Letter from Outgoing National Urban Chair William Simon April 2, 2016
Dear Friends and Partners of NUSEA,
In
2005, nearly a decade after SquashBusters launched in Boston, I
received a call from Greg Zaff, SquashBusters' founder and CEO. Greg
explained that he was working with the leaders of the country's three
other urban squash programs -- StreetSquash in Harlem, SquashSmarts in
Philadelphia, and CitySquash in the Bronx -- to form an umbrella
organization for the urban squash movement. The urban squash model was
still in its infancy, but it was picking up steam and showing promising
results. New programs were being developed in cities like Chicago and
Baltimore, and the movement needed a parent organization to establish
standards and help local groups launch programs. I was honored when
Greg asked me to be NUSEA's board chair, and it has been a privilege to
serve in this role over the past 11 years.
As I prepare to
transition to chair emeritus, I would like to warmly welcome NUSEA's
board chair-elect, Amrit Kanwal. Amrit is ideally suited for this role.
An avid squash player and enthusiastic squash parent, Amrit is well
liked and greatly respected by his peers, and he will bring new energy
and fresh ideas to NUSEA. Amrit's service on the boards of US Squash
and SquashBusters, as well his experience in the financial industry,
will propel NUSEA from strength to strength in the coming years. I can
hardly wait to see what the future holds for urban squash under his
leadership.
My heart is full of gratitude for the
opportunity to have worked with my urban squash family at NUSEA. I'm an
optimistic guy, but if you had told me in 2005 that we'd have 22 member
programs today, including four abroad, that together enroll more than
2,000 children, I'm not sure I would have believed you. NUSEA's success
is no accident, but owes everything to our loyal donors, sensational
staff, and inspirational students. Credit also goes to my fellow board
members, past and present, as well as to Greg Zaff and Tim Wyant, who
have been extraordinary leaders of NUSEA.
Last, I salute the
thousands of people across the country and abroad who work for and
support the organizations NUSEA is proud to call its members. From New
York to Oakland, Detroit to Denver, Johannesburg to Cartagena, urban
squash programs are providing life-changing opportunities to students
from under-served communities.
This movement is a wonderful success story, and you have made it possible. Let's keep it going.
