• Backyard Sports Cares Blog



    • Productive Discussion: BYSC brings local at-risk youths together with role models from the Westchester Knicks

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    Categories afterschool programs, basketball, At risk youth, under-served communitiesTags

    How do you get at-risk youths in crisis to open up and take some hard-won advice? If you’re Backyard Sports Cares, the answer is pizza…and a few local heroes from the Westchester Knicks! This past week, Danny Bernstein, executive director, Backyard Sports Cares, decided to add a unique dimension to the recreational programming that the … Continue reading “Productive Discussion: BYSC brings local at-risk youths together with role models from the Westchester Knicks”

    GaGa Plays Key Role in Ambitious Mission for Spring 2018

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    Categories At risk youth, under-served communities, GaGa programTags ,

    Volunteers and Vested Supporters are Invited to Join this Important Initiative with Backyard Sports Cares Backyard Sports Cares is embarking on an ambitious mission to bring kids from all socioeconomic backgrounds in Westchester together — and GaGa is the lynchpin. Last week, BYSC Executive Director, Danny Bernstein, hosted a kickoff conference with BYSC’s stakeholders and … Continue reading “GaGa Plays Key Role in Ambitious Mission for Spring 2018”

    Backyard Sports Features GaGa Event as Part of Special Needs Basketball League

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    Categories Soccer, basketballTags , ,

    Backyard Sports Cares Fall Basketball League for athletes with special needs has exceeded expectations this year. In conjunction with our Basketball program, we featured a GaGa special event that got our kids moving and exposed to non-traditional sports. Check out our video to take part in the action and hear from our awesome teen coaches, Audrey … Continue reading “Backyard Sports Features GaGa Event as Part of Special Needs Basketball League”

    WVOX-AM “Wartburg Cares” Radio Show Features Backyard Sports Cares

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    Categories Backyard Sports Cares, inclusive sports, At risk youth

      On September 20, 2017, Backyard Sports was given the incredible opportunity to co-host a local radio show through WVOX and Wartburg Cares Radio. Produced by Angela Ciminello, Vice President of Development and Marketing at the Wartburg Adult Care Community in Mount Vernon, Backyard Sports Cares Executive Director, Danny Bernstein and Dillon Faulkner, were able … Continue reading “WVOX-AM “Wartburg Cares” Radio Show Features Backyard Sports Cares”

    Backyard Sports/Bits and Pieces Summer Field Day

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    Categories summer campTags

    Once again Backyard Sports and the White Plains Youth Bureau collaborated to provide a Summer Field Day for nearly 200 youngsters who are part of the Bureau’s Bits and Pieces Camp.  Activities included soccer, gaga, basketball, project adventure, golf, and a tug of war.  Assisting with the program were Scarsdale high school students, Josh Wasserman, … Continue reading “Backyard Sports/Bits and Pieces Summer Field Day”

    Backyard Sports Cares brings evening lacrosse program to Youth Shelter of Westchester

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    Categories Uncategorized

    Teenage residents of the Youth Shelter Program of Westchester, an alternative to incarceration program located in Mt. Vernon, participated in an early evening lacrosse program led by BYSC volunteers, Dylan Cannell and Daniel Jaffe of Scarsdale. The teen leaders, both students and varsity players at the Masters School, led their teen teammates in a variety … Continue reading “Backyard Sports Cares brings evening lacrosse program to Youth Shelter of Westchester”

    Backyard Sports & Foundations for Life Bring “Bike Day” Giveaway to White Plains Youngsters

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    Categories under-served communitiesTags

          Once again, Backyard Sports in connection with Foundations for Life presented 25 White Plains youngsters with a brand new bicycle at the organization’s annual “Bike Day” event.  Temple Kol Ami of White Plains provided the facility space. Led by volunteers from Foundations for Life and the Backyard Sports Cares Junior Board, the … Continue reading “Backyard Sports & Foundations for Life Bring “Bike Day” Giveaway to White Plains Youngsters”

    Backyard Sports Cares Honors Rye Country Day School and Mamaroneck High School Teen Volunteers at First Backyard Benefit

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    Categories fundraisingTags

    On Thursday, April 27, 2017, Backyard Sports Cares hosted its first annual Backyard Benefit at the Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club. The event raised more than $150,000 in support of sports programs for underserved and special needs kids in Westchester, NY. The gala honored eight teen volunteers from Rye Country Day School and Mamaroneck High School … Continue reading “Backyard Sports Cares Honors Rye Country Day School and Mamaroneck High School Teen Volunteers at First Backyard Benefit”

    The “Amazin'”Mets coach youngsters at Citi Field baseball clinic

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    Categories nesta felix, baseballTags , ,

    On Saturday, April 22, 2017, Backyard Sports, in partnership with the New Flex Foundation of White Plains, participated in a baseball clinic at Citi Field sponsored by the NY Mets. Twenty youngsters ages 9-14 years old participated in a series of fundamental drills on the Mets’ playing field with instructors from the organization.  Following the … Continue reading “The “Amazin’”Mets coach youngsters at Citi Field baseball clinic”

    Backyard Sports Cares Leads Art Appreciation Program at Yonkers DaySpring Center

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    Categories afterschool programs, Art programsTags ,

    Following successful programs with the White Plains Youth Bureau and the Mary Blige Center, Penny Bauersfeld of Scarsdale recently completed a six-week “Learning to Look” art appreciation program with 12 elementary school-aged children from the Day Spring Center in Yonkers. The program includes five weeks of afterschool study of various periods and artists.  Children learn … Continue reading “Backyard Sports Cares Leads Art Appreciation Program at Yonkers DaySpring Center”

    Game, Set and Match! — An Interview with BYSC Tennis Coach Rita

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    Categories afterschool programs, under-served communities, tennis

    By Arden Franklyn Although some believe tennis is an exclusive sport, it’s actually largely recognized around the world as a mainstream activity that can be played by virtually anyone.  I recently caught up with Coach Rita, who leads the Backyard Sports Cares’ afterschool tennis program every Thursday at Ridgeway Elementary. The veteran tennis coach typically … Continue reading “Game, Set and Match! — An Interview with BYSC Tennis Coach Rita”

    BYSC Tennis Program Flourishes at Ridgeway Elementary

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    Categories afterschool programs, tennisTags

    By Arden Franklyn Every Thursday, for 90-minutes, Rita, BYSC’s Tennis Coach, leads a group of 10 kids from Ridgeway Elementary through various energizing drills that are focused on the fundamentals of tennis. But the drills themselves aren’t the only reason why improvement has been evident among these young players. Before rackets or balls take to … Continue reading “BYSC Tennis Program Flourishes at Ridgeway Elementary”