Jesse Massey seeks funding to keep kids summer program alive at Albany State

ALBANY — After 41 years of the National Youth Sports Program at Albany State University, the prospects for a 42nd year were tenuous. NYSP Liaison Officer Jesse Massey said Friday funding is a problem, as usual, but this time Albany State was wavering on hosting the annual six-week summer program for boys and girls ages 9-15.

The program got a bit of good news earlier this week when Albany State agreed to the use of its facilities.

“Albany State has always been very supportive of NYSP, and we are grateful for that support,” ASU volleyball and women’s head basketball coach, and NYSP volunteer, Robert Skinner said. “The facilities use was big, but now we have to come up with between $35,000 to $40,000 to run the program.

“The two storms that came through here in January left us not knowing if we could continue the program. People are pretty drained right now. We just didn’t feel comfortable calling on them again.”

However, the reinvolvement of Albany State threw the program a lifeline. Skinner is now hopeful of receiving $30,000 in Title III funding and will know something within the “next few weeks.”

In its more than four decades of service, the youth sports program has served more than 25,000 kids from Dougherty and surrounding counties, but organizers warn that it may come to an end. Massey, who was in the program’s inaugural class in 1975 and is now its liaison officer, said a lack of funding may cause the program to shut down.

“I don’t think most people realize how valuable this program is for the region as a whole,” Massey said. “We go from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and offer breakfast and lunch (provided by the USDA) in the ASU cafeteria. We also offer swimming at an indoor Olympic-size pool, swimming lessons, tennis and volleyball to an average of 400 girls and boys per day. We also bring in certified math teachers to help tutor the kids.

“And we provide all of that in a safe environment at no cost to the kids. To me, that’s a positive for our community.”

Physicals are required and will be conducted for free at the East Albany Medical Center starting on May 15 at 8 a.m. and will run to noon. In the program’s long history, the East Albany Medical Center has performed free physicals every year and, according to Skinner, been an integral part of keeping NYSP alive.

“Up until 2004, there were 280 of these programs scattered all over the country,” Massey said. “Then the slate was wiped clean. Just like that. Now there are only five programs left, and we’re one of the five. The No. 1 thing is money, it’s always about money.

“We get no money from the city of Albany or Dougherty County.”

Massey said he feels so strongly about the NYSP, he’s pledged to put $1,000 of his own money into the program, which involves kids from every county that touches Dougherty.

“I really hope the community and counties in the surrounding area step up to the plate for these kids,” Skinner said. “Because we really do need for some people to step up.”

The program has also set up a gofundme page at https://www.gofundme.com/helpnysp.