MAYOR YOUNG, BEN GORDON, OTHER M.V.H.S. ALUMNI ANNOUNCE MAYOR’S COMMITTEE TO S.O.S. - ‘SAVE OUR SPORTS’

June 28, 2008; Yolanda Robinson

Mount Vernon, NY—The defeat of the Mount Vernon school budget last Tuesday has forced the school district into an austerity spending plan. As a result the interscholastic sports program is in extreme jeopardy of being eliminated next year.  On Thursday, June 25 ^th, Mayor Clinton I. Young, Jr. called upon Ben Gordon, Mount Vernon High School graduate and current Chicago Bull, as well as many other Mount Vernon High School alumni to come together on the Mayor’s Committee to S.O.S., or “ Save Our Sports.”

Mayor Young set the tone for the event when he simply told the crowd filled with student athletes (past and present), coaches, and community leaders: “Hey, we’re going to get through this, we’re going to solve this problem.”

During the press conference Superintendent Dr. Tony Sawyer explained the situation in which the school district has found itself and the amount of money it will ultimately cost to provide a sports program this coming year.  The complete restoration of the program, which would include all boys and girls Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman, and Modified teams, would cost $1.1 million.

“Because we were forced into austerity we had to make a series of difficult decisions,” said Dr. Sawyer.  “We chose to secure the start of our pre-kindergarten program.”

Mayor Young said he understood the issue at hand, and never did anyone question the importance of academics in the lives of Mount Vernon students.

“This is not a debate between academics and athletics,” said Mayor Young.  “I truly understand the School Board and Superintendent’s decision…but as long as I am sitting in the Mayor’s chair kids in Mount Vernon are going to have sports.  It’s not just about playing on a team, it’s about building leadership skills, concepts of teamwork, and a strong sense of self-worth.”

Throughout the press conference, the Mayor called up alumni and coaches to share the value of the sports program on the city’s young people, none were more recognizable than Chicago Bull, Ben Gordon, who told the large group “I don’t know where I’d be without the support created by the Mount Vernon sports program…it kept us all off the streets.”

In the end, Mayor Young announced the establishment of a private fundraising campaign committee (S.O.S) to secure monies to fund the Mount Vernon School District’s Sports Program.  Heading that committee are two alumni of Mount Vernon High School: Rasul Salahuddin, who enjoyed a lengthy professional basketball career overseas, and City Clerk Lisa Copeland, a three sport athlete during her MVHS career.

Anyone who would like to donate to Save Our Sports, or just want to get involved, please contact Lisa Copeland at (914) 665-2351 or the Mayor’s Office at (914) 665-2361. 

Please note that none of the money will be handled by City Hall, the Board of Education has set up a separate fund that will accept donations.

 

Links:	Mayor Young, Ben Gordon and Lowes Moore Pose with Mount Vernon Student Athletes