On a warm December 18th Saturday evening, we joined Beat the Streets for their 10th Anniversary Benefit Gala and International Wrestling Event — the first since the start of the global pandemic.
Beat the Streets is a non-profit organization that has been working to improve the lives of underserved youth through the sport of wrestling for over a decade. Founded in 2007, the organization has expanded to several cities across the United States, including New York City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. RKS Donated an RKS Guitar, raising $3,000 for this amazing non-for-profit.
In the photo left to right, Tamyra Mensah-Stock– Tokyo Olympic Gold, and the first Black woman to win gold in women’s wrestling. Bruce Baumgartner, 14-time World, and Olympic Champion carried the flag for the entire Team USA in opening ceremonies for the Atlanta Olympics and is now president of USA Wrestling. Clarissa Chun, World Champ & Olympic Bronze. Behind her is Royce Alger, World Silver. Jacarra Winchester, World Champion Wrestler. Sally Roberts, World Bronze Winner and current BTSLA board member. Kerry McKoy, World Silver Winner. Afsoon Johnston, World Bronze Winner, first American World Medal in women’s wresting, born in Iran and as a refugee.
RKS worked with the Beat the Streets NY team to advance its brand identity and enhance its messaging. The team worked to enable the brand to continue to drive awareness and empower inner-city youth to focus their energy on wrestling and away from the streets. With their team, we worked to reposition and enhance their brand assets by creating a new logo, graphics, colors, and messaging. These brand guidelines were leveraged to develop and implement marketing campaigns, apparel, and event promotions. Being a non-profit, Beat the Streets NY wanted to ensure that it developed a brand that could connect with donors, children, and athletes to enable the organization to continue its mission.
At its core, Beat the Streets LA is about much more than just wrestling. It’s about giving young people the opportunity to learn valuable life skills and develop the confidence and discipline they need to succeed in all aspects of life. Through its programs, the organization provides wrestling instruction, coaching, and mentorship to young people from underserved communities, helping them to not only become better wrestlers, but also better people.
One of the key ways that Beat the Streets achieves its mission is through its wrestling programs. These programs are designed to provide young people with a safe and supportive environment in which they can learn the sport of wrestling and develop their skills. The organization’s coaches and mentors are highly trained and experienced, and they work closely with each wrestler to help them achieve their full potential.
In addition to its wrestling programs, Beat the Streets also works to promote the sport of wrestling and raise awareness about its many benefits. Wrestling is a demanding and physically demanding sport, but it also teaches discipline, perseverance, and goal setting. These skills are invaluable for young people as they navigate the challenges of growing up and finding their place in the world.
But perhaps the most powerful aspect of Beat the Streets is the way it brings people together. The organization’s programs bring together wrestlers from diverse backgrounds and communities, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. This sense of community is an important part of what makes Beat the Streets special, and it’s something that many of the organization’s participants carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Beat the Streets is an incredible organization that is doing important work to improve the lives of underserved youth through the sport of wrestling. Whether you’re a wrestler yourself or simply someone who believes in the power of sports to change lives, there are many ways you can get involved with Beat the Streets and help make a difference. Whether you volunteer your time, donate money, or simply spread the word about the organization and its mission, every little bit helps to support the important work that Beat the Streets is doing.
