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Kaitlyn Wells and Gina DeVito darted onto the Stamford High School gym floor and into the packed crowd Saturday night. They were ending a program that showcased more than two dozen sets of nimble acrobatics and intricate floor routines. They milled about, accepting well-wishers congratulations on their crowd-pleasing cheerleading performance, even as they congratulated their peers.
Kaitlyn and Gina, both 12-year-old Trinity Catholic Middle School students, have been in the Stamford Youth Foundation cheerleading program for three years. Saturdays 2010 Cheer Exhibition was the culmination of a season of dedication and hard work devising, practicing and executing cheers.
We wanted to try something different, said Gina about why they decided to join the program. We met a lot of nice people through the organization, added Kaitlyn as she clutched her trophy.
Every cheerleading participant received a trophy for her performance. Thats the kind of gesture thats central to all the programs at SYF. The organization was established 10 years ago to give the citys children an opportunity to participate in football and cheerleading programs, regardless of size, weight or ability, according to Krissy Carboni, SYF cheerleading president.
SYF operates independently of the city and Board of Education, although it receives in-kind support such as use of facilities. Its supported through donations, grants, fundraisers and participation fees. Scholarships are available to ensure inclusion of anyone wishing to participate. During Saturdays program, SYF founder Marc Lyons announced that the organization had recently received $30,000 from the Mickey Lione Jr. Fund.
One out of every three children in our school system in Stamford is in the Stamford Youth Foundation, said Lyons. Were the only town that has middle school teams. We have something in Stamford they dont have anywhere else in the state of Connecticut.
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