GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — Five years ago, Green Bay East graduate Kyle Clousey started coaching football at Washington Middle School.
“Early on, we realized our kids were way behind,” Cropsey said.
problem? He says it's because kids in the Green Bay East system don't have access to youth sports.
“It's pretty expensive to play sports these days. Baseball alone is $175 per kid this year,” he said.
“There's a lot of poverty, especially in our community,” he added. “So our kids don’t have these opportunities like they do in suburban schools.”
Youth sports have become big business. According to a 2022 study from the Aspen Institute, American families collectively spend $30 billion to $40 billion annually on youth sports, with the average family spending nearly $900 on each child's primary sport. It is estimated that they are paying.
So Cropsey took action. Last January, he founded Rise Up Athletics, a nonprofit organization that helps Green Bay East and West student-athletes play for free to their families.
“We pay for everything. We pay the fees,” he said. Jerseys and equipment are available free of charge. He purchased a 12-passenger shuttle bus so he can take his kids to practice. ”
This is a first opportunity for many players, some of whom had never played baseball before Rise Up.
Xavier, an 8th grade student at Washington Junior High School, said, “To be honest, I had almost no experience with baseball.I had never played baseball before Rise Up, so I was able to start playing baseball with Rise Up.'' I'm happy,” he said. stand up. “
Olivia Ponce's son Isaac joined the Rise Up baseball team at Cropsey's urging.
Previously, she said they had never even considered this sport.
“This is the best thing ever,” Ponce said.
“We wouldn't have had the opportunity (to play baseball),” she added. “I don't think he even mentioned it. Or where should he register?”
Ponce said the program has benefited her family and others in her community.
“These kids need people like Coach Cropsey to get them involved in sports and keep them out of trouble. This is huge because without them they wouldn't be able to play all these sports. I think that's a big deal,” Ponce said.
“We couldn't afford that because we have other children,” she added.
Parents and players support Cropsey's mission.
“I believe what the coach stands for,” said Xavier, a catcher for the Rise Up baseball team. “And I think what he's doing is going to change the school environment around us, and it's going to change the more we continue to do it.” ”
“The more people we hire, the bigger the program will be,” he says.
Although the journey has just begun, Cropsey said the ultimate goal is to help restore athletic programs at Green Bay's inner-city schools.
And perhaps more importantly, change lives in the process.
“It's time to get that juice back. It's time for East and West to relate again,” Cropsey said.
“What we're building here is bigger than sports. It's about the whole community and just building families and kids.”
Rise Up raises money through both donations and partnerships with local businesses.
The organization currently offers football, basketball, wrestling, and baseball. Cropsey said they plan to add more sports in the near future, including volleyball and softball.
