[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 162 (Wednesday, October 26, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     RECOGNIZING THE FINALISTS OF THE UP2US COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD

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                         HON. BRIAN P. BILBRAY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 26, 2011

  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Up2Us--a leader 
in sports-based youth development--on the occasion of its annual awards 
ceremony for its Coach of the Year contest to be held here in 
Washington, D.C. As America's youth continue to be hit hard by the bad 
economic climate, it is encouraging to see an organization like Up2Us 
rise to the challenge.
  Up2Us is leading a national movement to advance sports as a tool for 
addressing the critical issues facing youth in this nation, including 
childhood obesity, academic failure and anti-social behavior. Up2Us 
supports a national network of nearly 500 member organizations in all 
50 states, serving 25 million youths through a plethora of sports.
  In order to help serve this vast network, Up2Us launched its ``Coach 
Across America'' initiative (CAA) which is an AmeriCorps program that 
is the first nationwide effort to mobilize a workforce to promote 
positive youth development through sports. In partnership with the 
Corporation for National and Community Service and Nike, CAA coaches 
use sports as a means to promote health and nutrition, education 
success, civic engagement and personal and social development among 
youth in some of the nation's poorest neighborhoods.
  Last year, CAA directed 250 AmeriCorps members to serve as coaches in 
105 youth programs across 20 states to work with more than 35,000 kids. 
In exchange for college tuition awards and a living stipend, coaches 
completed a total of 170,000 service hours, which is equivalent to $3.5 
million in national service. AmeriCorps recruited more than 1,000 
program volunteers, connected roughly 500 new parents to their 
respective programs and conducted more than 250 service-learning 
projects totaling 35,000 hours of youth volunteer service effort.
  The 35,000 kids served by CAA coaches have access to the programs 
they need for their full development. They are provided a safe place to 
acquire new knowledge and skills and gain a heightened sense of 
competency and self-respect through working to make a difference in 
their communities. They build relationships with caring adult role 
models, develop leadership skills on and off the field; and have a 
better understanding of healthy eating and the importance of physical 
activity and exercise. In recognition of the powerful role that coaches 
have on the lives of youth, Up2Us runs an annual ``Coach of the Year'' 
contest to honor the unsung heroes who devote their lives to the 
positive development of youth through sports.
  Mr. Speaker, as Up2Us and its participating members honor the winners 
of this year's Coach of the Year contest here in Washington, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in congratulating this year's finalists. They are 
among a distinguished group of individuals dedicated to improving the 
lives of our youth through sport. Two of the winners hail from San 
Diego, America's Finest City.
  Lisa Hawk is the Exercise & Health Science Department Chair, Athletic 
Director and lacrosse coach at the Preuss School at UCSD. The Preuss 
School is a nationally recognized school that serves a diverse, low-
income population. Lisa received her Master's degree from the 
University of Maryland, where she also served as a coach and 
administrator. Lisa is a proud advocate for sports as a tool for 
positive youth development and is changing lives through her work. Her 
athletes recognize how special Lisa is. ``She sees the potential in 
each of her players and does not quit until that spark she sees within 
us is released for the public eye to see,'' one of the athletes said. 
``She has helped me through the turbulence of a teenage life to the 
hectic lifestyle at home and has given me a comfortable place to go as 
well as someone to turn to.''
  Renato Paiva is the Executive Director of Access Youth Academy, a 
program designed around three pillars: academics, the sport of squash 
and community service. He joined Access Youth Academy in May of 2007 
from Harvard University where he was the Assistant Coach of the squash 
team. Originally from Brazil, Renato was a Brazilian Junior Champion 
and a top junior in South America. Renato graduated from Ruy Barbosa 
University with a business degree. Many of Renato's students submitted 
nominations with personal stories of how their lives have been changed. 
``Renato has completely transformed the lives of underprivileged inner 
city children in the San Diego area by teaching them the game of squash 
and getting them to excel in the sport, and in life,'' a grateful 
mentee said.
  In light of all the struggles today's youth face, it is time we 
recognize quiet heroes like Lisa and Renato as they help better the 
lives of thousands of individuals across the country. By encouraging 
programs like Up2Us and their Coach Across America initiative, we can 
help make the lives of many young Americans healthier and brighter.

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