June 2016 Quarterly Newsletter
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Middle Earth providing prevention, intervention and crisis services to youth for over 40 years mailing address: P.O. Box 8045, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 phone: (908) 725-7223 website: www.middleearthnj.org e-mail: [email protected] June 2016 Relationships Between Middle Earth and Coaches Inspire Better Futures for Local Teens Quarterly Newsletter What do a wrestling coach and a martial arts instructor have in common? Middle Earth! In the early 1980’s, a teenage boy, living in Somerville, was en- couraged by his neighbor to come with him to Middle Earth after school. It made an impact on the young boy. He saw teens hanging out together, doing their homework, playing video games, and talk- ing about their problems with the Middle Earth staff. He saw how important it was to have something to do after school—something constructive and positive—rather than hanging out on the street. That teenage boy was Rodney VanNess, a standout wrestler for Somerville High School, two-time captain and NCAA qualifier for Rutgers University Wrestling, and the current wrestling head coach of Somerville High School. When Rodney was asked why he coaches the high school wrestling team, he stated, “I wanted to give back to my community. Wres- tling was a vehicle for my own success and broadened my hori- zons. It instills humility, confidence, respect, personal responsibil- ity, the ability to persevere, and discipline. The sport is a way to prepare youth for life.” These are the same principles he saw Mid- dle Earth teach to the teens in his community so long ago. A few years ago, Rodney encountered the Laggini family. Brock Laggini was a youth with a lot of wrestling potential. His father, David Laggini, was a martial arts instructor and author of a motiva- tional book called “Blackbelt Landlording.” David uses martial arts to teach youth how to have positive attitudes, develop a good repu- tation, and struggle less in life. Rodney took Brock under his wing and began training him in wres- tling. As Rodney and David got to know each other and realized they had the same goals for youth, David asked Rodney if he knew of a quality youth organization where he could volunteer to teach martial arts. Rodney immediately connected David with Middle Earth. David has been volunteering his time with Middle Earth for over four years, coming in each week to instill discipline, motivation, hope, and good citizenship in these young teens. David describes Rodney as a great mentor and role model for those around him. David’s son, Brock, has excelled under Rodney’s coaching. Brock works hard, both in school and in wrestling, and as a result, is a high honor roll student, captain of the wrestling team as only a sophomore, and just won the District 18 Wrestling Championship in his weight class. “Relationships are essential to ensuring that the next generation of our community excels,” said Maria Strada, Executive Director of Middle Earth. “When we have the opportunity to work next to and with individuals who are invested in the lives of youth such as Rod- ney VanNess and David Laggini, our work is expanded to reach many more young people that are in need of guidance and positive role models. These men are truly heroes for our community.” Brock Laggini (left) and Somerville High School Wrestling Coach, Rodney Van- Ness (right) pose with the bracket show- ing Brock’s District Championship win. Coach VanNess connected Brock and his father to Middle Earth to provide martial arts lessons to at-risk youth. Thank You! We would like to thank these or- ganizations for their generosity: Avid Exchange Costco Eli Lilly and Company Leidos Engineering New York Jets United Methodist Area Churches Thanks to all of the sponsors and participants in our 10K Race! Thanks to Apple for inviting our youth to a movie making class!
Transcript of June 2016 Quarterly Newsletter
Middle Earth providing prevention, intervention and crisis services to youth for over 40 years mailing address: P.O. Box 8045, Br idgewater , NJ 08807 phone: (908) 725-7223
website: www.middleear thnj.org e-mail: office@middleear thnj.org
June 2016
Relationships Between Middle Earth and Coaches Inspire Better Futures for Local Teens
Quarterly Newsletter
What do a wrestling coach and a martial arts instructor have in common? Middle Earth! In the early 1980’s, a teenage boy, living in Somerville, was en-couraged by his neighbor to come with him to Middle Earth after school. It made an impact on the young boy. He saw teens hanging out together, doing their homework, playing video games, and talk-ing about their problems with the Middle Earth staff. He saw how important it was to have something to do after school—something constructive and positive—rather than hanging out on the street. That teenage boy was Rodney VanNess, a standout wrestler for Somerville High School, two-time captain and NCAA qualifier for Rutgers University Wrestling, and the current wrestling head coach of Somerville High School. When Rodney was asked why he coaches the high school wrestling team, he stated, “I wanted to give back to my community. Wres-tling was a vehicle for my own success and broadened my hori-zons. It instills humility, confidence, respect, personal responsibil-ity, the ability to persevere, and discipline. The sport is a way to prepare youth for life.” These are the same principles he saw Mid-dle Earth teach to the teens in his community so long ago. A few years ago, Rodney encountered the Laggini family. Brock Laggini was a youth with a lot of wrestling potential. His father, David Laggini, was a martial arts instructor and author of a motiva-tional book called “Blackbelt Landlording.” David uses martial arts to teach youth how to have positive attitudes, develop a good repu-tation, and struggle less in life. Rodney took Brock under his wing and began training him in wres-tling. As Rodney and David got to know each other and realized they had the same goals for youth, David asked Rodney if he knew of a quality youth organization where he could volunteer to teach martial arts. Rodney immediately connected David with Middle Earth. David has been volunteering his time with Middle Earth for over four years, coming in each week to instill discipline, motivation, hope, and good citizenship in these young teens. David describes Rodney as a great mentor and role model for those around him. David’s son, Brock, has excelled under Rodney’s coaching. Brock works hard, both in school and in wrestling, and as a result, is a high honor roll student, captain of the wrestling team as only a sophomore, and just won the District 18 Wrestling Championship in his weight class. “Relationships are essential to ensuring that the next generation of our community excels,” said Maria Strada, Executive Director of Middle Earth. “When we have the opportunity to work next to and with individuals who are invested in the lives of youth such as Rod-ney VanNess and David Laggini, our work is expanded to reach many more young people that are in need of guidance and positive role models. These men are truly heroes for our community.”
Brock Laggini (left) and Somerville High School Wrestling Coach, Rodney Van-Ness (right) pose with the bracket show-ing Brock’s District Championship win. Coach VanNess connected Brock and his father to Middle Earth to provide martial arts lessons to at-risk youth.
Thank You!
We would like to thank these or-ganizations for their generosity:
Avid Exchange Costco Eli Lilly and Company Leidos Engineering New York Jets United Methodist Area
Churches
Thanks to all of the sponsors and participants in our 10K Race!
Thanks to Apple for inviting our youth to a movie making class!
Middle Earth June 2016 Quarterly Newsletter Page 2
P.O. Box 8045 Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Eli Lilly and Company College Prep Fair Your Support Helped Open a Day Care
Mark Your Calendar for Family Fun Events that Benefit Middle Earth!
A Night at the Ballpark Friday, July 29
Join us on Friday, July 29th at 7:05 p.m. for a great night at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, where the Somerset Patriots will
take on the Bridgeport Bluefish. There will be FIREWORKS after the game! Middle Earth will have raffles, field activities for youth, and lots of family fun! Tickets ($10) purchased from Middle Earth benefit our youth programs. Call 908-725-7223 to buy your ticket!
Somerset County 4-H Fair August 10-12
The Somerset County 4-H Fair will be Au-gust 10-12, 2016 at North Branch Park. Middle Earth is host-ing a hamburger stand to offer our youth the opportunity to volunteer and raise funds for our programs. Please stop by and support our youth by ordering a burger, grilled cheese or French fries!
We are pleased to announce that we have opened a licensed Day Care Center! Your on-going support allowed us to fill a vital need in the Bound Brook area for a quality child care provider. Little Ducklings Day Care Center is part of our efforts to connect with parents, engaging them in quality care for their children.
When you make a donation to Middle Earth, you are partnering with us to ensure that local youth receive the resources they need to achieve a successful adulthood and become a responsible and contributing community member. That’s why you can be proud of a recent event hosted by Eli Lilly and Company for our students in the Youth College Readiness Program.
Where:
Who:
When:
annex building of the Bound Brook Presbyterian Church, 500 Mountain Avenue
infants from 6 weeks old and toddlers through 4 years old
Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Eli Lilly and Company put together a FANTASTIC Col-lege Prep Fair! Many employees from Eli Lilly and Company attended the event to set up demonstrations, talk about their careers, discuss educational opportuni-ties, and encourage these teens to reach for their goals. The students truly enjoyed attending this event and learned so much from the wonderful presenters who shared their inspiring stories and words of wisdom.
