Organization Details:

Sports and Arts in School Foundation's mission is to help bridge the academic performance gap among under-achieving students by extending the school day and year with wholesome, skill-building activities designed to improve New York City children's academic performance, health and wellness, attitude towards school, self-confidence, character and values, and opportunity for lifelong employment.

Description and/or History:
The Sports & Arts in School Foundation was established in 1992 by Board members of its sister organization, the New York Junior Tennis League, who believed there was an urgent, unmet need for out-of-school-time activities that are school-based and combine academics, sports, arts, community service, educational trips, and family involvement. Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation is the largest community-based organization offering school-based, out-of-school time services throughout the five boroughs of New York City. By the end of the 2008-2009 school year, we will have served approximately 47,000 young people (grades 1-12) and their families. Virtually all live in low-income neighborhoods, lack access to services available to affluent suburban families, and attend under-performing NYC public schools.

Our programs increase young people's contact with caring adults, nurture positive youth development, increase classroom attendance, improve test score results in math and reading, improve grades in math and reading, decrease school behavioral problems, help middle school students from struggling schools gain admissions to specialized and competitive public high schools, increase high school completion rates, help high school students gain admissions and financial aid for college, and provide city young people with the tools and attitudes they need to reduce their threat from the epidemic of childhood obesity.

Contact people:

James O'Neill, President, (347) 417-8120, (email) Bruce Kaufmann, Director Of Development, (347) 417-8160, (email)

Address:

58-12 Queens Boulevard, Suite 1 59th Street Entrance Woodside, NY 11377 (See a map)

Directions:

To get to Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation's headquarter offices in Woodside, Queens by car from the Bronx, Westchester and northern points, take I-95 South, which becomes I-278 West. Take exit #36B towards (Rt-25W) and bear Right on Queens. . . (more)