Charity Spotlight: Harlem RBI
The Heisman Trophy Trust is a big believer in teamwork. That’s why we support efforts to promote community involvement through sports and other physical activities.
One of our beneficiaries is Harlem RBI, an organization that provides inner-city youth with opportunities to play, learn and grow. Its uses the power of teams to coach, teach and inspire youth to recognize their potential and realize their dreams. The goal is to create a model learning community where youth become healthy, educated and active global citizens who achieve excellence and change the world.
Inspiring kids to excel in school can be difficult, but the skills that Harlem RBI teaches in its programs are transferable to the classroom and beyond.
Harlem RBI’s innovative REAL Kids Summer and After-School Program uses the power of team activity to help youth develop literacy, academic, social and emotional skills. The REAL Kids Program instills a love of reading in participants that will last a life time. Youth also play in competitive baseball and softball leagues and learn about healthy nutritional habits.
The TeamBuilders Program focuses on helping youth in grades 6-8 form supportive relationships with their peers, families and community members. Program components include participation in academic support activities, teambuilding and problem-solving initiatives as well as service-learning projects. All participants also play on a baseball or softball team. Youth also receive individual guidance and support in the New York City high school selection process, a key step in achieving high school success.
The DreamWorks Program ensures that youth have the skills and opportunities to continue to learn and grow once they graduate from Harlem RBI. It assists youth with SAT preparation, college visits, college selection, the application process, and scholarships and financial aid opportunities. DreamWorks participants are informed, supported and motivated to matriculate to a college of their choice. In addition, DreamWorks places youth in job internships with Harlem RBI sponsors and supporters. These positions offer real, paid work experience in fields related to participants’ career interests.
These are just a few of the programs that Harlem RBI operates that have helped it to earn numerous awards for philanthropy.
You can join the Heisman Trust in making a difference. Click here to donate to Harlem RBI.
