Fall 2014
Volume 1
THE PERFECT GAME The Official Newsletter of the Inner City Handball Association, Inc.
The New Inner City Handball Association by Paul Williams - Founder ICHA It’s almost one year since I, Paul Williams Founder
and 22 year President of ICHA decided to stepped down from its helm. When asked why not wait until 25 years? I replied 20 years was my deadline I’m two years past due. The fact of the matter is that ICHA is in good hands. We have a solid and committed Board with a new President to lead them. It’s time!! Keep in mind I’m not going far. I started ICHA because I truly believe teen athletes in our sport of Handball deserve all the opportunities available to make them successful athletes and individuals. That’s why we have reached out to organizations like the New York Athletic Club, YMCA of Greater NY, Jim Jacobs Foundation, Berkowitz II foundation and Spingold Foundation just to name a few to help us meet our mission’s goal. Our sport is challenging and difficult. NY has over 2000 free public handball courts and over 50 indoor shared membership courts but very few corporate sponsors to
DON’T GET CAUGHT OUT IN THE COLD THIS WINTER.
ICHA Jim Jacobs YMCA Scholarships are available. APPLY TODAY AT www.icha.org or email handball@icha.org
support our handball athletes.
DEADLINE NOVEMBER 30, 2014
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HIGHLIGHTS 3
ICHA Founder Paul Williams, President Christian Vasquez and Vice President Neil Flaum
ICHA Awards Dinner
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THE PERFECT GAME
Letter from the President Dear Friends and Supporters, My name is Christian Vasquez I am the new President of the Inner City Handball Association. I have been a board member for the past eight years and I am honored to continue in the footsteps of the founding President, Paul Williams, and continue his work in this excellent youth organization. This past year the ICHA board and I took upon analyzing the needs of the association, pinpointing primarily opportunities for growth and exposure. Our outlook for 2015 includes increasing our recruiting efforts for volunteers, hoping that we can expand our clinics while offering mentorship to the youth members of the organization. The association has a proven track record of successfully providing guidance and opportunities to many youth who have grown into exemplarily adults in many aspects of their lives. Your support has enabled ICHA to fulfill its mission to “provide creative, safe, inexpensive, fun activities that combine athletics and academics for young people from all communities.” However we can only continue to do this with your continued support. Your volunteer efforts and donations have been instrumental in the success of the association. I look forward to meeting all of you and working with you in the future. Sincerely, Christian Vasquez President Inner City Handball Association
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P.O. Box 30125 Brooklyn, NY 11203 718-703-7699 Fax: (718)940-0207 www.icha.org www.ichalive.net handball@icha.org
Officers Christian Vasquez Neil Flaum Gil Shore Danielle Daskalakis Paul Williams
President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Past-President
Directors Ted Gewertz Glenn Hall Richard Hanley Steve Martin Cody McCone Cesar Sala Jared Vale
Manhattan Queens Queens Queens Brooklyn Bronx Queens
Administrative Assistant Jennifer Ramirez
The New Inner City Handball Association We proudly serve over 3000 teens each year. Currently we run 4 handball events each year; handball clinics at the West Side YMCA, sponsor 40+ citywide YMCA memberships, subsidize travel expenses to state, regional, national and international handball competitions and provide college scholarships to eligible handball athletes. Considering we have only one part time administrative assistant and no other paid staff we do get a lot done. It’s a new age and we need new ideas to meet the demand. I’m proud to to help the new ICHA administration accomplish its strategic plan for the future of NY Handball. Christian Vasquez of Sky Bounce Corporation has 8 years of serving on the ICHA board and co-sponsoring ICHA events. His background is marketing and promotions. He shares the same ICHA Board vision of expanding ICHA s New York presence while Educating, Mentoring and Serving teen athletes through the sport of Handball. Chris does admits he doesn't know the handball community as well as I do considering I have been an active player for 46 years and handball administrator for 22 years, but with today’s technology and social media I know he will be up to speed in no time.
INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF TEAM ICHA FOR THE 2015 WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS AUGUST 11 - 21, 2015 IN CALGARY, CANADA EMAIL: handball@icha.org
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THE PERFECT GAME 2014 Inner City Handball Association Award Dinner October 23, 2014 marked the official end of the ICHA 2014 events season. A time to celebrate and honor the ICHA tournament players , volunteers and outstanding coaches of our sport of Handball.
ICHA 2014 HONOREES Tyree Bastidas Danielle Dasalakis Robert Lee Jessica Sim
Top Male Athelete Top Female Athlete Top Jr. Male Athlete Top Jr. Female Athlete
Ken Dyckman
Top PSAL Girls Coach
Master of Ceremonies Vice President Neil Flaum
Bayside H.S.
Jack Heller
Top PSAL Boys Coach
Francis Lewis H.S.
William O'Donnell
Top CHSAL Coach
St. Francis Prep.
ICHA 2014 TOP VOLUNTEERS Lily Fung Annie Huang
Glenn Hall Kristina Hall
ICHA PHIL FUCHES SCHOLARSHIP WINNER Sandy Ng
MaryAnn Hanley and husband Board Member Prof. Richard Hanley
ICHA JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT FUND RAFFLE WINNERS 180 Tickets Sold First Place Second Place Third Place
#152 Tom Doughton #39 William O’Donnell #20 Stephan Nicholas
Thanks to all our supporters we raised $10,000 towards our $125,000.00 fund-raising goal. Treasurer Gil Shore observing in the background
Carmen Kaplan, Kathy Sala with husband Board Betty Martin and husband Board Member Cesar Sala and Clare Gewertz in background Member Steve Martin
Board Member Ted Gewertz
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N E X T Jurrell Bastidas accepting Male player of the year award for brother Tyree
I S S U E
Sandy Ng accepting Female player of the year award for Danielle Daskalakis
2014 William O’Donnell of St. Francis Prep accepting CHSAL Coach of the year award
Robert Lee accepting Junior Male Athlete of the Year award
Lily Fung accepting Volunteer of the Year award
S E A S O N S U M M A R Y
Jack Heller of Francis Lewis High School accepting PSAL Boys Coach of the year award
Jenny Lee accepting Volunteer of the Year award for Annie Huang
Michael Ngai accepting Junior Female Athlete of the Year award for Jessica Sim of Bayside High School