2010 Youth Impact Program Opens in Syracuse and New Orleans

SYRACUSE, N.Y., July 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Riki Ellison, Chairman and Founder of the Youth Impact Program and a three time Super Bowl winner with the San Francisco 49ers, announced today the inaugural opening of one of the nation's most innovative "at risk" programs for the community of Syracuse, New York that began at Syracuse University on Tuesday.  He also announced that the program is opened at Tulane University in New Orleans for the third year in a row. Each program is hosting more than 75 young men for the month.

The Youth Impact Program (YIP) invests in "at risk" below the poverty line young boys from 9 to 12 years old in a 4-week intense program through using both Syracuse and Tulane University facilities, staff, student athletes and local elementary teachers. The program is a combination of academics and athletics with an emphasis on reading, mathematics and improved life styles along with  instruction in football techniques.

This is the 5th year for the Youth Impact Program. Ellison commented that more than 1,000 inner city kids from the communities of Los Angeles, Houston, Tampa, New Orleans and Syracuse have been participants in YIP. He also thanked and complimented the NFL Youth Fund, Smart Board Tech and the universities of USC, Tulane, South Florida, Rice and Syracuse for their support and sponsorship of the program.

The Youth Impact Program for Syracuse is its first, this year. Syracuse University the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets are participating in the program for the first time. Ellison also announced that Tulane University in New Orleans and the Super Bowl Champions, the New Orleans Saints continue to support the YIP program, and last year the Saints had the YIP participants as their guests at one of the nationally televised games.

Student athletes participating from Syracuse University and Tulane University are an integral part of the program. They are role models for the kids, and they work with them on a daily basis. Ellison said, "These young student athletes are hand-picked to work for the YIP program. They live with the  kids and motivate them. We are very fortunate to have them, and they bond with these kids for life."

The program provides food, clothing, transportation, mathematics, language arts, football, and life skills development to include Anger Management, Conflict Resolution, Drug Education and permanent mentoring relationships between the boys and local teachers, staff and student athletes of Tulane and  Syracuse Universities.

This joint community effort that costs about $1,000 investment in each boy is changing their lives at a critical formative age which if not changed would cost the community about $36,000 a year for incarceration costs as the national statistics show a good portion of urban "at risk" boys will end up in prison if not attended to.

The Youth Impact Program at Tulane and Syracuse uses football to attract the young boys to come in off of the streets in the summer, and it exposes them to the university and its support structure in their community. It is an integrated partnership between the local communities of New Orleans, Syracuse,  Tulane University, and Syracuse University, the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets,  the New Orleans Saints and the NFL to make a difference in the lives of young minority urban at-risk boys that will change our communities for the better. The  program is a national program that is in its fifth year.

The Youth Impact Program has received a Joint Congressional Resolution for  its achievements. The YIP program runs through the month of July, with a year-round program to follow, where the boys will continue to be monitored and mentored on a monthly basis at Tulane and Syracuse Universities if funding  permits.

For more information on the program contact Riki Ellison, Chairman and Founder of YIP at 703-778-6192 or Mike Terrill at 602-885-1955. The YIP website is located at www.youthimpactprogram.org

NOTES TO MEDIA:

1. Michael Strecker, Director of Public Relations, Tulane, is at 504-865-5210.  And he can help with interviews and photo opportunities for the Tulane YIP  program.

2. Henry Wildhack, Senior Associate of Athletics, Syracuse University at 315-443-4370 can arrange and help with interviews and photo opportunities for the Syracuse program.

3. If you desire an interview with Riki Ellison, the Chairman and Founder of YIP, call Mike Terrill at 602 885-1955 to arrange.

SOURCE Youth Impact Program (YIP)