Invest in Her: Why Mentorship and Basketball for Girls Can Change Everything
In the heart of every girl is a quiet question: Am I enough?
In underserved communities, that question too often goes unanswered—or worse, answered by streets, screens, or silence. That’s why we’re building more than basketball teams. We’re building bridges to identity, purpose, and healing through mentorship and sisterhood.
The numbers are clear:
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1 in 3 teenage girls struggles with depression.
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70% of girls drop out of sports by 13, twice the rate of boys.
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Only 24% of girls aged 6–17 meet physical activity guidelines.
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Yet girls in sports are three times more likely to graduate and more likely to hold leadership positions later in life.
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Mentored girls are 81% more likely to take on leadership roles and more likely to resist peer pressure and avoid self-harm.
But behind every number, there’s a name.
Like Alana, who came to her first basketball practice angry and silent. Her mom was in rehab, her dad in prison. She didn’t trust anyone—until a mentor sat beside her, not to fix her, but to see her. Over the season, the ball became her voice, the court her sanctuary. She started opening up, showing up, and finally… dreaming again. She's now the first in her family to make the honor roll.
Or Kiara, who struggled with body image and bullying. Through basketball and mentorship, she discovered her strength—not just physical, but emotional. Her mentor helped her rewrite the lies she believed about herself. Now she’s mentoring younger girls, breaking the cycle.
This is what happens when girls are given space to sweat, to speak, to be seen.
Basketball gives them a team. Mentorship gives them a future.
We’re not just teaching layups—we’re teaching leadership. We’re not just building athletes—we’re building advocates. When girls are surrounded by mentors who remind them, “You are worthy, you are powerful, and God has a plan for you,” they rise.
You have a chance to invest not just in a program, but in her purpose.
Because when one girl believes in herself—everything changes.
And when she knows you believe in her too?
There’s nothing she can’t do.
For many years, we focused most of our energy on the children of our community. This changed when a 17 year old young man murdered his lifelong friend of the same age. We knew both boys when they were 10. Sadly, they gravitated towards a dangerous crowd. After performing a heartbreaking funeral, I felt the Lord say: "They're still your kids." That year we began our 18 and under basketball league which focuses on engaging the disconnected youth of our borough, those without a High School education, low literacy and few job prospects.
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High School Girls Team
Barclays Center Championships
Many of our players dream of playing in the NBA. Sadly, most of them won't be able too.
But ...
What if our players could play at an NBA stadium surrounded by freinds, family and fans!
Our Championship Finals are held at BARCLAYS CENTER in Brooklyn, where the Brooklyn Nets PLAY.
It has been a great joy to see the dreams of so many of our youth come true as they battle for the 5 Borough Championship in one of the most famous venues on earth!
As Urban Hope sponsors Staten Islands's league and the 5 borough invitational, we have earned great capacity to enrich and encourage hundreds of young men and women throughout our city.
At our Staten Island Championships and 5 borough Championships, our Players hear the Gospel from our beloved Founder Pastor Dave Beidel and other famous NYC evangelists.
Their families and friends get to see how the people of God do whatever it takes to see the next generation blessed, uplifted and inspired.
Together can we make a difference.
We need your help.
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We need volunteers
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We need financial and visionary partners to help us reach the next generation.
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We need your prayers.
Contact us today - we can't do this without you!!
We started with disconnected youth who have No Education, No Job or opportunities to get a job, No Hope to start a new life and have low literacy skills, which hinders them from achieving anything in life.
Now they are working together as a highly successful team, mentored by highly successful organizations to get a job and start a new life and the opportunity to earn a degree in whatever field they choose by one of the countries' top colleges.
This is why we call it a Miracle!!
