"Focus Virgin Island youth through sports and fitness, giving them the confidence they need to set personal goals, achieve their aspirations and create opportunity for themselves, their family and their community."
NOW IN OUR 3RD YEAR!
click link above to read about our progress
Using Sport For Social Change
Beaverton, OR 97006
United States
ph: 503-532-6756
dean
OTHER USFSC NEWS
Other news regarding the "Using Sport For Social Change" inititative:
Tortola Surf Classic Essay Winners
April 2010
It is my pleasure to announce the essay contest winners for the Tortola Surf Classic! Each youth and they're chaperon have won an all expense paid trip that will include being taken to Tortola and back, entered into the surf contest, given free lunch and drinks along with some other great surprises!They are:John Carpenter, Age 17 St. Thomas
Lily Margo Francis, Age 9 St. John
Ericson Williams, Age 7 St. Thomas
Luke Patrie, Age 12 St. John
Ananda Hernandez, Age 9 St. John
Annie Ellis, Age 16 St. John
Xavier Trahan, Age 15 St. JohnOn behalf of the St. John Community Foundation, the St. John/St. Thomas Parks and Recs, Southland Gaming and USFSC; we congratulate all of you on writing some incredible essays! See you all on Tortola, BVI on April 23rd!!
The Tortola Surf Classic is organized and hosted by Island Surf And Sail
UPDATE:
The 2011 Tortola Surf Classic Winners:
Click the above picture to see a short video of the Tortola Surf ClassicResults:
Girls Groms -
1st Tiara Jones (BVI)
2nd Paulina Pasarell (PR)
3rd Lily Pierce (BVI)
Boys Groms -
1st Shaw Clements (USVI)
2nd Steven Hill (PR)
3rd Will...iam Richards (BVI)
Girls Open -
1st Savannah Geiger (USVI)
2nd Lily Pierce (BVI)
3rd Cassandra Bitterwolf (USVI)
Boys Open -
1st Trevor Jones (BVI)
2nd Cameron Waltham (BVI)
3rd Cody Merritt (USVI)
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTO'S FROM THE EVENT
September 2010
USFSC WINS COMMUNITY AWARD!
"Southland Gaming of the Virgin Islands has announced that Dean Doeling of Using Sport for Social Change is the fourth recipient of a $1,000 Community Award. The award was announced on October 1.Although Dean Doeling lives in Beaverton, Oregon and works for the Nike Corporation, he has made a profound impact on the children of St. John since establishing Using Sports for Social Change in June of 2008. A frequent vacationer to St. John, Mr. Doeling noticed the lack of sports equipment available to the children of St. John as well as the lack of recreational facilities. He decided to establish Using Sports for Social Change to provide the needed equipment and to develop and assist with sports and fitness programs for the St. John community.
In the last two years, Mr. Doeling has established strong relationships with the Department of Education, the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation, and the St. John Community Foundation in order to pursue his dream to "focus Virgin Islands youth through sports and fitness, giving them the confidence they need to set personal goals, achieve their aspirations and create opportunity for themselves, their family and their community." The result has been over one thousand pieces of sports equipment donated to the schools, parks and other local youth programs. In 2009, the first annual "Just Play Field Day" event was held for children from two to 18. The second "Just Play" event will be held on October 11, 2010.
In nominating her brother for the Community Award, Robin Doeling-Posen wrote, "Dean's latest efforts have been concentrating on finding new donors, volunteers and expanding this year's 'Just Play' event that is scheduled for Oct. 11th, 2010, to reach and touch the lives of over 200 kids this year! He truly is creating a lifetime of memories for these kids that no one else has ever dreamed of doing or ever bothered to carry thru!"
Congratulations to Dean Doeling, fourth recipient of Southland Gaming of the Virgin Islands' Community Award Program of $1,000!
USFSC DONATES NEW NIKE CLEATS TO ST. JOHN ORGANIZATIONS.
2/17/10
Thanks to a generous donation from Nike, 78 pairs of brand new Nike cleats are headed down to St. John, USVI! There are 58 pair of football cleats to be donated to the St. John Parks and Recs Department for their flag football program and 20 pair of metal baseball cleats donated to the Ruby Rutnik Memorial Softball tournament being held in March!
My Daughter Cameron helping me prepare the new Nike cleats for shipping.Click here for St. John Tradewinds article on cleat donation and "Just Play" event. (Page 13)
USFSC DONATES NEW NIKE SOFTBALL GLOVES!
April, 2009
Banner donated by Infinity Images, Portland Oregon"Using Sport For Social Change" donated 20 brand new Nike Softball gloves to Andrew Rutnik and his wife Janet, founders of the Ruby Rutnik Memorial Softball Tournament held in St. John every April.
The gloves were for younger players and will probably be used by the JV teams of Sprauve School, Antilles School, and Elmore Stoutt school.
The Ruby Rutnik Memorial Softball Tournament is the most successful girls softball tournament in the territory. Teams are invited from all the US Virgin Islands schools and even Tortola teams.
Funds are raised and scholarships awarded annually ( $70,000 over the last 12 years). They also fund improvements to the sports facilities; purchased and installed new scoreboard, paint and repair all structures on the Sprauve School field, and periodically do some grading and field work ($30,000) over the last couple of years.
The tournament is in early April of every year since 1996, and is always well received and supported by the community. It is called the Ruby Rutnik Memorial Softball Tournament, named after their late daughter who died in a tragic car accident in 1996. She was an all star pitcher for Antilles School and a born St Johnian, hence the reason for keeping the annual tournament.
Game re-cap:
There was a real battle to see who could topple the powerful Tortola team from Elmore Stoutt High School.
St John got the honors over Antllies school as the challenger in the championship game. It went right down to the wire with Tortola prevailing in the last inning, securing a 10 to 9 victory over the St John All Stars.
Great coverage by the Daily News Paper and TV 2, check there web site:
http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=17635069
USFSC DONATES NIKE SPORTS BALLS TO
ST. JOHN PARKS & REC.7/16/09
The “Using Sport For Social Change” “Island Team” was able to donate 60 Nike sports balls to St. John Parks and Recreation last week.
Hubert Moscoso, the Administrator of the Parks and Rec. Department graciously accepted the 20 basketballs, 20 footballs and 20 soccer balls on behalf of the Parks and Rec. Department.
“ This will help the Parks and Rec. Department in allowing more youth to play sports.” Said Moscoso. “Thank you very much!” Moscoso added.ST. JOHN PARKS & REC. DEPARTMENT GIVES UPDATE ON FACILITIES
7/16/09
“The Parks and Recreation Department has done much to improve our parks and facilities. Said Mr. Moscoso, Administrator of the Parks and Rec. Department, “Such as new lighting at Pine Peace Basketball court, along with a french drain to be added soon.” Moscoso said. “In addition”, he continued, “At the Recreation Center, ceiling tiles have been replaced, the bathroom has been remodeled and two more bathrooms have been added.” “Also”, Moscoso continued, “Six new ceiling fans are on site and soon to be installed, and the interior has been repainted. There is also a fully functioning computer and faxing lab now.”
Moscoso also said that upcoming projects include renovation of the Winston Wells ball field and National Park field.
BEAVERTON FAMILY DELIVERS THE GOODS!
7/16/09
A recent story that was run both on my website and in my newsletter asked for help in getting sports balls that I have collected down to St. John.
I recieved an email from a gentleman name Marc Franc:
“Dean, I just read about your efforts on a USVI web forum & wanted to offer my help to transport sports equipment to the kids of STJ. I’m
assuming you work at NIKE HQ in Beaverton. If that’s the case we’d be
glad to bring some of the equipment you have with us when my family &
I are vacationing there in June. I’m a former Nike employee of 15
years & we live in Beaverton. Let me know if you are interested & we
can work out the logistics.”
I thought “wow!” what a great idea this man has to be able to take the balls down himself as part as his luggage and hand them off to one of my team members on the island!
I emailed Franc right back and we spoke on the phone a few times to work out the logistics.
Marc told me that he and his wife Melanie had been to St. John once before, but they wanted to take thier kids: Mitchell (12 yrs old) and Maddison (15 yrs old) with them this time.
“My wife and I have agreed to take two large duffle bags down with us that we will stuff the soccer balls into.” Marc said. “We will also pay the extra baggage charge as our donation to Using Sport For Social Change.”
I thought to myself “I want to take them more balls than they can possibly fit into the duffles so that we can get as many balls down to the youth and community as possible.”
So, I took two large boxes of brand new Nike soccer balls over to Marc and Melanie’s house one morning. They were two of the most wonderful people and we talked for 20 minutes about St. John and the love that we have for the island.
I then pulled the boxes out of my car and said “give me a call if you can’t fit them all in and I will come get the extras.”
I then got an email and picture from Marc, of all 47 soccerballs stuffed into the two large duffle bags:
Marc writes- “From this picture (shown above) it may not look like it, but, we managed to squeeze all 47 soccer balls for the STJ kids into 2 duffle bags. I’m sure the TSA folks at the airport will be scratching their heads when these bags go through the scanner...”
A few weeks later, I recieved a picture and a note from Marc saying that he and his family met up with locals Luigi Costello (in white hat) part of my “Island Team”, and his son Luca (blue shirt) to deliver the balls. Marc and Melanie’s son Mitchell (in green and their daughter Maddison (in grey) possed for this “Handoff” photo in front of the villa that they were staying at.
It never ceases to amaze me how wonderful things can happen with so little effort. It just takes a fresh perspective and an email to get things going. Many thanks to the Francs for litteraly getting the ball “rolling”.
(note: There are still many boxes of balls in my possesion that need to get to the youth and community of St. John. How can you help?)
Got an idea for a story?
Contact us today!
If you have a story about St. John that pertains to youth in sports, please contact us by clicking on this link.
USFSC DONATES NIKE BALLS TO LOCAL ST. JOHN USVI SCHOOLS & PARKS & RECS.
After the successful 2nd Annual "Just Play" event, I took some time to visit the schools on St. John and introduced myself. I met with some of the dedicated staff and spoke to them about my initiative to help the youth and community of St. John through sports and fitness.
I was also able to donate to each school and the Parks and Recs Department, 10 Nike sports balls of various types. Below are pictures from some of the schools.
I applaud the efforts of the teachers and staff and all they do for the youth of St. John.
St. John Christian Academy
St. John Montessori School
Guy H. Benjamin School
USFSC DONATES SPORTS BALLS TO ST. JOHN SCHOOLS
6/8/09
On Friday, June 5th, a sports banquet was held in St. John, at the JESS School in Cruze Bay.
Students from 3 St. John Schools were recognized for their participation in sporting programs and awards were given. 
Kristen Cox of USFSC hands out donated balls at the St. John sports banquet.
This banquet highlighted the positive side of the sporting programs on St. John, in lieu of the recent cancellations of sporting programs on St. Thomas.
The “Using Sport For Social Change”, St. John group was in attendance and distributed sporting balls to the 3 schools present.
“The intent of this group is to assist any sporting programs that are all ready in place and to donate sporting equipment to them and the St. John schools.” Said Luigi Costello in a media release. To date there have been over 230 sporting balls shipped to St. John and more are on there way.
TEENS RAISE FUNDS FOR USFSC
Two very resourceful teens from Ursuline Academy in Willmington, Delaware, held two bake sales to raise money for Using Sport For Social Change. Betsy Carter and Lindsey Romano (From left to right) were able to raise $65.00 in their efforts. That money was then used to ship 10 balls to the youth and community of St. John. Specifically, 10 new Nike basketballs and some Nike giveaway items were shipped to the St. John Community Foundation, where they were then given to Charleston Charles, better known as “Deuce” who runs a basketball clinic for kids on island.
Betsy, who vacations often with her family in St. John contacted me through my website to offer her help in any way that she could. She decided to do a bake sale with Lindsay. The first bake sale was so succesful that they they ran out of goodies. They both decided to hold a second one and the rest is history!
I was also able to send them a “sports package” which they will be raffling off at a camp at the end of June. It just goes to show how easy it is for anyone to help. Thank you Betsy and Lindsay!
TEENS RAISE FUNDS FOR USFSC
-UPDATE- This is an update to last months article about two very resourceful teens from Ursuline Academy in Willmington, Delaware that previously raised $65.00 for this initiative.
Betsy Carter and Lindsey Romano (From left to right) were able to raise an additional $140.00 from a raffle they held at the Ursuline Basketball Camp held last month.
“Thanks for sending us the awesome Nike equipment for our raffle.” wrote Betsy, “It was heavily admired by all of the girls at the camp!”
The additional money will be used to ship more Nike product down to the existing sports and fitness groups on island.
A big “thank you” to Betsy and Lindsey for their added efforts to help the youth and community of St. John.
(note: If you have a fundraising idea for USFSC, that can help raise money for this initiative, please write to me at: dean.doeling@nike.com)
USFSC FACEBOOK GROUP LAUNCHED!
Calling all Facebook friends! Please join the Using Sport For Social Change group just launched on Facebook:
Click here to be taken directly to the group.
If you don't have a Facebook account, it takes only a few seconds to join.
Have fun!
Using Sport For Social Change
Beaverton, OR 97006
United States
ph: 503-532-6756
dean
