P.A.Y.- Positive Alternatives for Youth - The most effective deterrents to the social problems our children face today is not the police, or prisons, or politicians. They simply are involving our children in positive healthy alternative programs that keep them focused and working toward fruitful and productive goals. A positive happy childhood equals a positive future society. Communication, Truth, and Positive Information on alternatives go a very long way.

Two of the most effective deterrents to social problems among kids are truth and knowledge. For example kids who learn about the risks of drugs are 36% less likely to smoke marijuana than kids who learn nothing from them. They are 50% less likely to use inhalants, 56% less likely to use cocaine and 65% less likely to use LSD. So LETS TALK ABOUT DRUGS. Research also shows that 74% of all fourth graders wish that someone would talk to them about drugs. If you don't know what say, Rising Stars can help!

Drugs are only a cause of an effect. School and peer pressures can cause confusion and depression. Teen pregnancies, Abortion, Gang violence, Hi-School Dropout and , Social Violence, Rape, Assault and Manslaughter are all byproducts of simply ignoring the needs of our youth to have a positive alternative. If we P.A.Y. for our youth today,we stand a better chance of seeing a positive world tomorrow.

Rising Stars strives to prepare young boys and girls for the challenges of life. Rising Stars sessions incorporate lessons of life, as well as teaching basketball. Rising Stars provides Positive Alternatives toward Youth (P.A.Y.). Rising Stars P.A.Y. System offers an effective alternative to the negative circumstances that prompt many youths to become involved with drugs, vandalism, and criminal acts of violence. Academics, social consciousness and character are essential to each seminar and workshop. Athletic competition aids youth in acquiring interpersonal skills, better attitudes, and strategic planning. In addition, leadership training is provided through individual and team goal planning. Rising Stars views every child as important. Its goal is to integrate each of its values so that the result yields a strong, confident, and self-respected individual prepared for the challenges that will come ahead.

Each level prepares for the one ahead. A participant begins in the developmental program, Kindergarten through 3rd grade, where basic motor sills are introduced. Our 4th to 6 grade program introduces competition and offers select participants who excel within each level the opportunity of joining the travel/competition teams formed at grades 5 through 11. The preparation time is 50% of the competition time. Competitions are local, regional, and national.

City wide summer program - Rising Stars has and currently fields teams in local citywide tournaments and desires to expand its summer leagues. Individual teams, under the Rising Stars banner, participate in summer leagues around the country and in addition, Rising Stars has its own summer league in Bayside, Queens. This league is run by Kevin O'Connell and Kevin White who are coaches that organize events. Rising Stars provides insurance, administration, support, and equipment (basketballs). The leagues are independently run by area coordinators. In addition to the summer program, there are also Thanksgiving and Christmas tournaments.

Resource and Guidance programs for college bound student athletes - Rising Stars provides NCAA rules and regulations as part of a resource program for its athletes. It is open to any student seeking to attend college who has participated in the team competition program. Rising- Stars provides and reviews all NCAA ruling governing the recruitment of student athletes. Rising Stars confers with students and parents on the various guidelines and variables involved in the selection of a college , both academically and athletically. 'The program is directed by Paul Savramis and involves all of Rising Stars coaches who are available for questions and meetings with students and parents. These programs are conducted as needed.

PROJECT HIGH ROAD Director- Paul Savramis, Master Nike Clinician
Staff- Coaches, college and high school players, "Whiz Kids" and educational professionals.

In the setting of a clinic with basketball as a vehicle, we discuss how the application of a positive mental attitude will help students to approach any challenge ranging from athletics to performing arts interests. Emphasis is put on the belief that a miracle exists within each one of us, with inspirational stories about past clinic participants. We use testimonials of past players who have overcome poverty, physical academic and athletic disadvantages to go on to succeed in basketball and in life. We use basketball as a medium to convey our message that the best way to predict your future is to create it. Demonstrations are given from players who have mastered certain drills, along with student-teacher interaction and instruction.

Our goal is to develop the idea that what you see in yourself is only an indicator of the level you are now at and that it is up to you, what that level goes to in the future. We emphasize the point that each student is the most important factor and variable in their own development, that they are their own competition, and it is always themselves that they have to answer to. We discuss concepts that, "if better is possible, good can never be enough and when you feel you are through improving, you are through-period. " We point out that there is unlimited potential for a young healthy mind and body and end with the idea that, "every day is the first day of the rest of your life and what you dream will make the difference.

Rising Stars Basketball Foundation

Our program is geared toward young men and women for academics through basketball. We offer a unique opportunity to reach children who are at risk of becoming involved with negative activities. We provide effective strategies to keep high risk youth in school drug-free and out of the welfare or juvenile system. In doing so, we use basketball as a passport to a better life. We provide a character development curriculum, and discuss alcohol, drugs and sexual promiscuity. We stress the importance of integrity, how to obtain it; lose it; and regain it. We also emphasize the importance of academic success and provide the finest basketball instruction emphasizing fundamentals, mechanics, and techniques of individual basketball proficiency.

Rising, Stars Basketball Foundation Social Services
Tyrone Green/ Rising Star's Coach's Advisory Board National Director of Social Services Director Foster Laurie PAL

Tyrone Green is recognized as one of the most dedicated and respected community servants in the Metropolitan area. For fifteen years he has been a high- school basketball coach, a community recreation coach and he directs athletic/academic programs for our youth. Tyrone Green has pioneered some of the most effective alternative educational programs that actually work. Armed with his enthusiasm and undying belief of the good that exists in each child, he dedicated countless hours in public schools, city project housing, hospitals and correctional institutions. His message is simple: Every child is vitally important to our future and our future changes one child at a time . Mr. Green believes Rising Stars is the most ideal vehicle to assist him to convey his positive educational messages through our clinics and seminars. He has been able to succeed more effectively than many other alternative educational programs. Tyrone Green has lived and experienced all of the social ills found in inner- city youth of America. He uses basketball as a passport and the young Rising Star's players as ambassadors. Mr. Green recognizes that the education battle has just begun and Rising Stars has proven to be the most effective weapon he can use to win.

EDUCATION THROUGH THE HOOP:
An Academic and Personal Enhancement Program for Youth

The objective of our unique personal developmental program is to reach out and enhance young student athletes in the early stages of their academic life, with the focus on their academic foundation, personal growth and development, life skills, drug awareness and basketball fundamentals. The program for college bound students includes a focus on PSAT and SAT preparation.

The daily program will include, mandatory classroom activity and intense fundamental basketball instruction. The program will also feature a year-round follow up program in order to maintain an extensive tracking system of the academic and personal progress of each participant.

The program structure is geared to the overall realization and development of a child's academic and personal capabilities through a fun-filled week of enthusiastic teaching and learning with basketball as the motivator.

The fact is, we live in a time when so many young men are not being educated. They are becoming victims of the streets, succumbing to drugs and violence. Our program addresses these issues and provides direction, support, inspiration, and hope to our youths of today and adults of tomorrow.

Rising Stars Whiz Kids with NBA hall of Fame Dave Debuschere

* What is Rising Stars? Rising Stars is a model youth organization, a non profit corporation operating the following programs using basketball as its primary vehicle.

* PAY ( Positive Alternatives for Youth ) evening centers, outreach programs, educational seminars and speaker programs.

* Clinics and Academies - community based, national and international one, two and three day clinics, weekend shoot-outs and four to eight week academies.

* National and international Summer Camps.

* Tournaments, summer and winter leagues.

* Whiz Kids ball handling and shooting exhibition teams of boys and girls performing at half-time shows, clinics and camps.

* AAU-Teams, local, regional and national.

* Speaking engagments-Clinic tours featured at the finest camps across the country such as Future Stars and the Michael Jordan camps.

* Consulting for coaches training, CYO, YMCA and other youth programs.

* Scholarship and aid programs.

* Parent hotline and resource center.