Senator Savino Secures Funds to Send Local Youth Football Champs to National Championships

*********Media Advisory for December 3, 2009************

Senator Savino Secures Funds to Send Local Youth Football Champs to National Championships

Community joins in effort to support the Staten Island Hurricanes

(Staten Island) – Senator Diane J. Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) will announce a successful campaign to send local champions, the Staten Island Hurricanes, an all-volunteer youth football organization with four different weight divisions, who qualified for the National Championship Games in Orlando, Fl, from December 5th to the 12th.  The team, part of the American Youth Football League has strict standards for its team members, requiring the kids to be in good academic standing and to volunteer in their community.  The coaches act as mentors to the players, providing tutoring and assistance with homework, as well as teaching  teaching self-respect, responsibility, and civic engagement.

The team, made up of over one hundred kids, mostly from lower  and modest incomes, were unable to pay for the cost of the trip—approximately $400 per child—over $10,000 for the entire team.  Senator Savino began a joint community fundraising effort, raising $10,700, thus allowing the team to participate in the games.          

WHO:             Senator Diane J. Savino, Staten Island Hurricanes Assistant Coach, Jay Sullivan, team members and parents, Hurricane cheerleaders, and community, civic, and elected leaders.

WHAT:           Successful fundraising drive to send Staten Island Hurricanes to  National Championship Games in Florida

WHEN:           Thursday, December 3, 2009

                        4:00pm

WHERE:         Senator Savino’s District Office

                        36 Richmond Terrace, Suite 112

                        Staten Island, NY 10301