The NETWORK Youth Development Program
Home of the NETWORK Youth Basketball Assoc. (NYBA)
P.O. Box 3330  Newark, NJ  07103
Ph:  973-449-7135
www.THENETWORK-NYBA.org

 

February 16, 20009

Dear Verne and Highwood Small Fry,

On behalf of the entire NETWORK Program, thank you for another wonderful Friendship Weekend!  It was truly a spectacular event.  This year, everything just seemed to go perfectly.  Even considering the “incident” that we had with the bus on our way out there, there was just something extraordinary about Friendship Weekend ’09.  We had a good group of kids on the bus this year, many of them new to the trip and young in age, and the bus trip was a pleasure.  With 52 people on a 57 passenger bus, sometimes things can get real hectic but this year was a breeze.  Then once we got to Highwood, everything just fell into place.  The players and families and coaches were all so great; so accommodating and so helpful, that our parents on the trip and even our new coaches were amazed.  They had never seen anything like it.  Many of them remarked that if they hadn’t witnessed it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it.

To the parents and players of Highwood Small Fry, thank you so much for your hospitality. We are eternally grateful that you all consider it a privilege to host our youth. Every year, the parents of Highwood Small Fry are welcoming and accommodating to our participants but as I said earlier, there was something special about Friendship Weekend ’09.  Possibly because we had so many young players on the trip (a few who we were worried about having separation issues) but this year’s parents jumped right in crossed the bridge with us by helping the young ones adjust and making them feel safe and at home. By the time we saw some of them the next day, we were wondering if they even remembered who we were. J  The kids were all so great and the competition strong and friendly that it’s easy to tell that they “get” the reason behind this trip. 

We’d like to thank Mayor Donofrio, for taking time out of his schedule to meet us and spend time with us.  It was a real pleasure and honor.  Please thank him for us.  Also to the Board of HSF who so graciously entertain us every year, and even stepped up to treat the parents this year, thank you so much for your hospitality and the great food we all enjoyed.  Thanks to the anonymous donor who saw fit to donate the hoodies and to everyone who donated all of the goodies for the bus and for the players.  And as always, thank you for the donation which is always a blessing to our program.  And Verne, thank you for all of your hard work in keeping this remarkable weekend going.  So many people get so much out of this weekend through your effort.

God bless you, Highwood Small Fry, for opening your hearts and homes to The NETWORK.  We can’t thank you enough for the honor and the privilege to spend the weekend with you. I can’t think of anyone who didn’t enjoy Friendship Weekend ’09 and we think it would be truly wonderful if we are able to change the weekend to the Dr. King weekend to extend the trip a little. Take Care.

Sincerely,

Tiesha & Shareef & The Network Family