At Anna Maria College, the kids worked on skills and drills with the team on the college court, went on a tour of the facility and had lunch with the basketball team. At Holy Cross, the team was able to see a live Division 1 game against Boston University. The team’s attendance was announced at the game. Avery Cerow and Navin Cruz, two high school seniors and longtime members of the club, also attended this trip for college tours, as both are being recruited for men’s basketball teams at Anna Maria College.
The Jaffarian Youth in Motion Fund was used to purchase tickets to the game and treat the kids to a meal. It was a very well rounded, exciting experience for the kids.
Haverhill Hoops is comprised of two teams: one with players 11 and younger, and the other 12 years old and older. In order to be on the team, players must attend tryouts and be invited to join.
Javier Bristol, an alumnus of Anna Maria College, coach for the 12U Haverhill Hoops basketball team and Board Member at the Club, commented on this fun outing. “Having the kids visit these two colleges was a great experience to tie in with our AAU Program,” said Bristol. “Many of these kids have hopes of playing college ball and having that exposure to practicing at a college and seeing ball played at a high level will incent them to continue to pursue their goals to attend college.”
The Jaffarian Youth in Motion Fund is a charitable program that enables local youth in need to participate in sports and activities that provide structure and discipline, teach sportsmanship and, ultimately, promote a healthy, active lifestyle. It was formed to address the clear need of making funds readily available to local youth so they can participate in activities in which they otherwise might not have the means to take part. For example, the funds are used to provide needed sportswear and equipment to play basketball, field hockey, participate in swim teams and go to summer camps. The Youth in Motion Fund focuses on the Boys & Girls Clubs of Haverhill and Lawrence since they are in an ideal position to identify needs and allocate funds directly to their members.
This effort continues Jaffarian Volvo Toyota’s legacy of helping youth in Merrimack Valley participate in a variety of sports and exercise programs. The Jaffarian family has long had a passion for and commitment to giving back to the community in the area of youth sports. Over the years, the dealership has sponsored numerous sports teams, helped Haverhill High build a weight room, raised $50,000+ to offset the costs of participating in high school sports, and brought busloads of local kids to Celtics and Red Sox games.