Building Teamwork & Citizens through Playmakers

 Sports   Mon, May 18, 2015 08:06 AM

Washington, DC  - Growing solid citizens and team players is an endeavor that engages many of the best and brightest.  This year, the Washington, DC metro area will see the Amateur Athletic Union [AAU] organize basketball teams through the Maryland and Virginia Playmakers to take on that task anew. These organizations have met this challenge through a traveling basketball club for boys and girls age 7 thru 18. The teams play in local, regional and national AAU sanctioned events.

Every player is required to maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in order to participate. The sport focus is player development on and off the court. The volunteer coaches strive to prepare participating youth for both the rigors and challenges of competitive basketball, as well as the complexities of life.

Ardi Love-Small is good example of a Project Manager with Monarc Construction Company by day and a volunteer coach with a big heart after work.  This year Ms. Love-Smalls has three aspiring boys whose families cannot afford the cost of Travel Basketball.  Her goal is to raise $3,000.00, that’s $1,000.00 for each of the students, to pay for this summers’ monthly fees that cover the cost of gym space, rentals and tournaments.  Last year, Ms. Love-Smalls was able to exceed her goal and help fund the overall program. This year to date, Ms. Love-Smalls has raised $1,750.00 and is working to raise the remaining $1,250.00. Her supporters are drawn mostly from her professional network in the construction industry: Level 5 Drywall; Cable Lan; D2; Tradiant CAD; Portugal; CB Flooring; Emerald Iron; Merit; BB Fire and VERCO Demolition & Concrete Cutting.

To assist the tax deductible Amateur Athletic Union in general or Ms. Love-Small’s Virginia Playmakers in particular, contact Mark Strauss at 301 237 0707 or Ms. Smalls at ardencia@playmakersbball.org  or 703 477 2717. All funds raised go directly to the program. All coaches, managers and mentors are volunteers.

Donations can also be addressed to: VA Playmakers, Inc.; 9070 Sainsbury Court; Bristow, VA 20136. For more information visit www.playmakersbball.org.

CONTACT:
T.L. Oliver thomas@ediversity.net