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Organization

Who We Are

StreetSquash was founded in September 1999 as a comprehensive youth enrichment program combining academic tutoring, squash instruction, community service, college and career awareness and preparation, leadership development, and mentoring for young people ages 11-24.

StreetSquash participants at the SL Green StreetSquash Center in Harlem

Our Mission

Dedicated to developing young people in Harlem, StreetSquash provides a transformative multi-year program centered on academic achievement, athletic excellence in squash and personal well being.

Our goals are to:

  • Improve academic performance through personalized academic enrichment and tutoring
  • Ensure all participants graduate from high school, access post-secondary opportunities, and persist through college
  • Foster healthy habits through a focus on physical and social-emotional well-being
  • Support ongoing personal and professional development through career awareness and readiness & mentorship and leadership development
  • Provide recreational and high performance squash instruction and competitive opportunities that promote discipline, resilience, and teamwork
  • Strengthen family engagement and build a supportive, connected community around each participant

History

StreetSquash was founded in September 1999 as the second urban squash program in the United States. A comprehensive youth enrichment program, StreetSquash combines academic tutoring, squash instruction, community service, college preparation, leadership development, and mentoring for young people ages 11-24. What began as an after-school program with 24 middle school students and 2 staff members has expanded to serve more than 400 participants from 5th grade through college graduation and entry into the workforce.

For the first nine years, StreetSquash ran programs all over New York City: study sessions and squash practices at Columbia University, the Harvard Club, and the Westside YMCA; college prep and literacy enrichment at Thurgood Marshall Academy; squash matches and cultural exposure all throughout the five boroughs.

Then, in November 2008, StreetSquash opened a permanent home at the SL Green StreetSquash Center with 8 ASB squash courts, 4 classrooms, a library, and the organization's administrative offices. This new facility allowed for the creation of the PE in Public Schools Program as well as a new relationship with Columbia University, as the home courts for their Men's and Women's Varsity Squash teams.

In 2012, StreetSquash expanded to Newark, New Jersey, to extend StreetSquash's model of long-term intensive support to children in Newark public schools. However, the Newark program was shut down following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The program was the first and only squash and education organization in the state. Daily sessions were run out of the Newark Y, the YMCA of Montclair, the Montclair Salvation Army, and Drew University.

Why Squash?

Founder George Polsky always says it could have been anything, but squash is the sport he plays. Squash is the hook to entice students to join the program. The real work is in the classroom, preparing students to succeed in college and as young adults who give back to their communities.

Board

30 people

  • Andrew Bahn

    Managing Director

    Millennium Management LLC

  • Nicholas Bienstock

    Co-Managing Partner

    Savanna

  • Steve Block

    Member, Trust & Estate Department

    BSK

  • Craig Broderick

    Chief Risk Officer, Retired

    Goldman Sachs

  • Monti Burnett

    Deputy Director, Investment Operations

    32BJ Benefit Funds

  • Richard Chin

    Head Squash Professional

    Harvard Club of New York

  • James Crandell

    Portfolio Manager

    LMR Partners

  • Carlos de Mello

    Managing Director

    Blackstone Credit and Insurance (BXCI)

  • Rakey Drammeh

    Solutions Engineer

    Pinterest

  • Benjamin Edmands

    Managing Partner

    Co-Founder Consonance Capital Partners

  • David Eun

    Co-Chairman, StreetSquash

    Co-Founder and CEO, Alakai Group

  • Rodd Evonsky – Treasurer

    Chief Financial Officer and Head of Operations

    Vista Credit Partners

  • Mike Ferreira

    Managing Partner

    Sprott, Inc.

  • Darren M. Fogel

    Managing Director

    Neuberger Berman

  • Susannah Gray

    EVP and CFO

    Royalty Pharma

  • Steve Green

    Chairman & CEO

    SL Green Realty

  • Xavier Harrison

    Search Director (Paid Search, SEO & Web Analytics)

    Greater Than One

  • Jeffrey Horwitz

    Senior Partner

    Proskauer Rose LLP

  • John Johnson

    Assistant Principal

    Thurgood Marshall Academy

  • Peter Kagan

    Managing Director

    Warburg Pincus

  • Ronald Kamdem

    Managing Director

    Morgan Stanley

  • Eric Kogan

    Senior Partner

    Clarion Capital Partners

  • Ben Lawrence

    Head of North America Capital Markets Origination

    Oak Hill Advisors

  • Tim Luke

    Managing Director

    Barclays

  • Eric Muller

    Co-Chairman, StreetSquash

    Partner, Oak Hill Advisors

  • Sonal Shah Parr, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine

    Weill-Cornell Medicine

  • Vivek Shah

    CEO

    Ziff Davis

  • Amarilis Soler

    Asst Vice President

    Acacia Network Housing

  • James Wyper

    Senior Managing Director

    Stonepeak

  • Jason Young

    Partner

    BlackBern Partners LLC

Junior Board

StreetSquash's Junior Board, started in 2008, is a group of young professionals who are committed to supporting StreetSquash and the children we serve.

Goals

Fundraising

Committee goal of raising 10% of StreetSquash's annual budget through individual and corporate donors.

Squash & Special Events

Plan and coordinate events to benefit StreetSquash.

Program Development

Support existing StreetSquash programs, and aid in the development of new programs with StreetSquash staff. Develop internship and summer opportunities for StreetSquash students and alumni.

Events

Soiree

The Junior Board Soiree is a cocktail party event that invites young professionals to mingle, enjoy food & cocktails, and learn more about StreetSquash's mission.

StreetSquash Cup

The StreetSquash Cup is the organization's largest annual fundraiser. The event brings professional and amateur squash players together to compete both on the squash court & in raising funds for the organization. The goal of the event each year is to raise $1 million for StreetSquash. The Junior Board team has a goal of raising $100,000.

Junior Board Executive Committee

  • Farran Brown

    Chair

    farranbrown470@gmail.com

  • Eliza Bower

    Chair

    elizabethbower16@gmail.com

  • Duncan Joyce

    Chair

    dmjoyce21@gmail.com

  • Mark Wishnia

    StreetSquash Manager of Communications, Junior Board Liaison

    mark@streetsquash.org

  • Alexis Contreras-Nelson

    StreetSquash Development Officer, Junior Board Liaison

    Alexis@StreetSquash.org

  • Andrew Winn

  • Elizabeth Peck

  • Campbell Goodman

  • Jocelyn Lehman

  • Patrick Noonan

  • Rick Burke

Never miss a Junior Board event

Join the Junior Board email list.

Alumni

Where Are They Now: Mawa Ballo

The StreetSquash alumni are an integral and expanding network among the StreetSquash community. Through the College Success program, our alumni stay connected with StreetSquash throughout their four years of college and beyond. While StreetSquash offers their alumni a range of resources and support, the StreetSquash family would not be complete without their alumni. From participating as volunteers, mentors, and even part-time and full-time staff, the alumni continue to give back to StreetSquash well after their high school graduations.

Caregivers

StreetSquash parents are critical to each child's progress in StreetSquash from middle school through college. From attending weekend practices, team outings, college seminars, and tournaments, parental involvement is essential to the StreetSquash model.

  • Anna Chang-Overton & Thomas Overton, Parents of Thomas Overton III, Class of 2025
    StreetSquash matured him. He got to travel, he got to meet a lot of new people, learn a lot of new things. It's not just the sport itself—everything that came with it worked for him and worked for us.
    Anna Chang-Overton & Thomas OvertonParents of Thomas Overton III, Class of 2025
  • Sandra Vargas, Mother of Gabriela Vargas, Class of 2025
    StreetSquash helped her understand what she was looking for. It was personal. It was one-on-one. They really gave her the attention she needed.
    Sandra VargasMother of Gabriela Vargas, Class of 2025
  • Shamika Anderson, Mother of Maurice Anderson, Class of 2025
    If I ever felt like I couldn't help Maurice, I knew I could always call StreetSquash and someone would support him with whatever he needed.
    Shamika AndersonMother of Maurice Anderson, Class of 2025
  • Lucia Leal, Mother of Janae Anguiano-Garcia, Class of 2025
    She surprised me. She used to be kind of lazy in general, but by the end, she had changed a lot. She said, 'If I'm in StreetSquash, I have responsibilities.'
    Lucia LealMother of Janae Anguiano-Garcia, Class of 2025

What Other Caregivers Say

  • I'm a very thankful and happy parent for having my child enrolled in the StreetSquash program. My son has grown so much as a student, player and teenager within it. However, the most notorious improvement was seen once he started receiving his tutoring sessions. I'm very thankful with his tutor. They have built a great student – tutor relationship.
    Silvia BeltranMother of Osiris '25
  • StreetSquash is such a great place where the kids are thriving. For me, the reason to be involved is that my kids are doing so well and I want to give back. StreetSquash is a safe place and they are great at keeping the kids active and involved.
    Sunita BudhirajaMother of Karan '18 and Kiran '17, Chair of Parents Board
  • I've always felt it is important to be involved where my kids are involved, and StreetSquash has proven to be an excellent program.
    Eileen GibsonMother of Ernesto '10, Aunt of Cameron '16
  • I love that StreetSquash helps a lot of children who would not have the opportunity to go to college. The program is excellent because it motivates kids to do something positive and give back. They learn all they can accomplish with hard work and the support of people behind them.
    Chandra Hicks-JamesMother of Justin '17, Secretary of Parents Board
  • The parents are warm and inviting. I have never been a part of a community like this before. It's been wonderful to find extra parenting support and networking opportunities.
    Karen ColesMother of Destnie '20

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