Bay Region athlete wins Billie Jean King youth award

Serra observe and industry athlete Rishan Patel will acquire the Billie Jean King Youth Management Award at the annual ESPY’s award present on Wednesday night.

But it will not be for the reason that of a blazing time in the 100-meter sprint or hurdles.

Patel, a 16-12 months-previous from Atherton, developed a nonprofit organization named Alley-Oop Kids that installs lockers with sporting tools at “under-resourced universities to use for PE and school athletics.”

From as near as Aspire College or university Prep in Richmond and Summit Prep in Redwood City, to faculties in India, Patel’s organization has helped above 100 educational facilities. 

“I don’t even know how to put it into terms,” Patel told the Bay Area Information Group on Wednesday morning. “I assume I was stunned and ecstatic, definitely. That emotion was just outrageous, and it is still lingering currently whilst I wait around to go to the demonstrate.” 

Patel stated the person glory is not why he is so thrilled to get the honor. Patel is one of 13 honorees, whose accomplishments include things like donating 1000’s of socks to homeless veterans and developing a application that allows young children with disabilities master how to skate. 

Rishan and his more mature brother Shay had the idea to start out Alley-Oop when they played basketball as a boy or girl in 2014, which took him to less-affluent parts of the Bay. 

“Being from Silicon Valley, one particular of the wealthiest places in the nation, I’d have basketball procedures 10 minutes away in East Palo Alto and in Oakland,” Patel explained.

“After those techniques and game titles, I’d detect that there’s youngsters who didn’t have the similar means I did. Some of them were being actively playing in slides, and utilizing deflated volleyballs as basketballs.”

The Patels had lots of high-quality products that was getting unused, so the brothers gave it to a community faculty that essential it much much more than they did.

What began as just one donation turned into a mission. Patel stated he partners with an business termed Very good Athletics to get equipment for totally free, paying only for delivery. He claimed that as the nonprofit has acquired recognition, people have commenced to donate as perfectly. 

“Now that our project is in the media more, we have individuals get to out to us and ask if they can give us their made use of sports activities products that’s in excellent situation,” the Serra pupil stated.

Serra keep track of mentor Jim Marheineke is both happy of and unsurprised by the good results of Patel’s venture. 

“Working with Rishan in the classroom and on the keep track of, it is no surprise to see him attain so considerably for so quite a few men and women,” Marheineke advised the Bay Place News Group by using e mail. “Whether impacting a person solitary person, or thousands, this is what being a Serra Padre is all about – earning a difference for many others in a selfless fashion.“