Algonquin Sports for Kids

In 1998 three young Western New York residents invested in their hometown by declining out-of-state job offers and forming Algonquin Studios, Inc. They had no physical location and $500 dollars in the bank. Today, these gentlemen share ownership in 5 Buffalo based companies with almost 100 employees and five million dollars in annual sales. Since 2001, they have contributed over $100,000 in cash to other organizations (and thousands more “in-kind” work and volunteer time) that assist children and other less fortunate people regardless of age, race, gender or faith.

In 2005, Algonquin Studios, Inc, along with Buffalo Niagara Soccer (now Buffalo United Soccer) developed and ran eight (8) soccer clinics over a four week period. The clinics were held at the Johnny B. Wiley sports complex on Best Street (the geographical midpoint of the City of Buffalo) during the months of July and August. The goal of the clinics was to gauge the level of interest in a sport with little or no presence in the central and eastern portions of the city. Expectations were that a few dozen children would show up. By the end of the eighth session, more than one hundred and fifty (150) children between the ages of 4 and 12 participated and hopeful seeds were sown to begin the long term development of a strategy to bring this sport and all of its benefits to a targeted group of children.

Historically, youth sports programs have developed successfully in the Western New York market when there is a presence of a strong volunteer network (family and friends) and sufficient amounts of money to provide the basic needs of the organization. As the towns of Amherst, Clarence, Tonawanda and Hamburg have shown, this usually happens in the first ring suburbs where parents and income are readily (if not easily) available. Over 40,000 children participate in youth soccer programs in WNY. Virtually none of those children live on the east or lower west side of Buffalo.

Some of this is due to the fact that soccer is not a core community activity, where football and basketball have long been the staple youth sports programs. Many of these have in fact led to the development of a few long tenured organizations designed to provide volunteer support and financing to those activities. Unfortunately, participation is limited and geared mostly to boys.

The soccer clinics revealed a significant interest by children in the sport of soccer and highlighted problems that needed time to understand and resolve. It was evident that parent participation was sparse. Successful programs in the first ring suburbs are successful because of the presence of volunteers (mostly parents) to effectively run the programs. Parents coach, referee, maintain fields and provide transportation among dozens of other vital tasks. In addition, many of those programs have a few “paid” positions that result in at least one individual dedicated to the administrative needs of the organization. Of course, this requires a dedicated source of revenue that is hard to develop in an already struggling community.

In 2007 Algonquin Studios, Inc decided to pursue a dedicated approach to the development of youth sports programs in the City of Buffalo.

Step one was creating the position of Director of Community Initiatives (DCI). This position was immediately offered to Tom Garigen, the director of coaching for the largest premier soccer club in WNY. Tom has a proven track record developing and administering youth soccer programs. Tom’s acceptance of the position is a tremendous initial win for the program. Since joining in April of 2007, Tom has been researching existing programs around the country and developing the blueprint for the first programs to be offered by the organization under the banner of Buffalo Soccer Club.

Step two was to form a not-for-profit organization and assemble a board of directors that would achieve of the goals of the organization. That organization, Algonquin Sports Inc. (Algonquin Sports for Kids) has been formed and the board consists of Stephen Kiernan (CEO, Algonquin Studios), L. Nathan Hare (CEO/Executive Director of Community Action Organization), Peter Amos (Head Coach Rochester Rhino’s Woman’s Professional Team) and Daniel Suhr, (CPA, Szymkowiak & Associates).

We are finalizing the appointment of a local attorney to serve as secretary and neither the secretary or treasurer position will be filled by an individual who has children involved in the organization in order to avoid any issues of bias.

The final step will be to develop sources of revenue for the programs. Algonquin Studios is currently supporting the position of DCI within Algonquin Studios and will continue to support Tom when he fills the role of Executive Director inside Algonquin Sports, Inc. Algonquin Sports, Inc. will be pursuing grant money from regional and national soccer organizations, local business and government leaders and Foundations. In addition, all programs developed will be priced at “break even” prices with hardship requests expected to be a predictable occurrence.