(FREEPORT, N.Y.) – Nassau County Legislator Seth I. Koslow (D – Merrick) on Friday, Feb. 7 presented a $100,000 grant to the Freeport-based Rising Stars Youth Foundation. The Legislature voted unanimously on Wednesday, Nov. 20 in favor of releasing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding in support of this investment in public safety.
The Rising Stars Youth Foundation seeks to change the lives of local youth and their families through team sports and education. Rising Stars is based in a state-of-the-art, 16,000 square-foot facility at the former Freeport Armory, where they host activities including basketball, volleyball, pickleball and more. The facility serves as a host for Rising Stars events and a universal sports hub for the greater Freeport community.
“As a youth athletics coach myself, I know firsthand how organized sports can transform lives by teaching our children the importance of hard work, sportsmanship, fair play and teamwork – and I have seen how getting involved in sports programs enriches the lives of all who participate,” Legislator Koslow said. “I look forward to working with the Rising Stars Youth Foundation as they build upon more than three decades of excellence and seek to create new and exciting opportunities for the Freeport community and our entire County.”
“Rising Stars extends its sincere appreciation to Legislator Koslow and his team for their generous support,” Dan Gimpel, Executive Director of the Rising Stars Youth Foundation, said. “The ARPA grant award will provide vital resources to strengthen our three core pillars: Play, Learn, and Grow. Specifically, these funds will be allocated to our scholarship program, community outreach initiatives, and the maintenance of a safe and secure environment at the Rising Stars Athletic Complex for the benefit of the children we serve.”
PHOTO CREDITS – Photos by Peter M. Budraitis