Helping youth achieve their full potential: Brian Salkowski
By Brian Salkowski, Chief Operating Officer
Our Chief Operating Officer, Brian Salkowski, is raising money for Racquet Up, a non-profit organization very close to him that supports students to and through college, all with the help of squash!
Helping students in Detroit find a viable career.
Racquet Up (RU) provides an intensive, holistic and long-term youth development program with the purpose of helping the youth of Detroit achieve their full potential through a long-term, demanding and inspiring mentoring program of squash, academics, and community service.
Youth can join in the fifth grade and are supported through graduation from high school and college. Students are provided with significant academic support, world-class coaching in squash and a wide range of character-building activities.
There’s a commitment to attend RU at least three hours a day for three days a week, including equal parts academic enrichment and health and fitness activities.
As a squash player personally, I can say we are a small but active community.
I became familiar with RU at first through participating in local events where they had a presence at or were beneficiaries of. However, more recently, a friend on the RU board began chatting with me about getting personally involved.
From there, I had the opportunity to meet with RU’s Executive Director, Derek Aguirre, to learn more about the program, tour the facility and meet some of the kids.
The firsthand testimonials from existing and former students and parents speak volumes about the effectiveness of the program as well as the commitment of the RU team.
My first involvement was coincidentally with Guidant’s CEO Simon Blockley.
At a Motor City Open (a professional squash tournament and tour stop), Simon and I went in together on a 50/50 raffle that would benefit RU. And shockingly... We won! We ended up making it a 75/25 share, with RU having the greater advantage – the RU team were so appreciative, setting a path in motion for future involvement with the cause.
Initially, I gravitated towards RU because of my personal connection with squash, but in reality, it is so much more.
The combination of academic, athletic and character-focused activities that RU organizes has created a real impact on many lives. It is a real platform from which participants can grow and do more. As an easy example, in the past year, 100% of RU seniors graduated from high school and gained access to post-secondary education.
We are aiming towards a campaign target of $700,000 combined.
I am part of multiple fundraising teams that are all aiming to raise a minimum goal of $50,000 – preferably more! I am pleased to say my team just eclipsed the $50,000 mark and are eager to raise even more!
The drive concludes this Friday evening on the 5th of May and is critical to the ongoing operations of RU, and to maximize participation, there are matching funds that become available. However, any generosity is meaningful, always welcomed and deeply appreciated.
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