Beat the Streets raises more than $130,000 with 2024 Year-End Campaign

Donations help BTS continue to make a lifelong impact on New York City youth through the sport of wrestling.

Beat the Streets is proud to announce it raised more than $130,000 during its 2024 year-end campaign for its programs that make a lifelong impact on New York City student-athletes through the sport of wrestling.

The campaign highlighted two exceptional high school student-athletes in the BTS Academy enrichment program - Joy Murray and Oumar Tounkara.

Murray shared her wrestling journey from judo to becoming a city champion in just her second year competing in wrestling. The senior from Queens is looking to claim another city title to finish her high school career and compete in wrestling in college. Tounkara detailed his rise from the BTS Junior League program, New York City's only middle school wrestling league, to becoming a NHSCA national champion. The senior from The Bronx shared how BTS and wrestling helped him become more discipline and obtain an athletic scholarship to wrestle at the NCAA Division 1 level at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

"The generous donations from this campaign will directly impact the lives of young people in our community, providing them with essential training, academic support and the opportunity to develop valuable life skills through the sport of wrestling," BTS Executive Director Brendan Buckley said.

The contributions from the 2024 year-end campaign will help BTS continue to support NYC student-athletes to achieve their goals on and off the wrestling mat. BTS' youth development-focused Academy program, Training Center, Junior League and partnership with the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) are only possible due to the generosity of BTS' supporters. With these funds, BTS provides invaluable mentorship, academic support, competition opportunities, camps and clinics that are necessary to achieve its mission.

Since being founded in 2005, Beat the Streets has pioneered a movement that now includes 150 individual wrestling programs, a youth league and the first girls high school league.

BTS works to develop the full human and athletic potential of the urban youth and strengthen the NYC wrestling culture. We aim to make a lifelong impact on student-athletes through the lessons learned on the wrestling mat -- discipline, perseverance, self-reliance, humility and a strong work ethic. Discover how you can make a meaningful contribution to our work at btsny.org/donate.