The Inner City-Suburban Youth Foundation is at it again. After nearly 20 years of working diligently to positively impact countless Baltimore urban and suburban youth, the Baltimore-based organization is continuing its plight to keep young people involved, while ensuring that many of them are exposed to opportunities they may have never envisioned.
According to the group’s executive director and founder, William Newman, the organization was formed with a purpose of “providing support for the education of underprivileged children” from ages six to 17.
In its mission to keep children enthused and interested in academics and school, Newman says his group has established a successful rewards program tied to major sporting events, educational field trips and mentoring.
“The foundation’s mission is to provide support to a large percentage of inner city and suburban children,” according to the program’s Mission Statement.
Newman says the children are rewarded with scholarships and event tickets based on their ability to earn good grades and maintain proper conduct. Solid attendance in the classroom is another incentive used to ensure students are provided with trips and other perks.
From September 28 through October 1, 2017, Newman’s group took 12 students and their chaperones to Tropicana Park in St. Petersburg, Florida, to see their hometown Baltimore Orioles play the Tampa Bay Rays. The trip to Florida turned out to be a first-time plane trip for most of the participating children.
“They were so very well behaved, Newman said. “They were very impressive.”
To support his group’s objectives, Newman receives financial assistance from various local sponsors, including Southwest Airlines; Baltimore County Savings Bank; Safeway Foods; the Sports Boosters of Maryland; Wegmans groceries; the Macht Foundation; and Sol Levinson & Brothers (funeral home).
While the students really enjoyed this year’s trip to “The Trop” in Tampa/St. Pete, Newman revealed that many past participants have also toured Washington, D.C. sites in addition to trips to Camden Yards, home of the Orioles” he said.
Since the group’s inception, sponsored trips included last year’s visit to Guaranteed Rate Field where the Chicago White Sox honored the youth group during pre-game ceremonies. In years past, the students have been honored by the Baltimore Blast (soccer team). Earlier this year, the Baltimore Orioles presented students with jerseys while
acknowledging the group on the giant jumbo monitors in the outfield.
“This foundation is a refuge to keep students off the streets, out of trouble, and clean of drugs,” said Newman, a Baltimore native who graduated from Baltimore City College and attended Morgan State University. He has a background in broadcast journalism and has worked at WJZ-TV (CBS-Baltimore) Channel 13 back when Oprah Winfree worked there.
“Our ultimate goal is to make these youth productive,” Mr. Newman added.
Inner City Suburban Youth Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization. For more information about the foundation or to find out how you may help, contact William Newman at 443-742-2974.