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About Beat The Streets
The Beat the Streets Youth Wrestling Program (BTS) has been dedicated to improv-ing the lives of children and has helped hundreds of Chicago’s youth for over 7 years to build character, discipline and self-esteem. With the success of its mentoring component, BTS has reached a point of maturity where it is ready to partner with additional resources to expand our programs nationally. The 5-year BTS objective is to establish solid pro-grams in 1 new city each year that would gain the most exposure and recognition. As a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, BTS has evolved to manage the rollout, information management, reporting, ongoing assessment and communication for this program. BTS is now looking for funding assistance for maintenance of existing programs and the rollout of new programs through 2010. Along with individual gifts, private funds and other fund-raising efforts, BTS projects an additional need of $100,000 a year for the next 5 years to successfully deliver on our goals and objectives.
History
The concept for establishing a wrestling program for inner city youths was launched in 1997 with a partnership between the Midlands Youth Foundation and the Chicago Park District. In 1999 the program was reinvigorated through an alliance with the YMCA net-work and branded as “Beat The Streets” Youth Wrestling Program. Using the basic infra-structure of the YMCA, its staff and its captive youth audience, BTS designed a volunteer-based program designed to help kids succeed by instilling in them a set of values based on hard work, discipline, dedication and perseverance and exemplified through participation in inner city wrestling clubs. The program focused primarily on exercise and training. BTS achieved success that was attributed to the high quality of its wrestling instruction and expertise of the volunteers and coaches. BTS has helped form many small, new clubs and brought notable wrestling greats like Dan Gable, Kevin Jackson, Bobby Douglas and Rulon Gardner to inspire and motivate participants.
The program has grown every year with BTS currently serving 12 clubs and over 600 participants representing some of Chicago’s most challenged neighborhoods. With its impassioned corps of volunteers, BTS has successfully and actively involved hundreds of children with its unique approach to discipline, physical fitness and education.Over the past few years, BTS has evolved into an umbrella foundation that provides financial support, training, educational clinics, equipment, travel services, and a structured mentoring methodology. It is now understood that mentoring has a significant impact on achieving positive results, thus has become the primary focus for BTS. Mentoring provides the greatest opportunity for improving the lives of children. Participants in the program show improvement in self esteem, confidence, school attendance, weight control, discipline, grades and an overall desire to be better