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FOCA Board Transition Announcement From Out-going President

By in FOCA Board

Dear Friends,

I am excited to share that as Roberta Goto and I step down on June 30th as FOCA Secretary and President respectively that we have a skilled and robust group of new and returning board members. To date these include:

Offering important continuity is Sean McDonnell returning as Treasurer

I’ll also extend tremendous appreciation for the contributions of At-large board members stepping down: Roxann Hymon, Gary Dougherty, Joe Avin, and Alice Heller.

There are still board openings – as well as many other ways to contribute so keep an eye out for further announcements – and please be in touch if you, or someone you know, may be interested in joining our efforts. I can assure you that the rewards gained from this volunteer endeavor will consistently exceed any seeming loss of family time, sleep, brain band-width etc…!

For me the past 5 years have been wonderfully full.…full of: inspiration from the friendships, satisfaction as we maintained a FOCA 18-year tradition supporting coaches and teams, learning as we improved our internal systems, curiosity as we explored and advanced many collaborations, and… challenges especially as we all grapple within a society/city still sorting out how to shift old school thinking about sports to a better integrated vision of athletics as an educative process for developing strong social competencies. Achieving this with greater consistency is one important goal that relies on broader engagement of families, school staff and the community. To that end FOCA events and activities will continue to serve as a significant support.

Though ‘aging out’ of this parent volunteer role while making way for new leaders I welcome your suggestion and participation in this important period of FOCA transition. Of course also feel free to contact Kevin and Nadia. You can also refresh your familiarity with FOCA by visiting our website.

In the spirit of learning and community,

Larry

Larry Childs, President

Friends of Cambridge Athletics

www.friendsofcambridgeathletics.org

Join/Support the 31st Annual Cambridge City Run/Henrietta’s Walk on April 2nd

By in Athletes, Coaches, Families, Fundraising Event

Marathon Sports Cambridge City Run, Danehy Park CourseJoin/Support the 31st Annual Cambridge City Run/Henrietta’s Walk on April 2nd – Please consider attending/supporting this Friends of Cambridge Athletics-coordinated event which attracts hundreds of runners/walkers from Cambridge, surrounding communities and CRLS sports teams.  CRLS Athletes through FOCA are the lead beneficiaries with proceeds supporting student scholarships and the needs of athletic teams. The City of Cambridge Recreation and Athletics Departments as well as Marathon Sports are co-sponsors. The Andrea Harvey Fund is another co-sponsor with some proceeds supporting their senior scholarships awards program and domestic violence awareness (Andrea was a CRLS graduate and East Boston High teacher). Notable changes this year are in the venue as it takes place at Danehy Park rather than Fresh Pond and the distance: It is 5k rather than 5 miles. To run, walk, volunteer and/or donate see information below. Click ‘Racewire’ and/or ‘Donate’ icons. Address questions about group discounts, sponsoring, or volunteering to: focacityrundirector@gmail.com!

Annual  Cambridge 5km City Run/ Walk
For our 31st year, a new Course and Distance: 5K in Danehy Park in Cambridge
The Cambridge City Run is only 1 month away! This flat, fast, 5k run & 5k walk course is on the picturesque foot paths of Danehy Park. Hurry, race t-shirts to first 500 only! Race Fee: $30, Students: $20, Under-18 free (Day-of: $40 / $25)
Proceeds fund college scholarships for CRLS student athletes, and the Andrea Harvey Fund to provide scholarships and raise awareness for domestic violence.
 Where?
Danehy Park, New Street, Cambridge
parking off street at lots on New Street, Blanchard Rd and Field Street
When?
April 2nd. Arrive starting at 8:30. Race starts promptly at 10:30am
Sponsored by Friends of Cambridge Athletics, the City of Cambridge and Marathon Sports

FOCA Winter Serve-a-thon and Fund Raiser

By in Athletes, Coaches, Families, Fundraising Event

nevillefootballservice-9-17-16-2After a successful conversion of the fall FOCA Walk-a-thon to Serv-a-thon, FOCA is coordinating a similar CRLS Winter Sports Teams Serv-a-thon. By sponsoring an athlete, donors help teams and FOCA raise additional funds required to meet important supplemental needs falling outside of the current school department budget. Meanwhile the athletes provide valuable services to our community, build relationships within the team and earn community service hours required for graduation. Some projects include coaching elementary school age youth during their respective after school and weekend programs, visiting elderly, and clean-up/maintenance of Danehy Park, Fresh Pond and Alewife Reservation. To donate one can respond to individual athletes as they seek support, hit the ‘Donate’ button on the FOCA website (note Serva-a-thon and team in the note section), or contact Larry Childs lchilds@comcast.net for further information.

winterserveathonfocainfosheet2016

SAVE-THE- DATE Winter Social January 28, 2017

By in Coaches, Families, Fundraising Event

cambridge-rl-2FOCA Winter Social
Date: January 28, 2017
Time: 5:00 – 7:30 PM
Location: Home of Martha and Tom Sieniewicz in Cambridgeport
What to expect: Good company, variety of beverages, heavy hors d’oeuvres, raffle, very brief speechifying
Reason: 1) Connect with other current and prospective CRLS parents, community members and CRLS staff also enthusiastic about the role of athletics in CPS education; 2) Raise money for CRLS athletics
 
To sign up: Keep eyes peeled for the Eventbrite coming soon….
 
FOCA is the CRLS booster club which raises supplemental funds for teams, advocates for expanded athletic opportunities, issues college scholarships, and connects parents more deeply to the mission and life of the school. A more robust school athletics program and fit students foster better academic outcomes and increased social competencies

CRLS Athletes Team Up for a Sunday Morning ‘Serve-a-Thon’

By in Athletes, Families, Fundraising Event, Volunteers

The Friends of Cambridge Athletics (FOCA) annual ‘Walk-a-thon’ fund raiser was transformed this year into what all experienced as a more meaningful ‘Walk & Serve-a-Thon’. Over 350 athletes and coaches representing all fall CRLS athletics programs gathered Sunday morning at the Fresh Pond Water Treatment Facility. After mingling and turning in pledge sheets to eager parent volunteers, the athletes fanned out across the western and northern ends of the city lead by staff/volunteers, coaches and their team captains.

A majority of the Serve-a-Thon work was to assist in the cleanup of open space areas which are frequently used by the Teams and the community.  Clean-up occurred at the Alewife Brook Reservation by the Crew and Sailing Teams, at Russell and Rindge Fields by the Football Team and at Danehy Park by the Soccer, Volley Ball and Fencing Teams, where the Park was strewn with litter because of  a windy Danehy Park Day on Saturday. Other Serve-a-thon efforts included the Cross Country Team assisting with a road race in Central Square, the Novice Crew Team spreading mulch from Glacken Field to Fresh Pond, and the Golf Team assisting with maintenance at the Fresh Pond Golf Club.

One highlight of the Serve-a-thon was a small group of football players practicing open field tackling techniques with the seniors at Neville Center.  Another was extracted items from the Alewife Brook Reservation such as a DVD player and sofa (which seem to go together rather well). The athletes also found so many coffee cups found that they discussed the idea of an appeal to vendors to encourage the elimination of the use of Styrofoam cups and to take action to discourage littering.

Aside from providing needed service to area parks and facilities, the athletes and coaches embraced what could be a new norm and culture in which CRLS teams come together not only for camaraderie,  fitness and competition, but also to benefit the our community in addition to having a great deal of fun.

FOCA Walk & Serve-A-Thon

By in Athletes, Coaches, Families, Fundraising Event

Cambridge Rindge & Latin School – Fall Sports Teams
September 18, 2016 @ 9:00AM – Convening Location: Fresh Pond Water Department
 
On Sunday all Fall CRLS athletes and their coaches will participate in the FOCA coordinated “Walk & Serve-a-Thon”. This former annual Walk-a-thon fund raiser around Fresh Pond has transformed to a more meaningful youth service event. Convening first at the Fresh Pond water treatment facility athletes then walk towards their team designated west and north Cambridge service project destinations. Projects include maintenance within the Fresh Pond Reservation and Fresh Pond Golf Club House, visiting elderly at Neville Manner and clean-ups at Danehy Park, Rindge Field, Russell Field area, and the Alewife Reservation. For more information contact Pamela Thilo: pamela.thilo@gmail.com. Donations are made by sponsoring individual athletes (they have sponsor sheets).
Download Plan:

Walkathon Information for Families

By in Families, Fundraising Event

photo2Dear Parents of CRLS Athletes,

FOCA (Friends of Cambridge Athletics) is organizing the Fall Fundraiser-a Walkathon at Fresh Pond. Funds raised support Falcons teams in various ways-purchase of trophies awarded at the end of each season, scholarships for graduating seniors, grants for teams and more. The majority of the funds that student-athletes raise go directly into their team accounts, and we hope that your student-athlete has been working on getting pledges to support her/his team! Read More…

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