~ By Brian
Who was that guy who made that last post? That wasn’t Brooke OR Jasmine!
Yes, the times they are a-changin’. GSD has been growing, and the team here at GSD has had to grow with it. Enter the tall, dark and handsome new addition to the GSD staff.
Hi.
My name is Brian. I’m actually just your average looking, pasty white guy. And I think I might be shorter than Brooke. But I am really excited to be here, working for one of the greatest organizations I could hope to be a part of. Working for The Foundation for Global Sports Development is a dream job for me.
When I first learned about GSD, I was immediately drawn to the mission of the organization. I was a competitive gymnast for 6 years and have been coaching in the sport for 16 years. As a gymnast and coach, I have seen kids’ lives changed because of the personal growth that came from competing in a sport. I have also seen how sports can bring people together from diverse backgrounds and unite them. So the chance to raise awareness for a foundation that supports such a cause was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Getting to know GSD as an organization has been quite the journey, and it’s not anywhere near being over. From the start I was thrust into staff meetings, creation of GSD video content, website content, branding materials, database management, planning for Playmakers 2012, a considerable amount of research and writing, and reviewing endless submissions of youth artwork and written work for the next CESEP book. The thought of it all could be overwhelming.
But what has truly been overwhelming has been the support that I have received from the staff here at GSD. I’ve always looked at organizations that really change the world, like GSD, and thought of the people behind them as larger-than-life human beings. People who fly all over the world meeting with presidents and CEOs and inspiring tremendous change everywhere they go. Truth be told, GSD has its share of those. But most of them are just regular folks that will drop everything to help you out… but together they are affecting youth and sports on a global level.
And that global influence becomes more and more apparent, the longer that I work in GSD’s CESEP program. I have the privilege of looking through each and every piece of artwork, poems, and essays to catalog them so that we can decide which ones will be published in the next edition of the CESEP book. The hundreds of creative submissions from kids all over the world are amazing. There are some phenomenal young artists and writers that feel very strongly about the values of sportsmanship, fair play and competing drug-free.
"Fair Play Goes On" by Diego Camilli, 13
Most of the submissions are sent in from youth programs that have groups of students with artwork, poems, and essays to submit. Perhaps the most impressive this year has been from the LACER Afterschool Programs. They have sent in 76 pieces of artwork (far more than any other program) and the quality of the work in general is very impressive. LACER Afterschool Programs is a fantastic youth organization that has developed many talented artists and athletes.
But while LACER has risen to the top artistically this year, they are only one among many programs that are making a huge difference in the lives of thousands of children. And through GSD’s support of these programs, we are able be a part of those efforts all across the world. That is why I am so proud to be part of this team, writing this blog, doing this work. Because here an average guy can contribute to an extraordinary cause. And that makes this average guy feel much larger than life.
"Soccer" by Phimpisa Rodchompu, 13
I hope through her words, you might get a better understanding of what this program has meant to her.