YG Foundation Directors

Michael B. Prensky

Education: Boston College - M.B.A. (2002), Mary Washington College B.A. (1998)
Sports: High School Basketball, High School Lacrosse, High School Golf, College Basketball
Every child should have the opportunity to participate in sports. The lessons learned through competition stay with you for the rest of your life. How to be a good teammate, how to be a leader, how to work hard, how to listen, the value of being/having a good role-model, are all things that I learned through sports and practice in my daily life. It is our goal to give as many kids as possible the same opportunities that we have had. Pay it forward. “From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life”. Arthur Ashe

T.R. Ludwig

Education: Maastricht School of Management- M.B.A. E-business (2002), Ohio Wesleyan University B.S. Geology/Environmental Studies (1998)
Sports: High School Basketball and Lacrosse, College Lacrosse, International Lacrosse Coach
There is something about stepping on to the field/court with a team you've grown with that provides an unparalleled sense of community. Sports have always provided me with an opportunity to expand my horizons such as trying a new sport (Lacrosse) in high school, or traveling internationally to play on Lacrosse tours. We are simply trying to provide increased opportunity to kids who need a helping hand. Perhaps the most important thing I've learned from sports is how to take a hit (learn from it), stand back up, and get back in the game. "Do not worry if you have built your castles in the air. They are where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." Henry David Thoreau

Jay Campisi

Education: University of Colorado at Boulder- Ph.D. Neuroscience/Integrated Physiology (2003), Ithaca College – B.S. Cardiac Rehabilitation (1998)
Sports: High School Football, High School Lacrosse, College Lacrosse, Skiing/Snowboarding, Hiking, Swimming, Running, Cycling.
As painfully shy child I begged my mother not to sign me up for Pop Warner Football and cried when my parents dropped me off at Rich Gedman’s baseball camp. The thought of having to talk to so many kids my age who I did not know was horrifying. Fortunately my desire to participate in athletics trumped all other feelings and I inevitably would realize my teammates were not so scary after all. Sports gave me confidence, laid the foundation for life-long friendships, and taught me the meaning of hard work and perseverance. It is my belief that all youths should be granted access to athletic participation and allowed to benefit from the physical and emotional growth that accompanies sport.

Carl E. Easton

Education: Curry College- B.A. History (1998)
Sports: High School Football,High School Basketball, College Basketball
The topic of sports and what basketball did for me is overwhelming. What it gave me above all else as an "at risk" child was a positive outlet to channel my energy. It gave me work ethic and a best friend. The platform of ethnic integration that sport participation often exposes children to, helps bridge racial ignorance, and in these modern times I can't think of a more important issue than an understanding of our differing backgrounds. Thanks sports! "Bury me with my basketball just in case ( there's a hoop in heaven)" -Mike Prensky circa 1984. A T-shirt that fellow director Mike Prensky used to wear in the 5th grade.

Brian LaValle

Education: Fordham University- M.B.A. (2006), Hartwick College- B.A. in History (1998)
Sports: High School Hockey, High School, College Lacrosse, Running, Cycling, Mountain Biking, Hiking, & Climbing
Sports taught me to never give up, to stay focused, and to practice until it hurts. Athletics gave me a platform not only for physical education but for emotional and spiritual growth as well, and most importantly it allowed me to build lasting friendships. Sports give all of us the hope that social and racial equality can exist, at least on the playing field.

Ryan T. Limerick

Education: Suffolk University– M.B.A. (Expected 2007), University of Massachusetts at Amherst– B.S. Biology (1999)
Sports: Football, Lacrosse, Skiing/Snowboarding, Hiking, Swimming, Running, Cycling, Rock-climbing, and just about any recreational sport that I can find
Growing up, my family imparted upon me a deep appreciation of sports and to this day, sport continues to teach me so much. Sports remind me to be myself, to work hard, to learn from my failures, to be a team player, and most importantly to have fun. The rewards that sports have given me are endless and have truly enriched my life. It is my hope that we can give kids, that may not otherwise be able to participate in sports, the same opportunities that my friends and I had, and to teach them the importance of friends, family, and their community."There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure." - Colin Powell

John W. Hatfield

Education: University of Colorado at Boulder- B.F.A (1999)
Sports: High School Hockey, High School Lacrosse, and Snowboarding
The very first time I stepped on ice in a pair of skates I was six years old and it happened to be the first day I ever played on a hockey team. I still remember that my helmet was so loose it fell over my eyes and my stick was too long, but that turned out to be a good thing since I needed it to keep from falling. From that first year taking part on a town team I not only ended up playing the sport competitively for the next 13 years but I still play to do this day. Every year I thank my father and the community I grew up in for having programs like hockey that I could take part in. Looking back on my life I realize how crucial a role athletics played in the development of self confidence, commitment, work ethic, and lasting friendship. There is no way to estimate how positive the impact of participating in youth sports has been in shaping who I am today and there is no way to put in words how much fun I had.

David C. LaValle