Meet Brad Ross. Brad was one of the first athletes I met 15 years ago! Brad is a track athlete and a basketball skills player.
Anyone who really knows me, knows that I have had a love affair with this organization since the first moment I met Brad and the other athletes from the track program. Since 1995, I have served many roles on the Management Team. I served 5 years as the fundraiser, 7 years as the program director responsible for creating new programs, and I now serve as the Area Director and have been the AD for about 3 years.
During my tenure as Fundraising Coordinator, I established the "Race at the Ridge", a 5K race that eventually turned into a 20 mile race. During the 4 years that we held this event, we raised about $75,000 for the athletes of Baltimore County. After my fundraising stint, I wanted new challenge, so I became the New Sports Program Director (a title I made up ;-))
During the time I was the Program Director, we re-introduced aquatics, fought very hard to establish Cheerleading not only on at the county level, but statewide as well. I am very proud to report that with the hard work and dedication of Anna Dziewanowski and her cheerleading staff, we currently offer Cheerleading as a Statewide event.
About 4 years ago we started a Softball program. My husband and my sons participate on the Softball team. This Fall, we re-introduced our cycling program. In total, 93 athletes have taken part in these programs.
Currently I serve as the Area Director and I plan to be in this position for a long time. I am extremely proud to say every single member of my immediate family was or currently is a head coach. I haven’t limited the passion for SO to my immediate family either, we have recruited several of our friends and co-workers to either coach or volunteer. I am proud to say that through my family’s affiliation with SO, we have recruited at least 30 people to become volunteers.
To sum it up, in my heart, there is no other organization that makes you feel the pride you feel from watching your own children grow and develop, than the athletes from SO. The expression I like to use to describe the experience of being a coach is “Food for your Soul”.
Please donate whatever you can afford. Thank you and I sincerely appreciate your generosity! Remember that all of the funds we receive directly impact the athletes of Baltimore County! We pay for uniforms, new programs, equipment and travel expenses so our athletes can participate on the National stage.
Thank you for your time and money, you will not regret your hard earned dollars going to this worth organization.