CitySquash Joins StreetSquash & US Squash On Year-End Solicitation Bandwagon (DSR Remains Donation-Free!) December 2013
Friends of CitySquash,
Jose
Alvarez sets four alarm clocks every morning. He has to be out the door
at 6:20am to be on time for his job at MS 206 in East Harlem, where he
teaches math. Jose is a member of CitySquash's inaugural class, and
when he graduated from the Canterbury School in 2008, he became the
first member of his family to receive a high school diploma. Last
spring, he graduated with a B.A. in history from Hobart & William
Smith. This is his first year in the professional world. He has a daily
commute, a business casual dress code, staff meetings, grading to do in
the evenings, and more. The months that follow
college graduation can be challenging, but when you ask Jose about his
life, he is filled with positivity. He loves his job and enjoys working
with his students, many of whom remind him of himself as a middle
schooler. "I would not be where I am today without the support and
education CitySquash provided for me," he said. "I want to help give
these kids opportunities, too."
CitySquash was founded
with the intention of using squash and academic support as a means to
give its students options in life. Jose has diplomas from a top high
school and a top college. There are many avenues he could pursue, and
he has chosen a path that brings him joy on a daily basis. With thirty
students currently enrolled in college, we look forward to watching
them choose their careers in the coming years, be they in business, the
arts, law, education, or even squash!
Like Jose, we at
CitySquash are filled with gratitude. We are thankful for the families
of our 150 team members and for all that those team members have
accomplished this year. Four 8th graders won boarding school
scholarships, all five of our high school seniors were admitted to
college, and our first class of students graduated from college. On the
squash court, our team earned four more Urban National titles, and 29
of our students played on varsity high school and college teams.
Most of all, we are
grateful to all of you for allowing CitySquash to thrive. It is because
of your support that 23-year-old Jose Alvarez has found a job he is
passionate about, and it is because of you that our new third graders
have fallen in love with squash. Through CitySquash, our students are
given the chance to lead fulfilling and joyful lives. Thank you for
helping us give them this gift.
