Success and Opportunity

A Year of Dedication, Collaboration, and Expansion  …And a chance to double your contribution In fiscal 2022 SGHY expanded services by 150%, increasing the number of school partnerships from two to five as well as greatly expanding the curriculums we can offer.  Thanks to generous contributions from our individual, corporate, and union supporters we have, so far, been able to provide a wide variety of programs in 1,180 sessions in fiscal 2023(Fall 2022); but there… Continue reading

A Week of Adventure

What a Difference a Week Can Make! More than 100 under-served middle schoolers. One amazing six-day summer adventure. A lifetime of benefits. Each summer, Sophie Gerson Healthy Youth (SGHY) partners with public schools in NYC to provide under-served middle school students with the opportunity to get away from the sweltering city. For those whose families can’t afford activities like camps or vacation, experiencing a week full of firsts can be life-changing; SGHY ensures they have… Continue reading

We’ve Added More Enrichment

More Enrichment_Camp Zeke

This year…and next, SGHY has added more enrichment Implementing Sophie Gerson’s vision, SGHY’s unique, effective program model is identifying more enrichment with the best program providers and camps to our schools. This effort brings teachers from the schools alongside the coaches and instructors to assure complete for each student’s needs. Over the past two years SGHY has supported or brought to our schools sports programs in the form of tennis, badminton, volleyball, basketball, running, field… Continue reading

Reaching Higher in Sports and Academics

Reaching Higher in Sports and Academics with the Help of Our Friends In Summer 2017 SGHY had their most expansive summer camp program, ever.  More middle-school children and a greater variety of camps, thanks to the generosity of our benefactor Dr. David Milch and to Board Member Ayo Harrington who coordinated the logistics. This Fall SGHY also put in place their most exciting school year program, reaching higher in sports and academics.  More students in… Continue reading

Third Annual Tennis Tournament – UPDATE

third-annual-tennis-tournament_Hadavi

The Third Annual Tennis Tournament for the Sophie Gerson Cup was held June 3rd, 2016… at Columbia University’s Dick Savitt Tennis Center,  (Map). We never tire of the energy and enthusiasm our Middle School students bring to this tournament every year.  With the continued hospitality of Columbia University’s Varsity Tennis Coach Howie Edelman and Varsity Team Champs, Richard Pham, Burt Vancour and Shawn Hadavi  with the steady and experienced guidance of NY Junior Tennis and Learning NYJTL , and… Continue reading

Sophie’s Stars

Sophie's Stars 2016 team was young but fierce.

They didn’t win the playoffs in March, but Sophie’s Stars gave the Greenwich House-Malakoff Girls Basketball League lots of heart and a ton of enthusiasm. This year’s team was possibly the youngest in the league, though it would be hard to say they weren’t familiar with the game or lacked enthusiasm to master all the right plays.  What was most remarkable, however, is how well they understood the concept of team play.  Their offense was… Continue reading

Spring Benefit Delivers on Summer Camp

This Year’s Spring Benefit Tops Its Goal  A trendy restaurant lounge on the far West Side in the 30s actually sports a mini-basketball court. When it’s Walt “Clyde” Frazier’s place — Clyde Frazier’s Wine and Dine — that’s what you get, and it was an appropriate venue for the 2015 spring benefit for Sophie Gerson Healthy Youth….Tequila Minsky, The Villager, May 28th, 2015 Honored at the event were Walt Frazier; Steve Ashkinazy – an L.G.B.T.rights pioneer; Pastor… Continue reading

Sophie’s Stars at the 2015 Playoff

It was a very exciting day for Sophie’s Stars at the Greenwich House/Malakoff Girls Basketball League Playoff.   Though they didn’t win the playoff on Saturday, March 14th, everybody recognized their powerful back court skills and shining team spirit, right down to the purple and yellow face paint! And the award luncheon, where everybody is a winner, was a pretty impressive event, too. The team:  Top Row from left to right: Coach Ashley Contreras, Annie… Continue reading

TeamFirst and Ty Grant Give MS 126 Something to Remember

On January 29th more than 30 middle school students at MS 126 got the treat of a lifetime from TeamFirst and Ty Grant. For two hours our students were totally immersed in some serious training.  The basketball clinic wasn’t just about hoop shots, it was a grueling physical workout, the essence of teamwork, focus and after all that, skill.  Ty and his assisting coach challenged, cajoled, nudged boys and girls in equal measure.  And these… Continue reading

Girls Basketball: Sophie’s Stars…The Real Deal

In Girls Basketball, Sophie’s Stars are the real deal We had the chance to watch 11 young women, ages 10 to 12 play some serious basketball on January 17.  They are Sophie’s Stars for the 2015 season and come from all five Boroughs of New York to play in the Greenwich House/Malakoff Girls Basketball League.  Their coaches Ashley Contreras and Dana Brown are justifiably proud of them, as you can see from our slideshow. [cincopa… Continue reading

Tennis and Basketball Day-Camp in Riverside Park

Kids of Summer Day Camp

Sixteen of our Bronx students this summer were enrolled at Tennis and Basketball Day-Camp in Riverside Park where they had intense basketball or tennis instruction, on the Hudson.  The Kids of Summer, one of the City’s top-quality day camps in connection with the Riverside Park Conservancy provided the instruction and facilities, and also generously discounted the cost.  SGHY arranged for transportation and remaining tuition.  Our kids came away with new skills, new confidence, new friends… Continue reading

Basketball Sleepaway Camp with Team First at Knox Boarding School

Sophie Gerson Healthy Youth - Ty Grant

 SGHY sponsored eight campers, four from each of our schools (MS 302 and MS 126), for a basketball sleepaway camp.  Retired NBA and St. Johns basketball star Tyrone Grant and his Team First coaches provided intense basketball training.  In addition, our inner-city kids —  many for the first time – experienced boating, swimming, and interacted with nature at Knox Boarding School on Long Island’s North Shore, as well as making a bunch of new friends.… Continue reading

Summer at Julian Krinsky Tennis Camp

Julian Krinsky Tennis Camp-Lunch

For the past two years SGHY has allowed two students from each school (MS 302 and MS 126) to attend a one-week session at the Julian Krinsky Tennis Camp, one of the nation’s premier tennis programs for young people.  The Krinsky organization generously accommodated two campers for the tuition of one.  In addition to new tennis skills, new friends, and lots of fun, these middle-school campers also derive inspiration from living on the Haverford College… Continue reading

Sophie Gerson Tennis Cup

  The First Annual Sophie Gerson Cup between MS 302 from The Bronx and MS 126 from the Lower East Side/Chinatown in Manhattan – unbelievable ! This years tennis training culminated in a tennis tournament at Columbia University’s Dick Savitt Tennis Center at Baker’s Field. At the first annual Sophie Gerson Tennis Cup, our middle school tennis players were thrilled to play on the home courts of Columbia’s Ivy League Champion Men’s and Women’s Tennis… Continue reading

After School Tennis at MS 126

  After school tennis at MS 126 played at the East River Tennis Courts. Sophie Gerson Healthy Youth (SGHY) brought New York Junior Tennis and Learning (NYJTL),  their coaches and full program to the South Bronx and to Lower East Side this year. Working with teachers, NYJTL conducted an after school tennis program during the Spring semester. The program gave the students tennis rackets and three days a week of instruction with professional tennis players. The… Continue reading

After School Tennis at MS 302

after school tennis_ms302

  The After school tennis program for MS 302, uses the new Bronx Crotona Park Tennis Center Sophie always said, “Tennis is my racket.”  SGHY brought New York Junior Tennis and Learning (NYJTL),  the NYJTL coaches and their program to the South Bronx as well as the Lower East Side, this year. Working with these Middle School’s teachers, NYJTL conducted after school tennis programs during the Spring semester. What did the students have to say?… Continue reading

Sophie’s Stars Join Girls Basketball League

Sophie’s Stars Win  The Greenwich House Malakoff Girls Basketball League Championship SGHY provided an opportunity for more girls to play basketball by reviving the Sophie’s Stars team.  Sophie’s Stars won the league championship!  But, as Sophie would say, all girls won just by participating. “Sophie was one of the very first sponsors of the Greenwich Village Girls Basketball League twenty years ago, recalls Harry Malakoff, Commissioner and founder of the League. “She was, and her foundation… Continue reading

Girls Volley Ball at MS 302 in the Bronx.

Girls Volley Ball- MS302

If it’s Saturday, its girls volley ball at MS 302 in the Bronx. SGHY funding opened the school’s gym for the girls volleyball team to practice and play – and enjoy comraderie in a safe place with teacher supervision.  No wonder the MS 302 team won their division’s championship. This year SGHY will sponsor Summer Volley Ball for the students of MS 302. And here’s what the students had to say: Thank you for helping… Continue reading