PowerPlay NYC, Inc.

I have watched this organization grow from it's inception and I am in awe of the endless time and energy that the founder and past executive director has dedicated to it. I had volunteered my time briefly when I lived in NY, an experience that kept PowerPlay near and dear to my heart. Having experienced volunteering and then attending the Annual Gala, I was able to watch girls grow from insecure, sometimes awkward teenagers to beautiful, poised, and articulate young ladies. It is a heart-warming transition to witness.

I have worked for Power Play in the past, coaching and working with girls in under served areas of NYC to empower them through sports and the life skills you can learn from them. This organization helps girls understand and learn how sports can enable positive growth and provide life long opportunities.

I have worked either directly or indirectly with PowerPlay NYC since its inception. I have been very impressed with the work they do to empower girls to succeed by teaching them life, athleteic and leadership skills. The girls who pareticipate in the PowerPlay programs gain the direction, strength and resolve to become future leaders in their community.

PowerPlay is a fun and inspiring environment that truly pushed girls to excel both academically and athletically. I was able to watch our group of girls this summer grow as true leaders and motivated students.

I have supported this organization for several years as a corporate outreach and personal donor for these reasons:
- dedicated leadership
- well prepared girls (in learning lessons of sports activity as well as opportunities behind the scenes of sports, e.g. journalism, tv production, etc.). The girls were poised, asked good questions in the interviews. Very impressive

Teaching young girls the basics of athletics through methods of multiple intelligences is one of the greatest things about this program. It is only topped by the fact it also incorporates helping girls develop positive self esteems and knowledge of health/safety.

From the beginning I was struck by the strength of PowerPlay's mission: educating and enpowering girls through sports to build greater self-esteem and leadership. I truly believe in this and have seen first hand how this translates into growth and development for the girls that participate. I am proud to be a board member and am very much invested in helping this worthy organization grow.

Power Play is so clear about its mission which translates into great programs for the girls and young woman who participate, terrific leadership and effective and efficient use of the dollars donated to them.

Power Play is one of the few non profits where year to year a donor can see the growth of the girls into very fine young ladies who have gain confidence and maturity. Power Play instills the very necessary tenets of life otherwise missing from these girls' lives, only one of which is teamwork. After being in these programs, the girls have more than an excellent head start for a successful career and life.

Exceptional organization with dedicated leadership, that provides substantive opportunities for young women to participate in sport. In doing so, this organization supports, in a meaningful way, the development of young women's confidence, life skills and experience - all which ultimately prepare them for success both on and off the court in the future. There is a level of compassion and commitment to this cause expressed by their staff, board and donors that is exceedingly rare.

An exceptional organization. It has helped me develop so much as a person, especially as a woman. I feel so much more confident in my skills and can see a brighter future. Meeting successful women, gave me the hope that I too could achieve that success. The program is incredible and the people you meet are incredible. I would do it again and I don't think I would be where I'm at today, if it weren't for PowerPlay.

Amazing organization that fills a very important void in the growth of young women. The organization is top notch and I appreciate how they help young women develop life skills. Keep up the good work everyone!!

One of PowerPlay's greatest achievements is providing young girls experiences that would not be offered in their communities and schools. I was a participant in 2006, and was fortunate to give back as a Counselor for 2012 STARS Summer Leadership Academy. My experiences as a participant and Counselor were great! I enjoyed learning and teaching new skills in sports, and bonding with the participants. All young girls should have the opportunity to be a participant for PowerPlay; it is a life-changing opportunity.

PowerPlay is a great organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of young girls. They educate them through sports and teach them life and work skills to be able to compete in the professional realm. This organization allows girls to see the endless amount of possibilities that lie in front of them and provides them with the tools to achieve great things. PowerPlay’s staff, led by Beth Rasin, works day in and day out to find all the resources they can to support and assist these young girls. Through PowerPlay’s many programs, young girls are able to become educated, feel confident, and connect with other young girls who are on this journey alongside with them. PowerPlay is an outstanding organization and I am certain that they will continue to do great things to assist the young girls that they serve.

I have had the wonderful experience of working with PowerPlay NYC for the last year and one-half. During that time I have visited the Summer Academy several times as a guest speaker talking to the girls about my career in public relations and more importantly their college/career paths and opportunities that are available to them. I have also attended lacrosse clinics and watched how the girls adopted to a new sport (to almost all of them) and immediately worked in teams, applying the athletic and team building skills they were being taught. I am amazed at the poise that these girls display and how they embrace the program and the opportunity it provides. I usually visit several times during the course of the program and it is remarkable to see how the girls develop in a very short time. Through the sports coaching and life mentoring they receive they invariably come away with more confidence and a better idea of things that are available to them and achievable if they work hard.

I have had the opportunity to watch these young ladies develop from shy sometimes awkward individuals to very confident, optimistic and outgoing young adults. They are so appreciative of the programs that Power Play offers and they embrace the opportunities to learn about career opportunities, social skills as well as the opportunity to participate in sports. Most of all they are a lot of fun and when friends of Power Play meet them they are usually blown away by the maturity of all the girls. IT would be great if we could reach hundreds more becasue it is such a fantastic program and gives them hope that they can pursue anything they want in life and the optimism to believe in their abilities. After playing basketball with them and teaching them basketball skills as well as watching various performances that they produced and performed I want everyone to know that you will be impressed and feel good to be part of a great organization. Lynn Chiavaro

I have had the privilege of playing squash with girls from the program in a women's national team squash tournament. Their skill level and confidence was absolutely impressive. It is clearly an awesome program with enthusiastic and accomplished participants.

BEST PROGRAM BY FAR! Gives young girls the opportunity to explore and be introduced to all sports. Helps them to gain knowledge, leadership skills and social skills. This program allows girls to get a head start in preparing for the real world and the sports world. This program teaches girls about their health and abilities to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

I participated in the Summer Leadership Academy. It was the best summer I have ever had. It was great to be surrounded by so many people who were driven and willing to help you. I learned a lot about myself by challenging myself. I wish I had participated in this program sooner!

PowerPlay is an exceptional program for young women. This program teaches them about their health, sports, building resumes, and the importance of volunteering. It also gives great volunteer opportunities and summer work programs. The networking skills that these young women learn are invaluable. Phillipa

Our firm has hosted PowerPlay participants for several years. It has been a delight for me personally and exceptionally rewarding for all involved. Each summer we have had two students. Some have been interested in becoming legal secretaries or attorneys, others wanted to be pediatric neurosurgeons or cardiac surgeons. We strive to afford them experience that matches their personal aspirations, while introducing them to the full experience of working in a law firm. Along with shadowing secretaries and/or attorneys, they spend time with our Accounting, Reception and IT staff. Their time in our office is always a great help to our staff as they pitch in and do truly substantive work. Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is truly proud to participate in this fine program.

As an employee of PowerPlay NYC, I greatly appreciate the attention to sports and life skills offered to the young ladies of New York City. PowerPlay NYC offers opportunity for its staff to creatively and actively get involved with these young ladies in a safe, healthy and fun environment that has the girls wanting to attend each and every week. I know because these girls tell me as their coach and it feels great! I know PowerPlay NYC is building strong, intuitive and confident women daily and I am a strong believer of that!

The ability of the accomplished women who run the organization to effect positive and lasting change on the lives of local young women is very impressive and inspiring. I would recommend helping them continue their work in any way possible.

I was introduced to PowerPlay two years ago and believe in their mission to help young women to achieve their goals through the power of sport and life skills. The program provides the opportunity for these women to build self confidence, networking skills, and overcome the daily challenges of life. The graduates have moved on to successful careers and are active participants in the communities to help other girls in similar circumstances.

PowerPlay NYC is a really great program. It exposes girls to the world of work as well as the world of sports. It teaches them the power to see that they have a lot of possibilities and opportunities to strive for.

Such an impressive organization and a great group of girls that I feel very fortunate to have met. PowerPlay's mission is highly relevant for urban girls all over the country.

I feel extremely blessed to have gotten the opportunity to work with PowerPlay NYC, Inc. They do tremendous work with young women in NYC. They teach invaluable life skills through sports and other activities. Some of these young women have come to our Firm (Hughes Hubbard & Reed) for various programs and left lasting impressions of their poise, intelligence, professionalism and maturity. We have also had the pleasure of working with them in a fashion show for one of the hottest fashion companies in the world. They once again demonstrated many of the above referenced skills. PowerPlay NYC is doing phenomenal work with these young women and I am grateful that I have had the chance to meet and to get to work with them.

PowerPlay is a non profit organization that offers girls a free leadership program for sports and developement. Not only are the girls introduced to new sports, but they also learn about lifeskills and powerful life lessons that many of them do not forget. I, myself joined PowerPlay and was one of the Summer 2011 graduates from the program. From my personally persepective, PowerPlay left a lasting memory that I will always cherish because it taught me useful lesson like how to network, write a resume, go through an interview, and best of all new sports that I never thought I would enjoy. I will always be appreciative of PowerPlay and the great people I met from it. -NZ

Powerplay has figured out how to engage with young girls in a way that seems cool while serving a tremendous purpose. They are a small org making a big impact and should be applauded for their unique programming and reach.

My involvement with PowerPlay NYC came about two years ago when we were hired to produce their annual fundraising event. I quickly became inspired and enamored with the organization, attending their leadership academy programs and seeing the young women in action. We host an intern annually and are greatly rewarded by our work with PowerPlay. For a small organization they do extremely powerful work and have a tremendous impact on young women throughout NYC. To my knowledge there is no other non-profit quite like PowerPlay in NYC which makes their work even more valuable.

I am impressed with the passion and commitment of the leadership of Power Play. It is a small but mighty organization; run very efficiently; with major impact. For several years now I am amazed on how well prepared and trained these young girls are in presenting themselves. At young ages they have been given the confidence to speak up and ask substantive questions. The results far succeed the dollar investment.

PowerPlay should be considered one of the top nonprofits for young women in the country. I am biased as a former participant, but I am living example of this truth. Not only have I gone from the streets of East New York to the halls Ivy League with their help, I have seen several girls that have come into the program shy and afraid to play sports and come out confident, competent and connected. With childhood obesity at the rate it is today, programs that help young women become more open to participating in physical activity are crucial. Further, the transferrable lifeskills that are often learned through sports are emphasized in all of their programming.

PowerPlay NYC is an outstanding organization. When I was 17 years old, I participated in their Super STARS summer program. I came into the program with the expectation that this program was just going to have a lot of sports activities and that I would also learn some tips and skills for school and business. Though the things that I just mentioned were definitely a part of the program, I did not expect for my coaches to be like my big sisters nor did I expect so much support even when the summer program ended. Most of all I did not expect to gain self confidence through this program. I started in the program very unsure of myself and ended in the program with a sense of self sureness and security. I loved this organization so much that I had to come back and be a coach for other young girls. Seeing the changes in them was even more beautiful and satisfying than seeing them in myself when I was a participant. I have been involved in many organization and can truly say PowePlay is unlike any other.

I have served on the Board of PowerPlay for 5 years, and in that time have seen firsthand its impact on the girls it serves. Four graduates of PowerPlay's Summer Leadership Academy who served as interns for my company not only did outstanding work, but also came to realize their own potential. One of the girls who had come from a background of particular hardship had an "ah ha" moment during that PowerPlay summer; she knew she could succeed in a college environment, and did indeed go on to college. PowerPlay teaches life skills through the vehicle of sport and for many girls, it is their first exposure to the lessons sports at its best teaches- teamwork, dedication and "we're all in this together".

For the last three years I have had the honor of sponsoring events to raise awareness and funds for the PowerPlayNYC programs. I am impressed with the camaraderie of the girls and their communications skills. Kudos to Beth Rasin for an excellent team sports and leadership training program that encourages the young women to stretch their vision to what is possible in their future.

PowerPlay's mission is to empower girls to succeed in life by teaching them one of the most powerful means to obtain self confidence and discipline: Sports. PowerPlay's commitment is key to ensure that more girls become acquainted with different sports and life skills. Having experienced firsthand the power of sports in my life, I firmly believe in this organization's goal and support its mission completely.

PowerPlay is a great organization very helpful an family orientated I felt very comfortable with my daughter attending there summer program my daughter learned alot and gained confidence in her self an interacting with her peers I would love for her an other young ladies to attend another summer with Powerplay

I have participated in several PowerPlay events and they are always informational and fun! The first was a fundraiser where girls from PowerPlay modeled designer clothing and introduced themselves. Afterwards the girls mingled with the guests and we all got to know each other better. It was intimate and rewarding experience! The second event was an athletic and life skills event. Girls attended seminars on different life skills such as nutrition and also participated in volleyball, tennis and basketball drills. It was great getting to know the girls in both settings. I recommend PowerPlay to anyone who is interested in mentoring. There are numerous opportunities to participate at various commitment levels. Plus, the Director, Beth Raisin, is committed and inspirational!

PowerPlay is an organization like no other. The impact they have on the lives of young girls is life changing. It was a privilege to be a part of the organization, and to help the participants develop their skills in sports and life.

To whom this may concern, My summer experience in PowerPlay NYC is one that can never and will never be forgotten, simply for the fact that I learned developed self confidence while interacting with all of the other participants. This emergence of confidence has helped me become the president of the student government in my high school, an eloquent public speaker, and a joyful young women. Sincerely, A Grateful 2011 Summer Leadership Academy Graduate

I work with young girls a well as women in the sport of golf. I have seen these girls in action and it was not on the sports field. I saw them performing like professionals at a recent networking event. They had taken the lessons of their sports, integrity, confidence, and best effort and applied each to meeting and greeting every guest . I was so impressed...what champions!

Powerplay is a wonderful organization .i was lucky enough to actually be a participant in this program .i have learned so much info that i will carry out into my everyday life as well as the future . Most importantly it taught me how to be a leader & i appreciated this program in my life!

PowerPlay was one of the most important things I've ever done in my life. PowerPlay NYC is a program dedicated to helping girls succeed not only in sports, but also in preparing them for the future. PowerPlay is one of those unique programs that you rarely find in New York City. I was a PowerPlay graduate of the 2011 Summer Leadership Academy. My experiences there were just amazing. They taught us how to play several sports like, lacrosse, tennis, football and they also took us to Row New York to learn how to row for a week. Not only were the sports beneficial, the life skills were too. PowerPlay showed us girls the proper way to present ourselves, like dressing for success and the importance of having a firm handshake. Everyone in the organization gave us external and internal strength. They all were able to help us boost our self esteem and give us confidence. If it wasn't for PowerPlay i wouldn't be able to do a presentation in class or speak up about my ideas. I truly thank PowerPlay for all they had done for me.

PowerPlay is a grea organization dedicated to educating and empowering young girls through sports. Girls learn life skills, self-confidence, self-esteem, teamwork and are able to connect with peers, and female role models.

PowerPlay is dedicated to educating and empowering girls through sports, teaching life skills and building self-confidence and self-esteem for life! 2012 was the first year I was involved with PowerPlay. The girls and the program are amazing. Beth Rasin's tireless dedication to enriching the lives of girls is inspiring and inpires all that work with her.

Some decades ago, I was both a scholar and an athlete, competing and winning at the national level in a collegiate sport. This perspective and the ability to reflect upon the role sports and teamwork play on a person's development make PowerPlay one of my favorite charities. I have given both money and time to PowerPlay, and strongly consider becoming more involved. To listen to the girls' testimonials about how PowerPlay has tangibly and affirmatively changed their lives is nothing short of inspiring. There are so many reasons we choose to give to charity; a major consideration is the desire to truly make a difference in someone's life. With PowerPlay, there is no question this is the case, as those who benefit themselves testify with eloquence and poise. They have said that they have changed, grown, learned--because of this group. They will be the change factors for others, too; I have no doubt these girls will pay it forward.

There aren't many people who take the time to reach out and share their stories in order help guide young women. PowerplayNYC does just that. I had the privledge of participating in the 2011 SuperSTARS Summer Leadership program. PowerPlay gave 30 young women from diverse backgrounds and opportunity to learn and grow together. Topics taught to us ranged from day to day. We learned how network, how to write a resume and how to carry ourselves into the work force. Amongst these things and many more, PowerPlay taught us the importance of a firm hand shake and a simple smile. We were introduced to many different sports and the significant role sports play in our lives. At the PowerPlay Talk Show, participants spoke about a social action topic they discovered, while others handed out their newsletters and displayed a video they worked on. A year later, many of us still keep in contact with each other and our counselors. PowerPlay continues to host Alumni events and encourages participants to return. All in all, PowerPlay was one of the best experiences I have ever had.

PowerPlay is a very good program. Being affiliated with PowerPlay for more than four years has exposed me to things that I probably wouldn't have seen before. I've learned various skills including work/office skills, sports skills, and some fundamental life skills. In the Summer Leadership Academy, a significant change in the girls attitude towards themselves, others, and life in general can be shown from the program. From personal experience, PowerPlay has changed the way I viewed my health and my future career.

PowerPlay's program is wonderful. I have enjoy speaking to the girls and answering their questions. It is truly a wonderful organization.

I've been involved with PowerPlay for almost 10 years and have seen firsthand the impact it has on the lives of girls throughout New York City. PowerPlay programs teach sports, life skills, offer mentoring and job training. Even after two weeks in PowerPlay's Summer Leadership Academy, the girls are more confident and outgoing-- and I've witnessed it over and over! They are articulate and impressive and often credit their PowerPlay experience with shaping the women they become.

"PowerPlay changed my life!" or "PowerPlay really helped me find out a lot about myself"are the types of comments board members hear each year from participants in the organization's programs. PowerPlay is a small nonprofit whose mission is to educate and empower NYC girls through sports and life skills training. By using sports to help girls feel connected, competent and confident, PowerPlay is an example of a sports-based youth development organization. Its two main programs are STARS Series, after school sports and healthy living programs, and STARS Summer Leadership Academy, an intensive 9-week experience for high school girls. Each year, more than 400 girls participate in PowerPlay's programs, and benefit from fantastic female coaches, girls-only groups, and the chance to be physically active & healthy, and learn sports & life skills. The organization does a lot on a little, and maximizes all of its resources to serve girls. Partnerships with community-based organizations, sports teams & leagues and corporate supporters allow PowerPlay to provide these life-changing experiences for girls all over New York City.