Hyde Park Lady Thunderbirds

The 2014 season will be underway soon and in order to compete at the best level possible, the Lady Thunderbirds are in need of practice appropriate gear, travels costs and equipment! The Lady Thunderbirds hail from the South Side of Chicago and are made up of scholars that have a real passion for the game and for re-creating the culture of women’s athletics in their school! 99% of the students that attend Hyde Park Academy are African American with 90% of the schools population being deemed as "low-income."

As a result of the lack of funding within our school and community, our team struggles daily to compete with other teams in the state. Outside of school walls, many of our student athletes are pressured by the gang violence, drugs and crime that encompasses the South Side of Chicago, but instead of conforming they choose to walk down a different path filled with commitment and dedication to their team and the game. Our student athletes are leaders on and off of the court, role models for their peers, siblings and community, driven academically and motivated athletically.

This year, we have decided to change the direction of the program and this all starts with your help! Please note that last year we had VERY little equipment and wore jerseys that have been used in years past. Girls were not playing in the appropriate shoes or under garments, nor were practices beneficial when we only had access to four basketballs. In addition, without team cohesion, it was extremely hard to create a sense of pride for our team within the community. This year we want our logo to be spread throughout the state and to show the city that the Lady Thunderbirds are back and ready to compete!

The following is a list of equipment and gear that we need that we do not have and that is absolutely necessary if we want to change the culture of the women's athletic program:
 
-30 Basketballs (one for each girl on JV and Varsity)
-2 sets of cones for drills
-4 Agility ladders
-30 Reversible practice jerseys (one for each girl on JV and Varsity)
-30 pairs of practice shorts (one for each girl on JV and Varsity) -Travel funds for 10 away games (this includes the bus to and from Hyde Park Academy)
-30 pairs of basketball shoes (one pair for each girl on JV and Varsity)
-30 pairs of basketball socks (one pair for each girl on JV and Varsity)
-30 sports bras (one for each player on JV and Varsity)
-30 Warm up/travel outfit (one for each player on JV and Varsity) -30 sports duffle bags (one for each player on JV and Varsity)

In addition, in order to give our players the best opportunity to play at the collegiate level, we are planning on attending several tournaments throughout the year to showcase our student athletes!

It is with my hope that you will consider donating to the Lady Thunderbirds basketball program! You will not only leave a lasting impact on the players, you will also help instill a sense of pride in a school that needs it the most!