A special message from Coach Tim
In January of 2012, we embarked on a mission to provide a youth football program
to the lower east side of New York City. Our mission was to provide a positive
outlet for the young people in the area and for some, a way to a better life
through our "Run to Daylight Education Program". We believe football is a lot
like life. We draw from the words of the great Coach and motivator Vince Lombardi:
"It’s not what you do when you get knocked down, it is what you do after that
counts in life."
We believe that our program has made a profound impact in these young people’s
lives. Our inaugural season brought on numerous challenges: for example, we did
not even have a chin strap when we initially started in January. We reached out
to our friends of the program and asked for help. By February 2012, we had enough
equipment to suit over 200 Student Athletes!
This year has taught me more about the human spirit than at any other time in my
life. I met numerous young people from the shelter that was just two blocks away
from our home field. If you ever need a dose of gratitude, come down and watch
numerous kids in our summer workouts, who do not know where their next meal will
come from. There is a certain bond that these young men shared among one another
because of the circumstances from where they came. They had nothing but each
other, and that led to a camaraderie and friendship that will last a life time.
We visited several Prep Schools this year. Our first visit was Loomis Chaffee where
the boys were able to tour the school and play a game. This visit was followed by
visits to Choate Rosemary Hall and Berkshire Academy. Our boys were able to tour
the schools and some eventually applied for admission through our "Run to Daylight
Education Program." One of the most moving moments of the year came the night
before we were leaving for Loomis Chaffee. We would make the boys wear collared
shirts, dress pants, and shoes for every school visit we went on. We wanted the
boys to feel like it was college game, where the team is required to dress
appropriately when visiting their opponents. I was approached by one of our players,
a 14 year old young man. He had an embarrassed look in his eyes and a heavy heart
as he approached me. He then began to whisper to me, "Coach I do not have a pair of
shoes." My heart sank to my knees. I put my hand on his shoulder and told him,
"Do not worry son, I will get you a pair of shoes." I went home and took out the
best pair of shoes I owned. I returned the next day and handed them to the young man.
I gave him the shoes in front of the shelter where he lived, away from anyone’s sight
so he did not have to feel that he was less than anyone because of his circumstances.
It was moments like these that made up our season. It wasn’t the fact we made the
playoffs in our first year; it wasn’t the fact we played against and beat teams that
had been together for decades; it wasn’t the fact our staff was given the COACH of
the Year Award. We feel that this is the beginning of a lesson that will teach
these young people how to empower themselves and work for what they want in their
lives. We believe we are using football as a vehicle to better these young people.
We constantly emphasize grades, discipline, selflessness and doing something nice
for someone else every day but not telling anyone about it.
This season was one of the greatest years for our coaching staff and we look forward
to 2013, as we build a lasting, life changing program on the lower east side in
Manhattan for these young people.
--Coach Timothy Cavanaugh
The program concentrates on finding candidates who are not just athletes but dedicated students
as well. These student-athletes are matched with schools that can offer a better
education than normally found in the inner city public school system.
Our Beginnings...
In 1997 Stephen G. Hoffman and Timothy Cavanaugh started The Run to Daylight Education Program.
Together they had the vision of providing the players with the opportunity to attend some of the
top boarding schools in the northeast as well as local private schools in the New York City area.
Tragically, Stephen Hoffman was among those lost in the World Trade Center disaster
during the events of September 11th, 2001.
Coach Tim is now joined by the first Run to Daylight Education Program candidate Taylor
Sele in our mission to help our players attend some of the most prominent prep schools
in the country. Taylor had been accepted to the preparatory school Lawrence Academy
in Massachusetts in September of 1999. After a successful prep-school career as the state of
Massachusetts' third ranked high school prospect and one of the tops in the nation,
Taylor was courted by Notre Dame, Maryland, and Kentucky before deciding to attend
Boston College. As of the fall of 2002 he was red-shirted and we all anticipate a
stellar collegiate career to come.
Since the start, the Run to Daylight Education Program has helped upwards of 35
other young men in fulfilling their dreams of attending these prominent academic
institutions.
