BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF DANVILLE STARTS BASKETBALL LEAGUE

The Boys & Girls Club of Danville has created a community-wide, boys basketball league. The league is for young men ages 11-14 and 15-18. The motivation behind the league is shown in its motto “Belong Somewhere. Belong Here. Join our League!”. “After numerous conversations with city officials, community leaders, pastors, and most importantly, young men, we decided that there was a strong need to start a basketball league. We wanted to give the young men in our community a positive and healthy outlet to channel their energy, as well as provide them with a place where they can feel that they fit in. Our league will provide them with such an activity and atmosphere that will deter them from engaging in otherwise dangerous and destructive behaviors,” said Executive Director Rickey Williams, Jr. Currently, the Boys & Girls Club league is the only league that offers 15-18 year old recreational boys basketball.

The Boys & Girls Club of Danville is collaborating with other community agencies such as the YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermilion County and Laura Lee Fellowship House to operate the league. The idea came about during a United Way Youth Consortium (quarterly meetings in which the directors of these agencies determine how they can work together to serve our youth) in January. “Working with other agencies in the community that are striving for the same goal (enabling young people to reach their full potential) ensures that our efforts with the league will be a success,” said Williams. “It also ensures that we are good stewards of the community’s resources.” These agencies will each provide staff as well as a team for the league.

The league began on Saturday, March 31st and concludes on Saturday, May 19th. (There will be no game on Saturday, April 7th in observance of the Easter holiday.) Games for the 11-14 age group begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 11:00 a.m. Games for the 15-18 age group begin at 11:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m. All games are played at the Boys & Girls Club. Admission is free for players, coaches, officials, Club members, and children under 6; the cost for all others is only $2.

The Boys & Girls Club of Danville is also seeking league sponsors. The sponsorship package includes: your business name being announced during half-time of each game, mention in media publications, business name printed on league t-shirts, and a 4’ x 6’ banner to be displayed in the gymnasium. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or have any questions regarding sponsorship, please contact the Boys & Girls Club.

In related news, the Boys & Girls Club of Danville is now the host of the Danville Boys 14 & under AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Basketball Team. Last year’s team ranked in the top 20 in the nation. Tryouts were held on March 10, 2007, and the team plays in its first tournament in Chicago on Saturday, April 21st. For more information about the AAU Team, please contact Coach Alan Dixon at (217) 443-3637.