Number of Participants: 26
Hours Donated: 38
Value of Time Served: $8,349
Event Amount Raised: $250
Organization / Team: Great Neck North High School Unified Basketball team
Event Type: Sports & Recreation
Activity: Basketball
School: Great Neck North High School
Date: May 12, 2025
Location:
35 Polo Road
Great Neck, NY
USA
About:
The Great Neck North Unified Basketball Team Celebration on May 12th was the culmination of a journey that began over two years ago, when I was just a freshman. What started as a simple idea turned into something everyone wanted to be part of. This celebration was the moment it all came to together. 🏀💙
🎥 Watch the celebration and the community impact from our inaugural season here!
After watching a Unified Basketball tournament at Jericho high school, I was inspired to start a unified team at my high school. During 9th grade, I began to work with my school athletic director and a special education teacher to start a high school unified basketball team. A Unified Sports team brings together students with and without intellectual disabilities to train and compete against other high school unified teams. While in 10th grade, I worked successfully with school administrators to secure a $25,000 grant from New York State to fund our program for two years.
This Spring, after more than two years, my vision became a reality as our team competed in and completed its inaugural season. The players and coaches involved enjoyed the season so much that there will be a second season next year and expand to include other sports.
The Unified Basketball team provided a fun and meaningful experience for all the players, and I thought this kind of experience should be available at all Great Neck schools. I recently met with the principals of all nine school buildings within the Great Neck School District to encourage the creation of inclusive programs in their buildings. Every principle supported the idea, and I am now working with the North Middle School, John F. Kennady and Saddle Rock elementary schools to build their unified programing for this fall.
I also documented the inaugural basketball season by writing a newspaper article for the Great Neck North Guide Post print newspaper and helping to create a video news story for the Great Neck Public School TV.
This experience was inspirational and transformational for me and those who participated.
