Beat the Streets raises more than $220K with 2021 Year-End campaign

The donations will help BTS make a lifelong impact on more than 2,500 student-athletes in New York City.

Beat the Streets is proud to announce it surpassed its $100,000 goal for its 2021 Year-End campaign by raising more than $220,000 with online and mail donations.

The campaign highlighted interviews with two New York City student-athletes: Alessandra Elliott and Isaias Torres. Elliott discussed her journey to become a 16U champion at the prestigious Fargo National Championships in July. Torres detailed the foundation he's built with Beat the Streets and how it helped him earn New York state medalist honors as a junior.

"My whole life has been raised off Beat the Streets," Torres said in his interview. "I was raised off Beat the Streets ever since like the fourth grade. It got me better academically, taught me life lessons and so much more. Wrestling unites everything together.

"Beat the Streets is deeper than wrestling. I feel like wrestling is just the foundation that Beat the Streets has. Words can't describe what Beat the Streets has done for me."

The contributions from the 2021 year-end campaign will help Beat the Streets continue to make a lifelong impact on New York City student-athletes on and off the mat in 2022 and beyond.

"We are very grateful for the support of everyone that contributed to our Year End Campaign," Beat the Streets Executive Director Brendan Buckley said. "Having a support system that is there for us in the absence of our annual benefit and who understands our work continues, even in the midst of a pandemic means a great deal to all of us involved at Beat the Streets.

"These resources will enable us to continue to impact our 2,500 boys and girls that rely on us to help them achieve their goals and provide the support they need, especially at this time."

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.

Beat the Streets 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.