights before founding New Heights.

NATIONAL CHAMPS: New Heights’ 14-under girls win the AAU National Championships in Virginia.

NEW ADVENTURES: New Heights takes a girls’ team on an educational and cultural trip to Puerto Rico.

2008

2007 STRIKE IT RICH: Rich Souto replaces founder Nick Blatchford as Executive Director.

Nick transitions to the Board of Directors.

ON THE MOVE: Creates and implements the College Bound Gameplan – a roadmap for our student-athletes’ college prep. New Heights relocates to Harlem to become more centrally located as the organization serves more youth from across NYC.

OPENING DOORS: Hosts 5th annual HS Open House at the JCC in Manhattan & Summer Academy begins at the Riverdale Country School as a 5-week comprehensive academic and basketball program.

2009

TOM QUINLAN

President and CEO, R.R. Donnelley Leadership & Service Award Thomas Quinlan is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Chicago-based R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, the largest provider of printing and communication business services in the world, with approximately 58,000 employees, annual revenues of over $10 billion, and more than 600 locations around the globe. Mr. Quinlan joined RR Donnelley in February, 2004, and in 2006 became Group President, Global Services and Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Quinlan holds an MBA in finance from St. John’s University, which recognized him with its Outstanding Alumni Achievement Medal in 2010, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Pace University, which conferred upon him an honorary doctorate in Commercial Science and presented him with its 46th Leaders in Management Award.

Mr. Quinlan is a member of Business Roundtable. He is active in supporting organizations that focus on literacy, health and development and serves as a Director and a member of the Executive Committee for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and on the Board of Trustees for Pace University, YMCA of Greater New York, and Curry College. In 2011 Mr. Quinlan received AJC’s National Human Relations Award.

ALLAN HOUSTON

Assistant General Manager, New York Knicks

Leadership & Service Award

As a man of faith and strong family values, Allan Houston lives his life with a determination to utilize his success as a professional athlete to help others while continuing to grow a variety of entrepreneurial interests. Currently the Assistant General Manager of the New York Knicks as well as the General Manager of the Westchester Knicks, Allan has been an international ambassador for the NBA, spokesperson for the National Fatherhood Initiative, ESPN analyst, and burgeoning book author.

Before his retirement in the Fall of 2005, Allan was touted as one of the “purest shooters” in the NBA, finishing his career as one of the NBA’s all-time greatest long-range shooters (#11 in three pointers made) and one of the all-time leading scorers in Knicks history (#2 in three pointers, #4 in total points, and #8 in scoring average). Allan is a also a two-time NBA All-Star. But for all his accomplishments he is especially proud of being named one of The Sporting News’ “Good Guys in Sports” (four times) and helping Team USA bring home the gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics games in Sydney, Australia.

Allan’s dedication to helping others is demonstrated through the exciting work of his Legacy Foundation, which has served over 1,500 participants across the country through original programs in fatherhood and entrepreneurship.

ALL-AMERICANS: Ted Smith is promoted to Executive Director, as 150 student-athletes have gone on to college and 230 students placed in college prep high schools. JayVaughn Pinkston from Bishop Loughlin is named 2nd McDonald’s All-American in program history.

2010

RECORD NIGHT: MADNESS event sets a record by raising over $700,000. Later that year, Li’Esha Garcia becomes the first alum hired as a full-time employee, joining New Heights as its Finance and Operations Manager.

2011 SENIOR MOMENT: Program hosts its first Senior Night, honoring all 31 graduating high school seniors (our largest class to date) who are heading off to college. This becomes an annual affair. This month also sees Summer Academy relocate to the Loyola School on the Upper East Side, serving over 50 students its first year.

2012

FAMILY MATTERS: Inaugural Community Service and Family Day is held at Morningside Park, where students help clean the park. This transitions into New Heights Cares, a program where all teams participate in community service activities.

EMERGING LEADERS: The Emerging Leaders Council (ELC) is formed, composed of young professionals, including several alums of the program.

MISSION VISION To educate & empower promising inner-city youth to be leaders, champions and studentathletes by developing the skills necessary for success in high school, college & life.

All young athletes will have the values and skills necessary to become leaders in their communities and succeed in life beyond sports.

100%

OF TEAMS RECEIVE LEADERSHIP & LIFE SKILLS TRAINING

SERVICE IMPACT NYC youth ages 9-18 from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds who have a passion for basketball.

100%

RECEIVE ACADEMIC SUPPORT & COLLEGE PREP SERVICES

For 10 years, we’ve maintained a 100% high school graduation rate for our studentathletes, a 98% college matriculation rate and a 75% college graduation rate.

100% OF TEAMS PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE

OVER $50 MILLION IN TOTAL SCHOLARSHIP AND FINANCIAL AID FROM HIGH SCHOOLS, TOP TIER COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

UA WAY: The basketball program partners with Under Armour to sponsor and support our boys high school teams. The 17-under team wins its first tournament under the UA umbrella, the Pittsburgh Jam Fest.

STRATEGIC PLANS: New Heights completes new strategic plan with support from the Taproot Foundation.

2013

2014

KEEPING PASE: Longtime staff member Rock Rosa honored by PASE as a PASEetter honoree for his dedication and commitment to NYC’s youth.

SHOOT & SCORE: The program hosts its first Shoot-a-thon as our boys’ and girls’ teams raise over $50,000 to help support College Bound. The following year, $75,000 is raised.

2015

FIRST LADY: Kiah Gillespe becomes the first female McDonald’s All-American in program history. She is currently a freshman at the University of Maryland.

A PERFECT 10TH: Friends, family, alums and supporters gather at Capitale in Manhattan to celebrate New Heights’ 10th Anniversary – over $1 million is raised to help sustain the program’s next 10 years.

10 for10

While all 271 alums have unique stories, we have chosen 10 to celebrate our 10th Anniversary. All of them are great representatives and role models. Here is a sample of the amazing individuals who help make New Heights special.

NIKI AVERY 2004 class of

ORIGINAL HOMETOWN: SPANISH HARLEM

THE

Niki pre-dates New Heights as she joined the program in its first incarnation – The Washington Heights Warriors. After starring in high school, she graduated from Eastern Kentucky. Niki has taken New Heights Cares personally, as she now gives back to the young people from the same community in which she grew up.

CURRENTLY: PLAYING PRO BASKETBALL, COACHING & MENTORING NYC YOUTH

MARK DAVENPORT 2009 class of

TEAMMATE HOMETOWN: THE BRONX

THE

A favorite of players and coaches alike, Mark, who joined New Heights in 7th grade, graduated from the Dwight School and Immaculata University in Pennsylvania. He is a shining example of the essence of New Heights, succeeding for himself and being a role model for the next generation of student-athletes.

CURRENTLY: WORKS FOR THE NBA & TEACHES AT A SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN

MICHELLE PACHECO 2006 class of

TEACHER

THE

HOMETOWN: THE BRONX Small in size but huge in heart, Michelle graduated from JFK High School and Manhattan College, where she played point guard. After years of learning in New Heights’ classrooms, Michelle has one of her own now as a teacher at Thurgood Marshall Academy and coaching at her alma mater.

CURRENTLY: TEACHING IN HARLEM AND COACHING HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

MARQUIS BARNETT 2011

class of

HERO

THE

HOMETOWN: THE BRONX, QUEENS & STATEN ISLAND There might not be a student-athlete at New Heights who has had to overcome more than Marquis. From personal and family struggles to long commutes to school to not knowing where was sleeping every night, Marquis persevered to earn a basketball scholarship and then a college degree from Quinnipiac University.

CURRENTLY: WORKING ON MASTERS’ IN PUBLIC RELATIONS AT QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY

LI’ESHA GARCIA 2005 class of

ACCOUNTANT HOMETOWN: THE BRONX

THE

Li’Esha graduated from LIU with a degree in accounting and, after taking advantage of internships and part-time jobs facilitated by the staff at New Heights, she became the first New Heights alum to work full-time for the program as its financial manager.

CURRENTLY: FINANCIAL CONSULTANT FOR CHARTER SCHOOL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & NEW HEIGHTS

LANCE THOMAS 2006 class of

ALL-AMERICAN HOMETOWN: SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ

THE

Lance was New Heights’ first McDonald’s All-American and National Champion while serving as Captain of the 2010 Duke University team. He used the hook of basketball and the advice of his coaches and mentors at New Heights to achieve his dream of graduating from one of the top universities in the country and playing in the NBA. CURRENTLY: POWER FORWARD FOR THE NEW YORK KNICKS

JANELLE LINTON 2010 class of

EXPLORER HOMETOWN: THE BRONX

THE

Janelle loves to travel and is always up to trying new adventures. She joined New Heights in 8th grade and went on to graduate from Murry Bergtraum High School and Syracuse University. She is now spearheading our newly formed Career Assist program, working with our recent graduating high school class as they navigate the waters in college.

CURRENTLY: WORKING ON MASTERS’ IN PUBLIC HEALTH AT NYU, WORKING PART-TIME AT NEW HEIGHTS

JAMES FELDEINE 2006 class of

SUCCESS STORY

THE

HOMETOWN: WASHINGTON HEIGHTS A “New Heights Original” since 6th grade, James was literally one of the reasons New Heights was created. He loved basketball but didn’t care much for schoolwork. Many said he would never “make it.” Those people were wrong. He was an All-League player at Cardinal Hayes HS, then at Quinnipiac University, where he graduated with a 3.0 GPA, something that would not have been possible without his family and New Heights.

CURRENTLY: PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL IN ATHENS, GREECE

CHELSEA BAEZ 2011 class of

VETERAN HOMETOWN: WASHINGTON HEIGHTS

THE

Chelsea joined New Heights in 3rd grade as a “Saturday Skills” participant. She attended the Riverdale Country School and Syracuse University. Every summer she has either attended or worked at our Summer Academy, including this past year when she served as the Assistant Director.

CURRENTLY: RUTGERS, 2016 & WORKING PART-TIME AT NEW HEIGHTS

KERRY WELDON 2010 class of

OVER-ACHIEVER

THE

HOMETOWN: MANHATTAN Kerry joined New Heights in 5th grade and through hard work and perseverance he went from a role player to a Division 1 scholarship player at UMass-Lowell. While there, Kerry took full advantage of New Heights’ vast network of resources to gain internships all four years of college. These relationships, gained through New Heights’ board members, helped him land his first full-time job.

CURRENTLY: PROJECT MANAGER AT A REAL ESTATE FIRM

2576 Broadway, PMB 213 New York, New York 10025 212.426.HOOP

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