COVID-19: A Note from Rainier Athletes' Executive Director
Rainier Athletes Family,
The coronavirus does not discriminate based on gender, or race, or income or whatever language you happen to speak at home. This pandemic has impacted each and everyone of us. While some have experienced massive boredom or an uptick in sibling rivalry, others in our community face catastrophic impacts with the closing of schools and loss of work hours.
The mission of Rainier Athletes is to affirm our youth’s sense of belonging by intentionally connecting the core supporters in their lives- their coaches, teachers, family, friends, and mentors. Said simply, our mission states that our kids deserve to be kids! By leaning into our mission, Rainier Athletes has been recognized by over 300 educators as the bridge that connects to their hardest-to-reach students and to their students’ families. 1 on 1 mentorship, a core component of what we do everyday, has proven to be one of the most vital resources for kids, families, and teachers during the pandemic.
In the face of COVID-19, Rainier Athletes has reimagined what it means to identify and meet the needs of our youth. After all, if our young people are not seen, then their most important needs cannot be met.
THE RESULTS:
Since school buildings first closed due to the pandemic, Rainier Athletes has coordinated over 3,000 virtual video check-ins between our mentors and the Rainier Athlete students (100% of our students have connected). We have continued to sponsor vital physical activities such as soccer and 3 on 3 basketball and our high school seniors, all of which will be the first in their family to do so, have successfully applied to college!
Beyond serving as a constant source of affirmation and encouragement for their mentee, Rainier Athletes mentors connect weekly with their mentee’s family, assist in assessing the family’s immediate needs, and connect the family with one of RA’s Community Partners. This process has directed over $120,000 worth of rent assistance, food support, legal guidance, mental health services and more to RA families in need. Thank you to our partners at Bellevue Lifespring, Youth Eastside Services, Jubilee REACH, and United Way of King County for helping us provide a deeper avenue of support to our students and our families throughout this last year.
Though we still can’t physically be together to support one another, we can lean in to support our families in need through this pandemic and beyond. I am calling on all of our RA supporters to act now to support families who depend on schools for the majority of their meals, childcare and other vital services like mental health support.
Meet Andre, an RA student who has benefited from mentorship through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Together we are stronger. Together we are ONE Team!
Jesse Franklin
Executive Director, Rainier Athletes