Steve’s Club National Program - “State of the Union!”

This has been a busy year for the Steve’s Club National Program. We’ve had some successes we’re immensely proud of – and we’re excited for more progress to come in 2012!

The Steve’s Club Mission, and that of our participating members, is to “provide a national network of programs through which at-risk or underserved youth of any socioeconomic background can join in the CrossFit Community at a reduced, low or no cost structure."

Steve’s Club started in Camden, NJ in 2007 (see our history here)

In September 2010, Lee Knight and Steve Liberati envisioned expanding the Steve’s Club mission. With the generous pro-bono legal expertise of Latham & Watkins, Steve’s Club National Program received 501 (c) (3) status and proceeded to establish the infrastructure for a national network dedicated to bringing fitness, nutrition, mentorship, and personal development to at-risk kids.

As of September 2011, we had 6 official local Clubs as part of Steve’s Club National Program:

Steve’s Club Camden (Camden, NJ); Steve’s Club NYC (CrossFit Virtuosity in Brooklyn, NY); Steve’s Club KoP (CrossFit King of Prussia, King of Prussia, PA); Kaizen Youth Club (Mission CrossFit, Orange County, CA); Kelly’s Champions (Houston, TX); and Project Guerilla Youth (Guerilla Fitness, Montclair, NJ).

(Find out more about these clubs here!)

In 2012, we’ll see a number of new Local Clubs join Steve’s Club National Program. We have established plans for Local Clubs in Washington, DC; Kentucky; Detroit; South Philadelphia; and hopefully Boston and Oakland.

In order to reach more kids in the heart of Camden, New Jersey, we’re also adding another location to the Steve’s Club Camden program.

In addition to these amazing local clubs, more than 30 CrossFit Affiliates nationwide supported Steve’s Club by participating in our annual “Beat the Streets”/Suggested Donation WOD. In 2011, Steve’s Club National Program raised close to thirty thousand dollars in generous contributions!

Steve’s Club has engaged the kids in enrichment activities whenever possible. Steve’s Club sent a National Team to compete at the 2011 CrossFit Games’ Teen competition, where athletes from new local Steve’s Clubs competed at the Home Depot Center. At our first Career Day at Steve’s Club Camden, the kids learned about different career paths (an activity we hope to repeat with Reebok HQ). To further the goals of one of our Steve’s Club “graduates,” we sent him to a Level 1 CrossFit Certification. We also hope to bring the kids to the upcoming CrossFit Regionals, and – of course – have them compete again in the Teen Competition at the CrossFit Games.

We are also developing more mentoring and personal development programs to add to the Steve’s Club “curriculum.” We know that a strong mind and a strong body go hand-in-hand.

We know our mission is succeeding when we see our kids achieving. Two Steve’s Club Athletes in Camden, both 14 years old, have achieved muscle ups for reps, can do 100 double-unders unbroken, and can front squat 185 lbs! Every workout they do, they approach with heart and fearlessness. They push each other to improve, set training goals, eat well, and track their progress in their journals.

Most importantly, one of our Steve’s Club Athletes told us that he turned down a job working for local drug dealers, who were going to pay him to watch for cops on a street corner. Danny said, “I don’t have time - I have to go to Steve’s Club so I can get better at CrossFit.”

These kids are living fuller lives, thanks to your support.

We’re incredibly blessed to have had the support of CrossFit HQ, the CrossFit Journal, and Reebok. Steve’s Club has been featured on the CrossFit Main Page at http://www.crossfit.com and in the CrossFit Journal. Reebok has generously donated gear to the Steve’s Club athletes, and has also supported us through purchases of PaleoKits.

Several of our athletes had the pleasure of meeting CrossFit Creator Greg Glassman at the CrossFit Games! A huge thrill.

We receive daily emails from people who want to support our mission either by creating a Local Steve’s Club, by making a donation, or by purchasing Paleo Kits. 

We’d like to thank everyone for their support - without those who share our mission, donate, purchase Paleo Kits, and keep us in their hearts, we wouldn’t be where we are today – carrying out our deepest values in the community we love.

Get Involved With Steve’s Club:
There are many great ways to get involved! You can:

• Get your CrossFit Affiliate to host our “Beat the Streets” Suggested Donation WOD in June (exact date TBD)
• Donate online - click here.
• Buy PaleoKits (a portion of these proceeds go to fund Steve’s Club National Program)
• Tell people about what we’re doing – “share” our facebook page with others!