ABOUT US

In 1995, Strength of the Young, Inc. (S.O.T.Y.) began as an effective mentoring program serving Marion County and has since grown to include captivating school assemblies across neighboring counties and a highly successful summer basketball league.

S.O.T.Y. is dedicated to providing a weekly mentoring relationship to students of all ages who are at risk of education failure, truancy, and juvenile delinquency. We use strategies that are designed to encourage young people to look beyond their current condition of life, set realistic goals and focus on the future. S.O.T.Y. uses a relevant, fun & creative format to instruct young people in the area of conflict resolution, self-esteem, character development, drug and alcohol resistance and overall life success.

S.O.T.Y. launched our annual basketball league in 1999 and through the years we have seen hundreds of young people participate. We have received tremendous support from the Ocala Police Department and our Mayor for the positive impact we have made in the city. Our purpose is to develop teamwork, strengthen communication, and practice good sportsmanship. It also gives teens in our community a safe, competitive environment to keep them active and focused during the summer months. Our league is open to all males and females, ages 12 to 18, and runs all summer long. All costs are kept to the bare minimum in order to make joining our league accessible to everyone.

This is where we need your help! Since we are a non-profit organization, we run solely on the donations of generous people who genuinely want to make a difference in our community. There are several ways for you to contribute. If you are a company interested in making a donation to our basketball league, we have listed several different levels that you can be a part of. Please see our Sponsorship Packet for more details. Also, see what others are saying about SOTY.

Thank you for your consideration and support!

Sincerely,
Tristan Kennedy
Program Director - Strength of the Young, Inc.