Embedded Files
ABOUT US
ROCKFORD YOUTH, SPORTS & MENTORING
BUILT BY FATHERS. BUILT FOR YOUTH. BUILT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
Rockford Youth, Sports & Mentoring grew from a simple idea shared by a group of single fathers who wanted to make a difference in their community.
As fathers, we understand how important it is for children to have opportunities, encouragement, positive role models and adults who are willing to show up for them.
Rather than simply talking about what our community needs, we decided to volunteer our time and work toward creating something positive for its young people.
WE ARE FATHERS FIRST.
We aren’t doing this because we’re looking for recognition.
We are giving our time voluntarily because we believe that when adults invest their time, knowledge and energy into young people, the entire community benefits.
Our goal is to create opportunities that we would want available to our own children.
⸻
OUR MISSION
The mission of Rockford Youth, Sports & Mentoring is to provide young people with free access to sports, mentorship, practical life skills, educational experiences, career preparation, leadership development and opportunities to explore the world around them.
We want financial barriers to have as little influence as possible over whether a child gets an opportunity.
EVERY CHILD DESERVES A CHANCE TO PLAY.
EVERY CHILD DESERVES A CHANCE TO LEARN.
EVERY CHILD DESERVES A CHANCE TO DISCOVER.
EVERY CHILD DESERVES PEOPLE IN THEIR CORNER.
⸻
MORE THAN SPORTS
Sports are an important part of what we’re building—but they are only the beginning.
Our vision includes:
⚽ Youth soccer
🏈 Flag football
🤝 Mentorship
🍳 Cooking and nutrition
🔧 Introduction to automotive maintenance
🎨 Arts and creative programs
🌲 Nature and outdoor education
🏕️ Camping and outdoor experiences
💰 Financial literacy
📄 Résumé and employment preparation
🤝 Job interview training
🎓 College and career exploration
💻 Virtual college tours
🔨 Skilled trades and apprenticeship exploration
🚀 Entrepreneurship
🏠 Practical adult-life skills
🐠 Aquariums, zoos and museums
🚌 Educational field trips
❤️ Community service
💼 Teen leadership and employment opportunities
Our goal is to give young people opportunities to discover interests and abilities they may not have known they had.
⸻
OUR VISION
We envision a program where a child can enter at a young age and continue growing with us through high school.
A young child might first join us through soccer.
A few years later, that child might participate in flag football.
In middle school, they might learn how to cook a meal, check the oil in a vehicle, create artwork, use basic tools or experience their first camping trip.
In high school, that same young person could learn about credit, budgeting, résumés, interviews, college, skilled trades, entrepreneurship and careers.
Eventually, we hope some of those young people return as junior coaches, mentors, volunteers and community leaders themselves.
COME TO US TO LEARN.
GROW WITH US.
THEN COME BACK AND HELP THE NEXT CHILD GROW.
⸻
EXPERIENCES CREATE POSSIBILITIES
We believe young people need opportunities to experience the world beyond what they see every day.
As funding, transportation, partnerships, availability and appropriate supervision allow, we hope to provide experiences such as:
• Camping trips
• Hiking and fishing
• Museums
• Zoos
• Aquariums, including opportunities such as Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium when feasible
• Nature and conservation centers
• College campuses
• Trade and technical schools
• Career sites
• Science and technology experiences
• Sporting events
• Cultural experiences
• Community service projects
A young person may discover a love for science at an aquarium.
They may begin thinking about college after walking onto a campus.
They may discover a skilled trade after visiting a workplace.
They may develop confidence after spending a night camping outdoors.
SOMETIMES A CHILD HAS TO SEE A POSSIBILITY BEFORE THEY CAN BEGIN TO IMAGINE IT FOR THEMSELVES.
⸻
100% FREE OPPORTUNITIES
One of the principles behind our program is simple:
A FAMILY’S FINANCIAL SITUATION SHOULD NOT DETERMINE A CHILD’S OPPORTUNITIES.
Our goal is to provide participating youth with programming 100% FREE OF CHARGE.
We want to work with community organizations, businesses, sponsors, donors and volunteers to help remove financial barriers wherever possible.
NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES BECAUSE THEIR FAMILY CAN’T AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE.
⸻
VOLUNTEER-POWERED
The heart of this program is people willing to give something extremely valuable:
THEIR TIME.
Our founding fathers volunteer their time because we believe community change begins when people decide to become part of the solution.
As the program grows, we hope other parents, coaches, educators, professionals, tradespeople, college students, retirees, businesses and community members will join us.
You don’t have to be a professional athlete to make a difference in a child’s life.
You might know how to cook.
You might know how to repair cars.
You might be an artist.
You might understand finances.
You might work in healthcare.
You might know a skilled trade.
You might own a business.
You might simply be someone who knows how to listen and encourage a young person.
EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING THEY CAN TEACH.
⸻
CHILD SAFETY COMES FIRST
Parents and guardians are trusting us with something far more important than a sports season, class or field trip.
THEY ARE TRUSTING US WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
We take that responsibility seriously.
BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS
All volunteers must successfully complete applicable background screening before being approved to work directly with participating youth.
Background screening is only one part of our commitment to child safety.
Volunteers and program leaders are also expected to comply with:
• Youth-safety policies
• Appropriate adult-youth boundaries
• Program codes of conduct
• Appropriate supervision requirements
• Check-in and check-out procedures when applicable
• Transportation requirements when applicable
• Emergency procedures
• Activity-specific safety requirements
• Procedures for reporting safety concerns
Additional safety procedures may be required for activities such as camping, transportation, cooking, automotive instruction, sports and field trips.
CHILD SAFETY COMES BEFORE SPORTS, ACTIVITIES, COMPETITION OR CONVENIENCE.
⸻
POSITIVE ROLE MODELS
Our mentors and volunteers aren’t expected to have lived perfect lives.
Young people can benefit from adults who understand challenges, responsibility, perseverance and the importance of making good decisions.
We want our young people surrounded by adults who are willing to:
Show up.
Listen.
Teach.
Encourage.
Hold them accountable.
Celebrate their progress.
Help them see possibilities.
⸻
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE TO US
Success isn’t simply an undefeated sports team.
Success is a child who becomes more confident.
Success is a student who learns how to cook their first meal.
Success is a teenager who creates their first résumé.
Success is a student who understands credit before applying for their first loan.
Success is a child experiencing camping for the first time.
Success is a teenager walking onto a college campus and thinking:
“I COULD ACTUALLY GO HERE.”
Success is a young person coming back years later and saying:
“SOMEONE HELPED ME. NOW I WANT TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE.”
⸻
OUR COMMUNITY. OUR YOUTH. OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
We believe meaningful community change doesn’t always begin with a huge organization or a large amount of money.
Sometimes it begins with a few fathers saying:
“OUR KIDS DESERVE MORE. WHAT CAN WE DO?”
That’s where our journey begins.
And we hope families, volunteers, businesses and community partners throughout Rockford will help us continue building it.
ROCKFORD YOUTH, SPORTS & MENTORING
SPORTS • MENTORSHIP • EDUCATION • LEADERSHIP • OPPORTUNITY
MORE THAN A PROGRAM. A PATH TO SOMETHING MORE.
Mr. Marko
Program Director
📞 779-513-2404
✉️ 815YOUTH@RYSMROCKFORD.ORG
📍 5970 E. State St., Unit 6
Rockford, IL 61108
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse