We submitted a new budget at our spring board meeting. I am amazed at the ability of individuals on our board to understand the inner workings of the organization through the lens of numbers.
I for one always struggled with math in school. This is not to say that I disrespect dollars or the importance of maintaining competent financial records and standards. Ask Beth, my wife, I still save my change and place all the coins in rolls which I deposit in the bank! Although the sports world draws its life blood from scores and statistics, I have always been reluctant to portray our work in numeric figures.
I prefer the story or experience to explain the trajectory of our history and growth. Although the intention of the tales is always to educate, sometimes the length of the yarns diminishes the impact. In deference to my board at our latest meeting, I cobbled together some factual figures which illustrate our progress during the 2014-2015 year:
• 2500 unique program participants including:
• 1700 children in after school and weekend activities
• 380 children in summer programs
• 500 children in BYSC sponsored special events
• 30 unique programs
• 20 community partners
• 59 paid coaches
• 150 community volunteers.
Space restrictions on the column prevent me from telling you “the rest of the stories.” Suffice to say, we had a happily busy year!
By, Danny Bernstein
Head Coach, Backyard Sports Cares
