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Prime Time Headlines
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Help Save Service: Team-Up for Youth |
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Please call your U.S. Senators today and tell them not to eliminate funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service. Team-Up for Youth depends on AmeriCorps volunteers to field quality coaches in low income communities throughout California. And here's one more reason to join the fight to save service... In 2001, Peter Straus started Team Prime Time (TPT) to fill a desperate need for after-school programs serving L.A's at-risk middle school students. Today, the program operates at four area schools, offering academics, athletics, leadership and art, reaching more than 1,600 kids each year. "We've continued to evolve our program to get as many kids off the street as possible, and as many of them to graduate high school," he says. That means introducing them to sports such as basketball, soccer and volleyball to make sure kids are prepared to play on high school teams - and have another incentive to stay in school. Kids who attend the program get skill training and a chance to play competitively in a TPT league. Peter says he's grateful for Team-Up for Youth's Coaching Corps, which provides highly trained volunteer coaches. "Specialized volunteer coaches were certainly attractive at a time when we were all facing budget cuts," he says, remembering when he first heard about TUFY's Coaching Corps. "It was an infusion of talent in an area of need at a time of need." TPT continues to depend on Coaching Corps coaches and is now also the largest recipient of AmeriCorps coaches, who make up a portion of the Coaching Corps program. Two AmeriCorps* VISTA members also call TPT home base. Serving so many kids takes a lot of coordination, but Peter knows TPT works. The program's at-risk students are 37 percent more likely to graduate high school than other students in the district, regardless of background. He also has another way to measure the organization's impact: Some of the kids who attended Team Prime Time when it first started are now working as TUFY's AmeriCorps coaches. "They are not only the embodiment of what we want to accomplish, but they've taken it one step further and decided to give back to the program," he says TPT's success demonstrates the positive impact that sports - and quality coaches - can have on kids, says TUFY's Deputy Executive Director Lynne Lee. "We are proud that we have such a strong partnership with an organization whose goals so closely match our own," she says. "We both know that sports change the lives of at-risk kids and that those who serve as volunteers, AmeriCorps or VISTA members are the key to helping kids succeed in school and life." Make sure TUFY can continue sending AmeriCorps coaches to programs like Team Prime Time. Call your senator today and tell them to Save Service! For Senator Dianne Feinstein, call (202) 224-3841 and for Senator Barbara Boxer call (202) 224-3553. [Download Full PDF Article] |
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Palms MS Wins Inaugural BTB South/West Classic |
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The competition is back! Students celebrated as Team Prime Time announced the return of its intersite sports tournament with the Beyond The Bell South/West Classic, a two-day basketball tournament that featured 14 teams and over 75 players from Webster, Palms, and Emerson middle schools. Teams from all three schools were seeded according to their standings in their respective schools’ LA84 Foundation Middle School Sports League. The Palms Hawks narrowly defeated the Webster Jazz in the championship game to claim the tournament’s top prize. News of the upcoming Classic helped increase participation in the LA84 league and sparked attendance at all three after-school programs. TPT’s Art Academy students also had the opportunity to showcase their talents, as Webster students mixed music on the turntables, and the Media Arts crew recorded video footage and snapped photos of the event. |
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UCLA & The Prime Time Games |
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UCLA’s Football Team to Host the Prime Time Games On Saturday, June 5th, from 8:15am-12:00pm, the UCLA Football Team will host the Prime Time Games; a full inclusion, peer mentor sports program wherein economically disadvantaged and underserved middle school students from the Team Prime Time after-school program (“coaches”) coach and play alongside children with developmental disabilities (“athletes”) in the only after school sports program of its kind. Approximately 30 Football Players, and many other UCLA athletes, will take part in “Championship Saturday”, serving as honorary coaches and captains for the inclusive soccer and basketball teams. This already inspirational day should start on an even higher note as Head Football Coach Rick Neuheisel will address the hundreds of coaches, athletes and families in attendance during the Opening Ceremonies, which take place on Spalding Field at 9am. Soccer commences soon thereafter on Spalding while the basketball teams will play in the Student Activities Center. The Basketball games feature guest referee Matt Stevens, the voice of UCLA Football and Former UCLA quarterback. The driving force behind bringing the Prime Time Games to UCLA is Mike Linn, UCLA’s Head Athletic Performance Coach, “This unique program builds much needed self esteem and self confidence in two uniquely different population groups through sports. The lessons learned through coaching as well as through participation in sports are long lasting and should be availed for all to experience. This one day event will highlight the Team Prime Time program and their many participants. “ The Prime Time Games began with 20 athletes from six LAUSD schools in the Fall of 2004. By Spring of 2005, the program had nearly tripled in size. To date, over 250 athletes with developmental disabilities ranging from Autism to Down syndrome have participated in the Prime Time Games. At the core of the Prime Time Games lies the very simple premise that bringing two “high-risk” populations together, united by a shared love of sport, will generate lasting benefits for everyone involved. WHAT – The UCLA Football Team Partners hosts the Prime Time Games WHEN – Saturday, June 5th, 8:15am-12pm PT WHERE – Spalding Field and Student Activities Center CONTACT – Team Prime Time – Executive Director Peter Straus – 310-838-7872 UCLA Football – Mike Linn, 310-794-1869 UCLA Athletic Department – Ashley Armstrong, 310-206-7121 |
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BRUIN FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO VISIT EMERSON |
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BRUIN FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO VISIT EMERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
On Wednesday afternoon, May 6, UCLA’s 24 scholarship freshmen football student-athletes who participate in the athletic department’s Community of Learners program will give back to the community.
The 24 football freshmen will be visiting Ralph Waldo Emerson Middle School (1650 Selby Avenue in West Los Angeles). They will conduct brief presentations (likely split into four groups) on the student-athlete experience, being a Bruin, the importance of staying in school, staying away from drugs, etc. The presentations will be followed by some type of a 'play time' or low-key athletic competition on the playground.
The Bruins are scheduled to arrive between 2:30 – 3:00 pm and will interact with the youngsters until at least 4:00 pm.
UCLA’s participation in this event is through the Team Prime Time (TPT) program. TPT is offered in partnership with the Beyond the Bell Branch of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD Beyond the Bell).
If media is interested in covering this event, they should contact Peter Straus, Executive Director of Team Prime Time, at 310/779-9799. |
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Chivas USA Partner's With Team Prime Time! |
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CHIVAS USA SCORES WITH LAUSD STUDENTS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH TEAM PRIME TIME AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Nine players to visit four LAUSD campuses Wednesday afternoon to provide soccer instruction to over 1,000 middle school students
CARSON, Calif. (Tuesday, April 14, 2009) – On Wednesday, April 15, from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. PT, players and coaches from Chivas USA will simultaneously visit four Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) middle school campuses to kick off an exciting partnership that has set high goals for its participating student-athletes. All four schools that will be visited by Chivas USA are home to the Team Prime Time after school program, which is offered to the students in partnership with the Beyond the Bell branch of LAUSD.
Dubbed ‘Chivas in the Schools,’ this one-day celebration of soccer and education will do far more than just introduce the 1,300 students who attend Webster Middle School, Palms Middle School, Emerson Middle School and Westside Leadership Magnet to soccer instruction from the Chivas USA players and coaches, according to Team Prime Time Executive Director Peter Straus:
“Chivas USA has made an extraordinary statement by choosing to come directly to the schools and visit the kids,” said Straus. “They are showing our students that a professional sports franchise cares about them and wants to help them set, and reach, their goals. The students will accomplish great things with role models like this.”
“After school programs are important to students’ personal development, and Chivas USA is pleased to help local middle-school students reach their goals through Team Prime Time,” said Chivas USA President Shawn Hunter. “In addition, we are very proud to be part of the great work being done in our schools by LAUSD.”
“The Chivas USA visit also helps highlight all the positive activities and partnerships taking place in LAUSD Beyond the Bell after school programs,” said to Alvaro Cortes, Assistant Superintendent of LAUSD’s Beyond the Bell Branch. “Over 85,000 LAUSD students participate in after school programs everyday throughout the District under the supervision and guidance of successful and caring organizations such as Team Prime Time. This visit helps bring attention to that fact.”
Highlights of the partnership between Chivas USA and Team Prime Time, which is called the Chivas USA Academic Academy, include ongoing player and student interaction, math readiness programming and year-round, on-campus soccer participation. In addition, participants will have an opportunity to visit a Chivas USA home game during the current 2009 season.
WHAT: Chivas USA and Team Prime Time launch partnership with special ‘Chivas in the Schools’ Day
Players and coaches from L.A.’s top pro soccer team simultaneously visit over 1,000 students at four LAUSD middle campuses
WHEN: Wednesday, April 15
3:15 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. PT
WHO: Chivas USA players and coaches (see list below, by school)
Shawn Hunter, Chivas USA President
Peter Straus, Team Prime Time Executive Director
Alvaro Cortes, Beyond the Bell Branch Asst. Superintendent
Kathy Smith, Beyond the Bell Branch Administrative Coordinator
WHERE: Partnership Kick-Off Event:
Webster Middle School – Players: Jesse Marsch, Claudio Su¡rez, Mariano Trujillo
11330 Graham Place
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 235-4600
Other Locations:
Palms Middle School – Players: Justin Braun, Michael Lahoud; Coach: Carlos Llamosa
10860 Woodbine Street
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 253-7600
Emerson Middle School – Players: Atiba Harris, Gerson May©n; Coach: Kevin Esparza
1650 Selby Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 234-3100
Westside Leadership Magnet School – Players: Lance Parker, Shavar Thomas; Coach: Leo Percovich
104 Anchorage Street
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 821-2039
MEDIA RSVP: Please contact Keegan Pierce, Chivas USA Communications:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
(310) 595-5264
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