Student Athletes Get Albion-Homer United Way Support
Play Right Sports Academy received support with a recent $5,000 grant from the Albion-Homer United Way to maintain healthy lifestyles for Albion youth.
The group is dedicated to the total development of the athletic, social and academic abilities of Albion youth according to Milton Barnes president of the academy. The grant money will be used to continue youth programming through sports activities, academic support and mentoring.
Play Right is a year-round program with ongoing activities and projects. One of the projects that will benefit from the AHUW grant money is an annual Family Christmas Party, Barnes said. Due to COVID-19 the in-person events are cancelled but toys and gifts will be distributed to Albion youth and families. Last year the holiday party included over 200 people.
The Play Right program has expanded from basketball to golf, tennis and Tee Ball. The Tee Ball program is planned to begin this spring. Tee Ball’s first game was played in Albion and the origin of the sport has roots in the community, according to Barnes. Young ball players from Albion and Homer and surrounding areas will have the option to play in this sport.
The mission of the AHUW is to provide “long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening” to help community members “live more whole lives-a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support family through retirement, and good health.”
The 2020 Albion-Homer United Way annual fundraising campaign is underway, according to Marcia Starkey executive director. “As we’ve heard so many times that we are all in this together,” Starkey emphasized. “Let’s give United Way the resources so we can make a difference.”
The communities were very generous in donating toward emergency relief earlier this year, Starkey said, but funding for other grants is also vital to help sustain AHUW’s mission.
Starkey also said there are four good reasons to donate to the Albion-Homer United Way including that donations fund Albion and Homer specific programs and that funding decisions are made locally. Donor lists are never shared with other agencies and payroll deductions make donating easier.
Donation forms have been sent out to potential donors. Donations can be mailed to AHUW PO Box 55, Albion, MI 49224, made on-line at www.albionhomeruw.org/ or by contacting Starkey at 517-499-2563.
Board members are Carolyn Amos, Donisha Brewer, Chris Burdette, David Diemert, Ryan Hopson, Art Kale, Patrick McLean, Isabell Nazar, Pam Schuler, Gary Tompkins, Eddie Williams and Shane Williamson.
Ryan Hopson with Play Right Sports Academy coaches a young golfer on the game fundamentals as part of the mission of the youth program. Play Right recently received a grant from the Albion-Homer United Way to continue programming in the Albion area. The academy focuses on the athletic, educational and social development of young people.