2021 Quarter 1 Club Champions Newsletter

CLUB CHAMPIONS Quarterly Report Vol. 1, 2021

KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE!

Champions without Pause!

As Ralph Wilson Youth Club continues to return to form, the youth club cannot express its appreciation enough to our loyal supporters. In a time when many would have been justified in curtailing their support during a very tumultuous financial time, YOU, our CLUB CHAMPIONS have continued to do what you have always done, which is provide unwavering support to Ralph Wilson Youth Club. This is a testament to your belief in what the youth club provides to our community and to your character. The best is yet to come and that is because of your CHAMPIONLIKE support!

Spring Break at RWYC Athletics

Membership & Attendace Update

& Much More!

SPRING BREAK OUT

Spring Break represented one year since our youth had an opportunity to get out of the youth club and enjoy trips with fellow members. The youth made up for lost time at the 2021 Spring Break Day Camp. Our youth embarked on field trips on each day of the camp. Field trips included hiking at Chalk Ridge Falls, bowling, art school and Green Trees Farm exploration.

The youth were able to have picnics at the various sites and truly engage in an array of activities to stimulate their minds and physical abilities.

In addition, members at the youth club participated in multiple cooking projects, field day, coloring contests and on-site art programming. 124 area youth participated in the Spring Break Day Camp. Our youth were engaged and energized over the duration of the week. It is the belief of the staff that the camp will serve as a springboard to a robust summer camp for our youth.

Basketball shows no signs of slowing down...

Post COVID-19 summer camp and after school operations have been impacted negatively in terms of the financial analysis.

However, the youth basketball program continued to thrive despite the challenges presented by COVID-19. Staff worked diligently to create an environment that allowed our players and spectators to enjoy the game of basketball in an environment that did not compromise safety or the ability of players and fans to be normal. The 2021 Youth Basketball League featured 95 teams and 823 players. Champions were crowned in the 10&Under and 12&Under Divisions for boys and girls. The community continued the long-standing tradition of sponsoring each team in the league.

An annual tradition in the basketball program is the announcement of the winners of the Craig Bukosky Sportsmanship Award. Each year, the Ralph Wilson Youth Club staff selects two athletes from our basketball league as recipients of the Craig Bukosky Sportsmanship Award. While these players athletic accomplishments are noteworthy, their sportsmanship and team-first attitude throughout the 2021 season is why they were chosen to receive this year's award. Congratulations to Saniya Maxwell & Reese Rosenbaum, the 2021 receipts of the Craig Bukosky Sportsmanship Award!

T h e G i r ls ! k c a b e r a

The Spring of 2020 was scheduled to be the kickoff season for a new league for Girls Volleyball. Ralph Wilson Youth Club launched a Fall Volleyball program in 2018. Due to the tremendous response of the program, the decision was made to launch an additional league in the Spring of 2020. However, circumstances beyond the youth club’s control, forced the league to be cancelled.

Registered players

2020 *Spring Season canceled* 2021 Spring Season 0

100

237 270 200

Fast forward to 2021 and the youth club is excited to launch the Spring Volleyball League. In 2020, 237 girls were deprived of the opportunity to play. Undeterred by the misfortune of 2020, 270 players distributed on 28 teams are ready to make up for lost time. Games for the league are played on Monday and Saturday at the youth club. Like the basketball program, local businesses have sponsored every team in the league.

300

Membership Review Ralph Wilson Youth Club continues to see a modest recovery from the impacts felt by effects of COVID-19. The youth club has navigated the first quarter of the fiscal year with modest progress towards targeted goals. The 2021 Annual Budget is built on projections of 300 youth per month for the 9-month school term calendar. Through the first quarter of 2021, membership has lagged this target. The average registration for the first quarter of 2021 was 190 members.

However, the organization is optimistic that the membership is trending in the right direction. This is based on increasing comfort levels throughout the public and the number of new inquiries about youth club programs.

Registration & Attendance Update

ADA = Average Daily Attendance

New Year's Eve Gala Soars to Success The annual New Year’s Eve Gala hosted by Ralph Wilson Youth Club could not be deterred by all that took place in 2020. Despite not being able to host the event in its traditional format, the event’s chairs, Bill and Michelle DiGaetano altered the traditional event to enable the many supporters of the youth club to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the intimate setting of their home. This year’s event entailed a five-star meal delivered to the homes of our supporters. Supporters of the youth club were able to celebrate at home with fine food and beverages. Supporters also received flowers and a custom throw commemorating the annual event.

...

0 2 0 2 s a w t a h w t a k c A look ba

With 2020 in the books, the staff was able to reflect on the impact that 2020 had on the overall operations of the club. In doing an analysis of receipts for 2020 vs 2019, the youth club had a 17% decrease in receipts for 2020 when compared to 2019. Despite the significant reductions in receipts, the youth club closed the books on 2020 without having to compromise programs or increase fees charged to our families. This was only possible due to the unwavering support of those that believe in the youth club’s mission. Our donors refused to let the chaos that was 2020 deter them from supporting Ralph Wilson Youth Club through Club Champions, Dr. Ralph Wilson, Jr. Charity Golf Classic, New Year’s Eve Gala and Craig M. Bukosky Junior Golf Open.

RWYC Hosts Rotary

Ralph Wilson Youth Club benefits from numerous partnerships. It is these partnerships that enable the youth club to offer a program rich in quality and affordable in price. It is important that the youth club reciprocates this back to the community. Following the disastrous winter storms earlier this year, the local Rotary Club found itself without a place to meet. Ralph Wilson Youth Club found itself in a position to be able to assist the local Rotarians by serving as their meeting host for the foreseeable future while their traditional host recovers from the winter storm. What makes our community special, is everyone’s commitment to helping one another.

Boy & Girl of the Month JANUARY

Tyler Knight

Penelope Olivencia

FEBRUARY

Jacori Cooper

Sophie Anderson

MARCH

Jeffery Evans

Madison Lockett

The youth club continues to recognize a Boy and Girl of the Month. The program is designed to encourage and reward excellence in behavior by members of the youth club. Boy and Girl of the Month allows employees of the youth club to nominate youth that they observe demonstrating exemplary behavior. Winners of the monthly award are presented with a framed picture of themselves and a gift card to a local eatery. In addition, they have their picture displayed in the youth club for the duration of the year. They are presented in front of the entire membership of the youth club.

Summer Registration Open NOW!!!