ST. JOHN'S BASKETBALL COACH STEVE LAVIN JOINS NORTHERN MANHATTAN COMMUNITY TO ENSURE CHILDREN WITH ABSENT FATHERS CAN CELEBRATE FATHER'S DAY TOO

 

Dads Away Foundation, Coach Dave Crenshaw of the Dreamers Program and Council Member Rodriguez come together to provide gifts and fun for kids with absent fathers on Father's day

 

New York, NY- On Friday, June 14th, 2013 kids from P.S. 128 had an exciting day full of basketball and Fatherly fun. Children in grades 1-6 whose fathers are either overseas or not a part of their life were still able to get the full father's day experience by partnering with mentors in a number of basketball related activities. Special guest Steve Lavin, head coach of the St. John's Red Storm basketball team and Coach Dave Crenshaw of the Dreamers Camp after school program both flexed their coaching muscles, encouraging kids to excel in activities throughout the day.

 

The day's activities were organized with the help of the Dad's Away Foundation, whose mission is to underscore the importance of fathers, as well as address the difficulties that many children have when they grow up without a Dad at home. Additionally, the after school program, Camp Dreamers, run by Coach Dave, has been an integral part of the Washington Heights community

 

"I am happy to have such great partners able to bring a positive experience to the children of our community whose fathers are not here today," said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. "Positive male role models are an invaluable part of a child's development and too often they are absent when they are needed most. The work done by Dad's Away Foundation contributes greatly toward remedying these issues and I want to thank Coach Lavin and Coach Dave for their great work today."

 

"I am honored to participate with the Dad's Away Foundation in celebrating Father's Day Weekend with a fun-filled afternoon of basketball," said St. John's Head Coach Steve Lavin, "My father, Cap Lavin, was my hero and best friend. He left behind a powerful legacy as a career educator and author, but his greatest influence was on the six children he raised. Events like this remind us all of how vital good role models are in the lives of young people."

 

"Typically for most kids Father's Day is a day filled with thankfulness and admiration but for those children growing up without a dad at home it magnifies a major void in their life," said Anthony Gurino of the Dad's Away Foundation.  "The Dad's Away Foundation is privileged to host a Basketball event for the kids in our community as we commemorate Father's Day. We believe that through sports such as basketball, kids gain discipline and develop skills which they can later apply to life."

 

"The Dreamers would like to thank The Dads Away Foundation, Coach Lavin and Councilmember Rodriguez for bringing this wonderful event to P.S. 128," said Coach Dave Crenshaw. "Our Alumni Fathers are grateful for the chance to brighten up someone's day that may not have male role model to do it. It is important that kids meet proper role models like Coach Lavin and the other volunteers so that they can make good choices and follow the right people. By the time the day is over these kids will not only improve basketball but also learn what it takes to get ahead in life and one day take care of your own family ."