Recently retired Rising Stars Inc. founder and Executive Director Paul Savramis started the youth organization in 1996. A non-profit charity foundation, Rising Stars helps children in pre-kindergarten through high school develop confidence, positivity, and problem-solving skills in a nurturing, community-based environment. Using athletics as a teaching tool, Paul Savramis and his staff have helped countless young adults develop into capable, dynamic members of society. Encouraging lifetime learning, Paul Savramis’ program motivates teenagers to complete high school and pursue advanced education. Early on, Paul Savramis decided to build Rising Stars on seven core values: diversity, effort, fun, integrity, respect, responsibility, and teamwork.
Prior to establishing Rising Stars, Inc., Paul Savramis worked in a number of other sports-related leadership positions, two for companies he founded. In his first role with the American Red Cross, Paul Savramis trained lifeguards and water safety instructors in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Five years later, Paul Savramis established Nick Bollettieri’s Eastern Tennis, a New Jersey-based athletic camp program. For nearly a decade, Paul Savramis led the physical education department at Westchester Day School. During the same time period, Paul Savramis ran Eastern Invitational Basketball Camps, one the nation’s largest and most esteemed basketball training programs.
Educated at Queens College in Flushing, New York, Paul Savramis holds a Master’s degree in Physical Education with a minor in Child Psychology and Special Education. In his free time, Paul Savramis enjoys surfing and keeping active. Furthering his commitment to aiding disadvantaged youth, Paul Savramis supports Ronald McDonald House Charities and Children’s Cancer Research Fund, as well as the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
As Founder and former Executive Director of Rising Stars, Inc., Paul Savramis strongly believed that developing strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations would play an integral role in the early establishment of this nonprofit youth organization. Today, Rising Stars, Inc. benefits from partnerships with some of the most prominent charitable organizations in the country. Profiles of just a few of these organizations are included below.
Student Sponsor Partners
Founded by investment banker Peter M. Flanigan in 1986, Student Sponsor Partners provides financial assistance and mentorship to New York City high school students in underserved areas. With the organization’s help, these students receive the benefit of a superb non–public high school education. As a testament to the organization’s success, the Class of 2009 enjoyed a 90 percent graduation rate, and more than 50 alumni have come back to participate in the program as mentors. Visit the website at www.sspnyc.org
Boy Scouts of America
A self-described values-based youth development organization, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has been fulfilling its mission to support and encourage the moral and ethical education of America’s youth for more than 100 years. The BSA’s current programs include Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouting, Venturing, and the Order of the Arrow. The BSA also hosts numerous outdoor activities, both as independent events and as part of established programs like the Cub Scouts, including camping trips, hikes, horseback cavalcades, and canoe trips. See www.scouting.org for more information.
United Way
In 1887, a group of religious leaders in Denver, Colorado, came together to formulate a solution to the welfare problems troubling their city. Rabbi William S. Friedman, Monsignor William J. O’Ryan, Reverend Myron W. Reed, and Dean H. Martyn Hart established United Way to serve as a central collecting agency for 10 health and welfare agencies. In 1974, United Way made history by becoming the first nonprofit to raise more than $1 billion in a single annual campaign. Today, United Way assists individuals in underserved areas throughout the world through United Way Worldwide. Go to liveunited.org to learn more.
New York Knicks
Known colloquially as the Knicks, New York City’s Knickerbockers belong to the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Despite stiff competition in their conference for the 2010-2011 season from hot teams such as the Miami Heat, the Chicago Bulls, and the Boston Celtics, the Knicks have rallied to an impressive record after several off years for the franchise. Led by 2011 All-Star power forward Amar’e Stoudemire, the Knicks promise to contend in the 2011 playoffs, to the delight of New York City fans.
In the past few months, the staff members and volunteers of the youth charity Rising Stars, Inc.,, have been busy planning and overseeing charity events and promoting education and athletic activities for children of all ages. Working with professional and collegiate basketball players and coaches, the nonprofit organizes sports clinics, sponsors amateur basketball teams, and holds individual and team training courses. All the programs organized by Rising Stars aim to encourage sportsmanship,confidence, and motivation in children and adolescents. However, these programs rely on the generosity of donors to continue operating.
In May 2011, Rising Stars held its 8th Annual Fund Raising Dinner at The New York Athletic Club. At the event, Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis, the nonprofit’s CEO Jay Williams, and more than 300 guests joined together to celebrate the organization’s 15th year in operation. Special guests at the Dinner included athletes and members of the New York Knicks, the New York Giants, and the National Basketball Association.In addition, the fundraiser featured appearances by celebrated father-son athlete pairs Calvin and Grant Hill and Bobby Hurley Sr. and Bobby Hurley Jr.
Giving back to the community that supports the programs of Rising Stars represents another important focus of the nonprofit. In April 2011, the staff and volunteers of Rising Stars showed that appreciation by sponsoring and assisting at a community meal-packing event held in Brookville, New York. Dozens of volunteers turned out at Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School for the four-day meal packing meeting. During the event, volunteers packaged more than 300,000 meals, all of them delivered to Haiti’s Village of Hope School and Clinic located in Port-au-Prince. The food will assist in sustaining more than 800 children for a year.
