Phelps Falcons are 2009 AAU national champions

BY ELAINE KLAASSEN

Phelps Park wasn’t doing so well a few years ago. It was dangerous, there was gang activity. It was not a place you’d want your kids hanging out. Pastor Jim Halbur, from the neighborhood Fountain of Life Church, and a few others in the community said, “Hey, we need to change this.”

The Phelps Activities Council (PAC) was formed in May of 2008. It’s a neighborhood based 501(c)(3) registered in the state of Minnesota, which provides support and assists in the development of structured activities in the Phelps Park Community. Halbur is president.

A sports program was created at the park. It features basketball, wrestling, football, cheerleading and baseball teams. The coaches are all volunteers; most of them have kids in the program.

Since PAC was organized, regular football camps have been held in the summer at Phelps Park. In fall of 2009 the 14 and under Phelps Falcons joined the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), a large, national, nonprofit volunteer sports organization, and won the state AAU championship, which qualified them for the finals. On Dec. 2, 35 kids, five coaches and Pastor Halbur went to Umatilla, Fla., near Orlando, played five games in three days, and came away with the national championship. Isn’t that kind of unheard-of for a team in existence for only one year?

KSTP recognized the uniqueness of the story and featured them right away. (http://kstp.-com/news/stories/S1267525.shtml)

Mayor R.T. Rybak wrote on Facebook, “… They are a real Cinderella story – and a real Minnesota story … I’m so proud of the work that these coaches, young men and families have done to take back their park, improve their lives and inspire the community around them …” He then put out a call for donations for the group. Good idea. Contact them if you’d like to help out. (phelpsfalcons.org or Pastor Halbur at 612-423-1948)

To go to Florida the team had to raise $25,000 to cover air travel, bus travel, hotel, meals, equipment, uniforms and laundry. Its current list of donors includes, but is not limited to, Hubbard Broad-casting, BNO, BNA, Alina Abbot Northwestern, Roberta Mann Foundation, the Minneapolis Police Dept., In the Cut Barber & Salon, Cup Foods, Fountain of Life, parents, coaches and other anonymous donors. As the team was arriving in Florida, the final donations were being deposited in the bank, just in the nick of time.

The sports programs in the park have changed the neighborhood significantly. John Ross, a park worker at Phelps, noticed, “It has been a definite improvement and positive impact … on days when the teams are having practice the park is easily manageable and calmer and it has developed a sense of pride in the community.”

Melissa Sames, the program director at the Boys and Girls Club, said, “The sports teams, cheerleading squads and quality mentoring/coaching offered through the PAC has been a bright spot for our members. The activities the PAC has offered provide essential outlets for our members to learn about team work, goal setting strategies, time management skills, and establishing a strong work ethic. Our members love the quality coaching staff the PAC provides …”

And the programs have made significant changes in individual lives. One mother said her son, through his involvement with a Phelps team, has become more helpful and respectful at home and a straight-A student at school.
park is easily manageable and calmer and it has developed a sense of pride in the community.”

Melissa Sames, the program director at the Boys and Girls Club, said, “The sports teams, cheerleading squads and quality mentoring/coaching offered through the PAC has been a bright spot for our members. The activities the PAC has offered provide essential outlets for our members to learn about team work, goal setting strategies, time management skills, and establishing a strong work ethic. Our members love the quality coaching staff the PAC provides …”
And the programs have made significant changes in individual lives. One mother said her son, through his involvement with a Phelps team, has become more helpful and respectful at home and a straight-A student at school.