Rising Stars New York City Grassroots 2023 Summer Continues As Among Its Strongest Showing Ever

We asked Rising Stars President and Founder Paul Savramis why the Rising Stars teams’ successes this summer are so important to him. 

 

Q: You have described the summer of 2023 as one of the most successful in 26 years. To what do you attribute that? 

 

Paul Savramis: Our team's overall success continues to amaze me, but it's the effort made by our youngest team programs that are making all the difference. That success is a huge part of our overall team-building philosophy. 

 

Q: You mention overall team-building philosophy; how young are the youngest Rising Stars, and at what age do you begin competitive play? 

 

Paul Savramis: Rising Stars' overall programs begin as a developmental K-3 co-ed program called Little Stars. The game of basketball is introduced to our "Youngest Stars" by sharing general recreational activities together and just having fun by playing no-pressure games. That naturally leads them to segue into more competitive basketball. Our emphasis remains on making sure that they enjoy themselves and that their first experience is always a great one. 

Paul Savramis Discusses Upcoming Athens Trip

Rising Stars founder Paul Savramis has encouraged coach James McCullough and his 15U Rising Stars to follow the dream of traveling to Greece throughout the year. Coach McCullough has developed a unique bond with this team since he began playing with Rising Stars in 4th grade. The opportunity of expanding the team experience through cultural exchange and competition in Greece was a dream that has come true. 

 

Coming up on July 19th, the team will be going to Athens. 

 

This trip has been over a year in planning, stated Savramis, and was completely self-funded by the families. Paul Savramis adds, "Cultural exchange and being part of a team that can experience new challenges and opportunities together is a life-changing event." Paul Savramis has been and continues to be a huge proponent of travel, whether local, national, or international. 

Paul Savramis Proud To Announce Rising Stars’ Continuing Support of The Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation Basketball Events and Events Founder Gordon Thomas

May 19th saw the 13th Annual Alzheimer's Allstars 3-point Shootout and Dunk contest presented by Founder Gordon Thomas to raise funds for the Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation and to create awareness of the disease, and Rising Stars’ Paul Savramis was proud to be there. 

 

Said Paul Savramis, “This event, and any other that Gordon Thomas puts together, is one that I will never miss. Gordon is amazing in his dedication and how much time, energy, and personal resources he puts into everything he does.” 

 

Paul Savramis has seen firsthand what these events do to create awareness for Alzheimer's. He has participated in an Alzheimer's Sensitivity Day where volunteers are shown what it's like to have and to live with Alzheimer's, and he has seen the effect that day had on the Rising Stars families that attended. 

A Beautiful Soul And The Heart of Rising Stars Remembered

Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis Remembers Althea Williams 

 

Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis has experienced a great deal at the helm of the program he began 26 years ago. On any given day, he can share a moment that brings a smile or reason to feel good about the future. He is thankful for that. 

 

But today, Savramis can only think back with incredible sadness and loss on the passing of the one person he credits as being the driving force behind his work and his inspiration for creating Rising Stars. 

 

That person was Althea Williams. 

 

Savramis finds it difficult to articulate any memories of Althea. The emotions take over and the words fall short.“I learned so much from Althea that it's impossible for me to know where to begin!” 

Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis shares this month's Rising Stars Youth Foundation Newsletter

Savramis shares the best with exclamation points and an emphasis on areas that are very special to him. 

 

When asked why this newsletter stood out as being special, founder Paul Savramis said, "Our monthly newsletters report on regular program highlights for the foundation, including tournament results and community events. We also like to include any college commitments made by our scholar athletes, especially from boys and girls that have been a part of the program since 3rd grade. But this month's newsletter was very special for me, " continued Paul Savramis. 

Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis Embraces The Chance To Go Back To His Roots

"The Rising Stars Foundation has always seen travel as an invaluable teaching tool for its teams," states founder Paul Savramis. "We have always tried to include new areas every year for our families to experience in addition to playing in local leagues." 

 

So when Rising Stars veteran and former college coach James McCullough came to Paul Savramis with the idea of bringing his international travel initiative in Greece under the Rising Stars umbrella, Savramis was quick to say yes! 

 

Paul Savramis explains that James knew that he had brought teams to Europe over an eight-year period and that they were very happy with the results and the success of the program. What he didn't know was that Paul Savramis was born in Greece and would like nothing more than to get back there with basketball in tow. 

Paul Savramis Praises Hearts And Hoops

Rising Stars Youth Foundation heralds the holiday season with its annual Hearts & Hoops drive Wednesday, December 14th at The Holy Child Academy in Old Westbury, NY. 

 

The annual event was a resounding success, and Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis had special praise for the 48 Rising Stars student athletes that worked throughout the evening to make over 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the needy.  

 

Said Paul Savramis, "Rising Stars is focused on positively impacting family and community through their foundation and this was totally a Rising Stars family affair! The Rising Stars athletes and many of their parents worked well together to get the sandwiches made, packaged, and delivered to three destinations.” Paul Savramis added, "This event was meaningful for us in many ways, and one of them was seeing our new director of education and community outreach jumping right in and hitting this event right out of the park!” 

 

Savramis was referring to Rising Stars’ newest director Mikaela Kelly, a psychology and counseling major that replaced Emily Ades after seven years. 

 

“It was wonderful to see the families all chipping in to help feed the needy” said Mikaela Kelly. "I heard how Emily (now the director of the Kin Foundation) was so incredible in putting these events together and I just hoped to do my best in continuing that tradition of community spirit and fellowship." 

 

"That she did and more,” praised Paul Savramis. “We were all very anxious when Emily moved on to direct the Kin Foundation, as she was the heart of our outreach programs. But we were beyond blessed to find Mikaela.” 

 

Mikaela Kelly (second from left) with her father, sister, and brother-in-law

Mikaela was not alone in her first time at bat as she made the event a family effort. Malachy "Mac" Kelly, her younger brother, is a Rising Stars scholar and is currently a standout player at The Hun School in Princeton, NJ.  

 

Mikaela’s father, sister, and brother-in-law were also at the event to help accomplish the mission. Mikaela and her dad delivered the 1,500 sandwiches to three grateful “soup kitchens.” These were The Long Beach Soup Kitchen, The Terena Williams House in Hempstead NY, and The South Baptist Hempstead Church, also in Hempstead, NY. 

 

It was a great evening for all and the perfect way to begin where Emily left off, said Paul Savramis. 

 

Rising Stars will host many more community events for charity under Mikaela as part of the holistic process to improve the arc of their student athletes’ lives.