OUR HISTORY
Street2Street is the culmination of a vision rising from the ashes of September 11, 2001. Woody Woodfin and his wife Renee first traveled to New York City shortly after the terrorist attacks to help teenagers impacted by the tragedy. What they encountered were at-risk kids whose despair began long before 9-11.
The inaugural Street2Street tournament held in Brooklyn in August 2005 attracted over 150 teens. Every participant enjoyed a rare moment of recognition as a champion on the court. Fueled by passionate kids, dedicated volunteers, and generous donors, Street2Street has since expanded into many other urban communities across the United States.
A Word From Our Champions
“It changed my way of thinking. I’m optimistic now and have hope for the future. It’s great.” – Marc
“It has improved things, because usually when I play basketball I’m a hot head. I have anger issues, but Street2Street says I gotta cool down. I always listen to the people they bring to talk with us. They talk about God and the stuff they went through in life. Everybody goes through stuff in life and they need somebody older to give them advice.” – Vintage
“It’s different from playing ball in the neighborhood. When you come here it’s competitive, but it’s a friendly environment as well. It’s different to come out here in a different borough and play with people from all around, and for those people to be courteous and nice to you, too.” – Ahmed
“A lot of people come here, and they see the competition against other people from different areas where they live. There’s a lot of pride when you play, so people try to do their best. Yet everyone gets along with one another. It’s not a trouble scene. We get together and have fun.” – Marcel