10 YEARS of IMPACT the 2017-2018 Annual Report 10 YEARS of IMPACT
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10 YEARS OF IMPACT The 2017-2018 Annual Report 10 YEARS OF IMPACT TOP 10 SQUASHWISE ACHIEVEMENTS 100% high school graduation vs. 70% citywide 84% college bound vs. 43% citywide When a small group of passionate athletes started SquashWise, we were confident that squash would open new doors for aspiring 92% of students accepted to young people in Baltimore. selective high schools What we didn’t know was how quickly our team of students, parents, staff, volunteers, 247 squash tournament entries partners and supporters would grow into a dynamic community united in friendship, (2017-2018) fun, and mutual support. On this milestone anniversary, we are so proud of how far we have come in ten years. 13 college visits (2017-2018) Our holistic, long-term program layers academic tutoring and enrichment, squash coaching and competition, social-emotional development, mentoring, and leadership 12 Main Draw winners in squash opportunities that position students for lifelong success in college, careers, and beyond. tournaments (2017-2018) What lies ahead as we start our second decade? We will graduate more students and support our alumni with regular check-ins and small scholarships to cover the hidden Four 1st Place winners in costs of college. Our High Performance Team will continue developing our highest- national essay competition potential players and strengthen the pathway to college squash opportunities. Most exciting of all, we will continue working toward our ambitious vision to establish a 45 weeks of programming SquashWise Youth Center, which will enable us to more than double our capacity each year and deepen our impact. Your support has made our decade of impact possible, and we are honored to count 20+ travel opportunities you as part of the SquashWise Family. Together, we will serve up another ten years of each year expanded opportunities for Baltimore’s youth! Henrietta Lacks Memorial Sage Platt Abby Markoe Award from Johns Hopkins Board Chair Executive Director University (2016) 3 • The 2017-2018 Annual Report THE Over 10 years, SquashWise has supported many students SQUASHWISE through their journey to college JOURNEY and career. This year, we take a look back on our own decade of development. Students play in 25 tournaments, plus 17 matches against local school teams. With a $100k challenge Enrollment reaches Our staff grows Our annual event is grant from SEA and a 50 students. The First to four full-time named in memory SquashWise is honored A community of 500+ facility partnership with Annual SquashWise Rally positions! of founding Board with the Sixth Annual annual donors help Meadow Mill Athletic Club, is played at Meadow Mill Member, Jack Laporte: Henrietta Lacks Memorial SquashWise continue we induct our first rookie Athletic Club. The Jack Laporte Award from Johns Hopkins to grow. class of 14 students. SquashWise Rally. University 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Johns Hopkins University Loyola University becomes our 3rd Our first SquashWise celebrates our 10th becomes our 2nd facility facility partner, hosting practices at graduating cohort anniversary with 8 full-time staff partner, hosting practices at the the Fitness and Aquatic Center. heads to college! serving 100+ students and alumni! Ralph S. O’Connor Rec Center. Students play in 10 tournaments We purchase our first bus and attend 11 different for student transportation. summer enrichment camps. 5 • The 2017-2018 Annual Report 10TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY On October 18, 2018, the SquashWise community gathered for a TOP 10 WAYS TO spectacular celebration of our 10th Anniversary at the Mt. Washington GET INVOLVED Mill Dye House. Become a Mentor, Tutor Nearly 300 guests enjoyed hearty hors d’oeuvres and toasted this milestone or Coach occasion. A team of Student Ambassadors led interactive stations where attendees could try their hand at a rookie tryout game, challenge friends to a trivia match about Baltimore’s best and brightest, connect with individual students, and learn Help Us Establish a SquashWise about the many ways to get involved with SquashWise. Youth Center After opening remarks from Julia Keelty, Event Chair and Board Member, founding Host a Career Day or Internship Executive Director Abby Markoe offered her reflections on the organization’s dynamic journey. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the speech made by Tavonte, who joined SquashWise in seventh grade and is currently a freshman Connect Students with at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. Your Network Three years ago, I didn’t play any sports. I was very inactive and I Join a Team in the Jack Laporte only stayed at home and slept on the weekends. [Since joining SquashWise Rally SquashWise], I’ve played in tournaments in Ohio and Massachusetts, stayed on campus at Williams College and Kenyon College, been to other squash programs in Philadelphia, [and] went to a five week Donate Squash Gear boarding school at Taft School in Connecticut last summer… Make a Donation In our SquashWise classroom, there is a sign that says,“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” I know for a fact that no matter what happens, SquashWise will always be by my side and help me get through Promote SquashWise any problem or challenge that I face. Thank you for being here and supporting our team!” Donate a Van or SUV for Student Transportation We are tremendously thankful to each of our 100+ generous sponsors in making this event possible, with special thanks to our Presenting Sponsors: Julia and Michael Keelty, Andie Laporte, Judy and Scott Phares, Betsy and George Sherman, and Challenge a Student Platt Development Group; and our Event Partners: the Himmelrich Family and Mt. to a Match! Washington Mill Dye House, Copper Kitchen, La Cuchara, Superior Oyster Shuckers, True Chesapeake Oyster Co., Harrow, DJ Billy Zee, Loud Communications, Rob White Photography, Nathalie Cone Graphic Design, Sloane Brown’s Baltimore Snap, and our media partner, WYPR. 7 • The 2017-2018 Annual Report PROGRAM EDUCATION SQUASH & FITNESS SUPPORT & WELLNESS PILLARS & • 92% of this year’s 8th graders qualified • 80% of students completing PACER • We launched our Family Committee to for high schools with entry requirements. tests of cardiovascular endurance more fully engage and respond to parents’ increased (31%) or maintained (49%) expressed needs, with events promoting OUTCOMES • 100% of this year’s high school seniors their scores from the previous series. nutrition, fitness, and college planning. graduated, with 80% accepted to one or more colleges. • Teams participated in 24 sanctioned • Our Student Leadership Council provided tournaments hosted by U.S. Squash and ongoing input on program design and • 86% of SquashWise alumni are actively Three Program the Squash + Education Alliance (SEA). opportunities for student leadership. Pillars frame our engaged with regular check-ins, receiving in-person visits from staff, and small • Students challenged teams from 8 local • Students participated in 5 service projects, holistic approach to scholarships to assist with college costs. schools and 1 peer SEA organization in including making care packages for homeless helping every student a total of 19 competitive matches. families at the Bea Gaddy Family Center develop their potential. and writing letters to state legislators about gun violence. EDUCATION Develop motivated, goal-oriented students who are on track to succeed in post-secondary college and/or Middle School GPA Comparison High Performance Team Social/Emotional Counseling career opportunities SquashWise middle school students Thanks to generous funding from Our professional school counselor SQUASH & FITNESS consistently outperformed their peers, The Kahlert Foundation, our High conducted 47 counseling sessions Lead a thriving squash program maintaining an average 4 point lead in Performance Team (HPT) was in high with students, parents, and families with a good balance of hard work, grades in core subjects. gear this year! to address individual challenges and competitiveness, and fun promote social/emotional well-being. Open to our top performing players, SUPPORT & WELLNESS 90% HPT members commit to hours of Create a second home and a second 85.6% additional practice and a demanding 85% 83.8% family for students, using counseling and 82.5% 82.2% tournament schedule. 80.2% education to support students in making 79.3% 79.4% 80% 78.8% positive decisions and following goals In 2017-2018, HPT accounted for 75% 106 entries in 22 tournaments, and 7 students of the 10-person team RESEARCH & EVALUATION Grades in Core Subjects 70% achieved Main Draw winner or In 2018, graduate students from Johns Q1 Avg. Q2 Avg. Q3 Avg. Q4 Avg. Main Draw finalist status in at least Hopkins University Bloomberg School one event! of Public Health conducted a qualitative Non-SquashWise SquashWise evaluation of our program. From in-depth students interviews with students, alumni and parents, the researchers found strong positive results: “SquashWise [is] a channel through which students can explore the wider world. The program facilitated a growth SquashWise served 46 weeks of programming, visits to colleges in maturity…helped shape [students’] middle school students, including Spring Break and universities perspective on life, and taught them to 37 high school students, Camp and 5 weeks of search for positives, even when facing 98 and 15 alumni in college 45 Summer Camp 13 challenges or other disappointments.” and career placements 9 • The 2017-2018 Annual Report STUDENT From new rookies to SquashWise is much more ENRICHMENT accomplished alumni, our than a sports program. We SPOTLIGHTS students make incredible strides provide expanded opportunities & GROWTH on the courts and in the classroom. to enable students to reach life goals. MIDDLE SCHOOL: JULIEANNA COLLEGE & CAREER Winning a “Most Improved: Squash” award Long before the typical junior year halfway through her Rookie year was just the first sprint of college visits, SquashWise of many accomplishments for Julieanna (8th Grade, students start exploring post-secondary KIPP Ujima Village Academy).