Every summer since 1975, GVYC has run several free basketball tournaments at the famous West 4th Street Courts (aka “THE CAGE”) in Greenwich Village.

Each year, up to 200 at-risk youth from diverse backgrounds play in our league. This drug prevention program also provides opportunities for youth community-service employment. Our alumni, who include former NBA player Smush Parker, have gone on to success in many areas.

The young people we reach are not primarily from Greenwich Village. In fact, 90% of the youth in our tourneys for the past five years have been high-risk street-involved youth of color without many constructive alternatives during their otherwise idle summer hours.

We run three divisions of six teams each, with both boys’ and girls’ divisions, and welcome youth ages 15 through 17.

We are sponsored by local businesses who make this league possible.

Contact

For more information, or if you are interested in playing, volunteering or sponsoring a team, please contact:
Adam Lawdanski
Program Director
(646) 755-9752
adam.lawdanski@verizon.net

West 4th Street Summer Basketball League
“The Cage”
West 3rd Street and Sixth Avenue
New York, NY 10012

Get Involved

• Sponsor a team
• Volunteer as an assistant coach
• Donate money

Featured Profile

Justin White played in the West 4th Street league every summer he was eligible. He participated in a GVYC afterschool or summer program almost every day from the age of seven until graduating from ICE in 2006.

“In the most desperate times, when my home wasn’t the most optimal, GVYC provided a second home for me,” says Justin, now a senior sociology major and basketball player at Bard College. “GVYC provided a safe haven. I was able to really utilize its programs to stay off the streets.”

More than any specific program, it was executive director John Pettinato who really made the difference for him. “John’s ability and desire to impact kids’ lives is unparalleled to anyone I’ve been around,” says Justin. “He is very willing and able to accommodate each kid’s individual needs.”

Today Justin is planning a career that parallels his mentor’s. After traveling or playing professional basketball in Europe right after graduation, he plans to pursue a masters’ degree in teaching and eventually found his own charter school, one which will help students explore another culture during a gap year before college. He credits GVYC with helping him realize how useful he could be outside the classroom and providing him with direction.

“At the end of the day there’s a place in GVYC for just about every kind of person or kid growing up in New York,” says Justin. “That’s what makes it special, that very welcoming environment.”