Empower Staten Island Girls Through Basketball

My name is Ebon Blanchette. I am a youth sports coach on Staten Island. A few years ago, a friend of mine asked me to step in and coach a team he had created with both boys and girls for a local tournament. I accepted as this was a friend of mine, and I believe in supporting youth growth in every aspect. I quickly learned that it was an all-boys tournament the team was placed in. Being who I am, I embraced the challenge and let the kids know every day that the work was our focus. Developing our skills and belief in ourselves was the goal. We didn't win any games, but something began that I never would have thought would lead me to where I am now.

Two years later, we now have so many girls that want to play for Coach Mo and myself that we had to create a second team for the summer tournaments we play in. Our team of 12 had grown to 21 ( 5 players not shown in photo) . After achieving winning a 2025 CYO championship, Mo and I are determined to continue to bring our coaching mindset to any young person who loves basketball and wants to get better. We now have young ladies from four different programs playing together and developing the interpersonal engagement skills that come with playing with others you may not know, embracing the development of the team concept.

With the growth of our summer program, we realize we need more equipment to prepare these young ladies for their respective next levels. That is why we have come here to try and generate the funds needed for their equipment and gear. Through both basketball and overall training, the goal shared by Mo and myself is to get each of these girls into college on scholarship and teach them to utilize their craft to get an incredible education. We do not focus on stats, points, or wins or losses (in the summer, that is). What we encourage is the belief in self, belief in your teammates, and playing for one another. Mo and I believe in each and every one of these young ladies and recognize our responsibility to give our best selves to their development so they can be their best selves both on and off the court.

With the growth of our program and the need for more equipment we call on others to help so we can prepare these young ladies for their respective next levels. We are grateful for every donation given and look to continue our growth and support the youth of Staten Island and NYC.