Statements

Mission

The Starlings is registered as a non-profit organization and has over 90 different clubs in the USA. These clubs exists financially upon grants and charitable donations, however in some cities, dues are charged to the participants to cover the costs of operation but no female is turned away. Starling clubs are represented in many major cities which offer corporations a wider geographic for marketing their products to consumers where Starling club exist. The Starlings program provides a wonderful opportunity for a company and/or person looking to associate itself with a worthy and humanitarian project to contribute funds and support to the club. The Starlings' organization caters mostly to financially disadvantage young females.Your donation would be used to help improve and/or establish academic enrichment, afterschool and summer programs, and volleyball programs in the area. The Metro parks and Recreation Center will house the current program. Lock In the SITE program will help delivering educational information aimed at reducing health risk and behaviors that threaten the social and educational advancement of children and teens, ages 6-18 years is a major goal of Starlings Nashville. Studies strongly support the mission of our educational enhancement program and prevention programs; travel, assessments, competition, counseling, character building, tutoring, grade tracking, and guidance for college entrance, are all major compenent of our program. These components gives broader exposure to reaching individual goals and embracing life's many challenges.

Background

Beginning with a single inner-city, San Diego team in 1996, today Starlings is the largest Junior Volleyball Club in the nation serving some 3,000 girls in 50 clubs across America including Haiti and Mexico. Clubs stretch from New York City to Los Angeles, from Portland to Phoenix, Arizona. The guiding concept has been to provide an opportunity for girls (ages 5 to18) to participate regardless of their socioeconomic background. Club dues, if any, are a fraction of most Junior Club costs and no girl is turned away because of inability to pay. Starlings have a sense of ownership and sisterhood.While junior club volleyball dues around the nation are often exclusionary, Annual fees for Junior Club Volleyball range between $2,000 and $5,000. Starlings club dues are dramatically minimized and some girls are provided work opportunities in exchange for monthly dues. Additionally, all Starlings clubs are required to raise part of their budget through fundraising. Starlings' teams are formed at local high schools and community-based facilities.The format is based on 12-girl teams, one coach, innovative rules and equipment. Coaching/instruction are conducted by trained coaches. Each individual Starlings club is encouraged to adopt a mentoring program to nurture personal growth and educational achievement. In addition, we will introduce female athletes to scholarship opportunities and assist them in identifying their talents and skills through speakers, camp, assessments, and tournaments. In 2006, the first Starlings Nashville graduate, Kelley Lowe, has a degree in Nursing and was on the first OVC championship volleyball team at Tennessee State University. We have help over 75 young ladieies recieve academic and /or athletic scholarships since 2006. Awe are currently iniateing an middle school league for all,inner city players exoseing over 200 young ladies to volleyball free clinics and very low cost leagues and camps across Tennessee.

Impact

Our accomplishments from last year include placing first eight times in the Starlings national literary contest. Our sixteen year old team placed third last year in the Starlings National Volleyball Tournament in San Diego, Ca. Our eighteen year old team placed first last year in the Cumberland University volleyball tournament in Tennessee. In addition to athletic accomplishments, two of our senior volleyball players received academic scholarships with athletic incentives to attend college. Our goals for next year include returning to the national tournament in California. We also would like to get the necessary finances needed to take our young ladies on college tours and possible mission trips in different regions of the country or world. We are currently providing a summer elite college tour of camps and college coaching with over 8 different clinics for the two months of June and July,

Needs

For the upcoming year, we need the finances necessary for our young ladies to participate in the national tournament in California again this year (I.e. plane tickets, lodging, food, registration fees, etc)We also need a new Volleyball netting system and volleyballs for practices and games.Uniforms are also needed so that our players can feel like a team and perform at their highest ability level. Some of our players also need volleyball shoes because they are financially unable to purchase them.More financial assistance will also provide for college tours.

CEO Statement

My experiences and accomplishments over the last 20 years have helped me to fulfill my dream and purpose placed on my life of promoting a Junior Olympic Volleyball (JOV) Team for Inner- City youth. My aspiration for the game provided me with skills, fundamentals, and determination to continue participating in a sport that would become an outreach for children of all ages. The Starlings Nashville program is unique because it provides young girls with education enrichment, community service activities, leadership opportunities, college guidance, and self-esteem improvement all in conjunction with volleyball fundamentals, techniques, skills, and knowledge. The program provides all these services at a very inexpensive cost compared to other similar volleyball programs in the city.

Board Chair Statement

As founder/director of the Starlings organization, I confirm that Nashville Starlings Volleyball Club is an affiliated club of our national organization and in good standing. Accordingly, the club is authorized to conduct normal banking activities, request grants, solicit donations, and enjoy tax benefits under our 501 c 3 status. Our tax ID number is 33-0749769.I would like to add that club director LaKeshia Morrow-Thomas did an excellent job last year which resulted in the Nashville club emerging as of our most successful in the nation. I am confident she and her club will continue to excel in providing positive alternatives to needy girls through sports.Sincerely,Byron ShewmanFounder/Executive Director

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Recreation & Sports  - Amateur Sports
Secondary Category:	Youth Development  - Youth Centers and Clubs (includes Boys/Girls Clubs)- Multipurpose
Tertiary Category:	Youth Development  - Girls Clubs

Areas Served

East Nashville is a neighborhood unlike any other in the Nashville area. Cayce Place comprises 710 rental units with 2,400 residents crowded onto 63 acres. Currently, Martha O'Bryan Center serves primarily children, youth, and families living in and around Cayce Place, Nashville's oldest and largest public housing development. Zip Code 37206.

TN - Montgomery

TN - Davidson