With the New Year coming in fast, I wanted to make sure we have our priorities straight. Since we started this club, much of what is written on this blog is purely about the athletes and members of this club. And yes that is the primary focus of the blog, to report the goings on of members, events and happenings with Empire Volleyball and all of its teams -well, team really, but we could grow.
However, in the original idea of starting this club, I wanted to make sure that everyone was able to benefit through Empire VC. "Everyone?" you ask...YES everyone. We don't just want to be a club focused solely on volleyball. We would like to help “HELP” others if we can. Currently, we are planning a couple charity events of our own. What they will be, who know? Now, as a young club, just trying to establish footing in the world of "grown-up" volleyball, doing charitable events isn't easy, or is it?
THE TWO VALS & LEUKEMIA CHILDREN'S FUND RAISING
Val Lang is from Brazil, where as you all know volleyball only takes a back seat to soccer, the national past rime of Brazil. V Lang is also an accomplished volleyball player, and former coach at Hunter College. Valerie Langlois is originally from France. She is viewed in the New York City area as one of the better female volleyball players. I can recall seeing V Langlois playing three matches a night only a few short years ago on three co-ed teams and out shining the men by leaps and bounds. Both of their playing styles mesh well with any group male, female or co-ed at any level. To see the two of them you know they are close friends and solid leaders in every community. They're both extremely passionate about life and what they do with it.
 |
| Val Lang (in yellow) with some of the party goers |
NURSE Erica Yuen.
The first party was a small get together of friends along with smattering of acquaintances at The Overlook Bar on East 44th Street in Manhattan. The ladies and some of the guests jumped behind the bar as guest bar tenders to help further their cause. Any tips made, by team members during the night, went towards their trip fund. It was a great night, fun times and fairly successful. Even the author of this blog jumped in and threw his hand into bar tending for the occasion (I did it in a past life). Unfortunately, the team disbanded the next year, due to players moving and marriage, but the core group wanted to keep the party happening, even if it wasn't for a trip. But how would they do it?
The first party had a charge at the door, a modest $10 for those invited, additional to those tips being made by the guest bartenders. "Well, why should we charge people to come to a bar to hangout and watch volleyball, when they can do it from home for nothing?" was a question that came to mind. “We’ll make it a charity event!" was the answer. "Who or what should the charity be?" Children! And so it is their idea came to life.
The first few fundraisers were small groups, 10 to 15 people. However it was a popular set up and the charities chosen were very worthy. The idea was expanded to Facebook to build a larger group and that it did.
During their negotiations for one of their next venues, they realized how many people that could have shown up. A place with views of many televisions was important. Actually, a place with a large screen TV was paramount! One was found and the party was held at The East End Pub (formerly Fiona's) at First Avenue, between 86th Street and 87th Street, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The event ended up being small, only a group of 16 people came. The door charge was the same; however, the fundraiser was still a great success! The charity that year was the Leukemia Society. $160 was donated to them for cancer research. However, the ladies didn't feel that was enough.
This year’s Final's Fund Raiser - Charity event was held at the Whiskey Rebel Bar on Lexington between 28th and 29th streets. The venue was perfect! There were five TV's with only volleyball on the on the screen for all in attendance to view from, in the back main dining area. The charge has stayed a constant $10, for all who attended and the mood was awesome! Folks chatted about the match between Illinois and UCLA. There were old friends catching up with. People meeting for the first time, building new bonds and all in the name of charity.
There were 33 people at Whiskey Rebel that night, all enjoyed a fun time and from what was raised. Each came from a different walk of life; lawyers, college coaches, interior designers, club volleyball directors, pastry chef. You name it, they have or are living it. Like New York, most from a different part of country or world, Greece Turkey, Poland, Russia, The Philippines, etc and they all came to support this cause in a great way. We praise them as well.
There are a few leukemia treatment centers in New York, and they can all benefit from the money raised at this event. Hopefully next year, they can gather a larger group!
 |
| All 33 in attendance at Whiskey Rebel Co-Organizer Valerie Langlois is Top Right under the R As you can see, we owned the back of the bar |
These ladies have put their love and passion of volleyball into action to help those who need it most. And through volleyball they have brought our community closer with charity in mind. Awesome job Val and Val!
But they aren't the only ones. We'll say they are the LOCAL Samaritans. How about those beyond the Greater New York area?
JASON OLIVE: TV STAR, VOLLEYBALL ALL AMERICAN & HUMANITARIAN
 |
| JO (far left) and the cast of "For Better or Worse" |
California JO has been modeling for many years and was one of the TOP male models in the world. His chiseled good looks, dark olive skin tone and tall stature afforded him a luxury few male models of the day possessed. Later in his career, Jason started acting and flourished at it, with roles in soap operas and small movies. Currently he is on the new, critically acclaimed Tyler Perry TBS vehicle "For Better or Worse." The show is doing and Jason's life has never been better!
However, his love for volleyball never died. Neither did his longing to help kids in need.
First Jay-O Invitational Jason participated in a few volleyball events as a model. One such event was the Sideout Sports, SPIKE-FEST event held in Miami in the 90’s. Jason was one of their main draws and he helped organize some of the event as well. It was with his efforts many of famous models and actors, from the 90's participated; names such David Charvet (Baywatch) and avid volleyball player himself, Niki Taylor and many others.
 |
| Al-B with the Coach and student athlete of JFK High School (Bx, NY) at the First JAY-O Invitational |
 |
| JO speaking a the most recent JAY-O Invitational |
There was a volleyball clinic for the inner city kids of New York. Add to that, a high level tournament, where sponsors had an opportunity to play with Olympic greats and professionals through a DRAFT. Since its first days, the JAYO Invitational has drawn the best of the best in the sport of volleyball to help improve children's lives and our community and communities all over this great country.
Please visit the website and join in the fun and help out some kids. Go to www.jayoinvitational.com.
AL-B & FONOI; DIGGING 4 KIDS
Albert Hannemann is a former AVP Professional volleyball player and champion. Additionally he is Co-Founder of the National Volleyball League or NVL which has filled the void left by the collapse of AVP. Add on to that he runs Volleyball Vacations, a company that allows beach volleyball fans from around the world to enjoy paradise while being taught how to play beach volleyball and partying with the same volleyball greats. Al-B, as he is called in the volleyball circles, attended both UCLA and the University of Hawaii. During his time at UCLA, the team won a national title. He was name an All American while playing for Warriors in Hawaii.
Eric Fonoimoana, is a former Olympic gold medalist, former AVP MVP and a force in the world of beach volleyball. He attended the UC Santa Barbara where he played volleyball for the Gauchos. He currently is a real estate manager in Hermosa Beach, California. He earned approximately $1M over the course of playing beach volleyball. The man has everything and wanted to give back where it counted.
 |
| AL-B & Fonoi at a DIG 4 KIDS event |
Fonoi and I met, through JO, at the Invitational. That is also when I learned about DIG 4 KIDS. I met Al-B through one of my closest friends in the world, Renee Meeks (then Renee Powell) and her husband John Meeks. Renee and John are family to me, as much as my own brothers and sister are - so, when they introduced me to him, I was excited to meet him and hear all about being an AVP Player, a business man and a world traveler, but that isn't the only thing I learned. I found out he is a huge, huge (did I say HUGE) philanthropist.
These after school programs push kids past the barriers of inner city life. It helps show students the opportunities beyond the classroom and the courts. D4K gives hope and shelter to children who maybe trapped in a world of struggle. Being an inner city youth myself, finding solace in a sport helped put me in a better place, when times were hard. Many of us adults run to Central Park, the 6th Street Courts, Huntington, Hermosa, Manhattan Beach (depending on where you live) to escape, by playing a games; chatting with a few friends. DIG 4 KIDS affords these young people those chances and more earlier in life.
Please go to the website, http://www.dig4kids.org/ to learn more about the organization and see what they have done over the past few years.
These are two shining examples of how volleyball players have taken their passion of our sport and changed the nation, our communities.
WHAT WILL EMPIRE VOLLEYBALL CLUB DO?
Well, we don't know yet.
What we do know is that we will be asking you, our fans, followers and volleyball comrades to help us do it, in the coming New Year. If the Mayan calendar is right, and the human race is ending by this time in 2012, lets at least say, we left existence on this planet, fighting to make things BETTER, than worse.
Volleyball has given many of us a direction in life. This sport has improved many of our lives and driven many of our successes we possess today. How about we show the WORLD how, through volleyball, we can change and improve society!
Now, that is a resolution I'D LOVE TO KEEP...WANNA HELP?
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE...
ALL THE BEST TO YOU...
&
GOD BLESS!!!
from Empire Volleyball Club
No comments:
Post a Comment