By Elizabeth Berbeich
Fund for Public Schools
The Fund for Public Schools today announced a $1 million grant from Beat the Streets Wresting, Inc. that will dramatically increase the number of wrestling programs in New York City’s public middle and high schools over the next three years. The grant represents the largest single private donation to a New York City public school athletics program.
This grant will support the creation of 60 new middle school and 35 new high school wrestling programs. The New York City Department of Education has agreed to add five additional high schools to the program, bringing the total number of new programs within three years to 100. Currently, there are 20 middle school wrestling programs and 30 high school wrestling programs in city schools. In addition to the donation, Beat the Streets will purchase necessary equipment valued at $1 million. This equipment includes mats, uniforms and shoes and will be lent to the schools supported by this grant for as long as these schools continue their wrestling programs.
“Sports and physical activities are critical to the health and well-being of our City’s students,” said Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein. “We are grateful to Beat the Streets Wrestling for working with us to provide opportunities for hundreds more middle and high schoolers to participate in wrestling, and enjoy the physical and emotional benefits that can be derived from team sports.”
All public high schools and middle schools will be invited to join the program. Participating schools will receive grant money to be used for wrestling instructors and overall administration costs. The Department of Education will work with each school to ensure that program expansion goals are met and that the new wrestling programs are integrated into the DOE’s broader goals regarding physical fitness. New wrestling programs as well as existing ones will receive support from this grant.
“Wrestling is a sport that builds character, toughness and discipline “characteristics that are important in sports as well as life. I am confident, our students will take these valuable life skills with them,” said Michael Novogratz, Chairman of the Board of Beat the Streets Wrestling. “All of us at Beat the Streets are thrilled to be working with the New York City public schools to expand these opportunities for the city’s schoolchildren.”
About the Fund for Public Schools
The Fund for Public Schools is the nonprofit organization affiliated with the New York City Department of Education (DOE). The Fund plays a pivotal role in improving public education in New York City by strengthening the DOE’s relationship with the private sector and supporting system-wide reforms. Working with the DOE’s Office of Strategic Partnerships, the Fund secures critical funding for education reform initiatives; helps businesses create partnerships and programs to support city schools; and reaches out to the entire city to create awareness about the needs of the public schools. For more information about the Fund for Public Schools, visit www.fundforpublicschools.org.
Wrestling Gear
