A Net Gain in Harlem

Photograph by William Harris

A charity in Harlem is teaching kids to play ice hockey — and helping them become better students in the bargain.

The organization, called Ice Hockey in Harlem, teaches kids to ice skate, instructs them in the rules of the game, and arranges time for them to play at two local rinks. But in order to participate, the students must attend a weekly one-hour class taught by the organization’s volunteers after school.

The curriculum, designed by a former schoolteacher, includes geography, mathematics, and writing. Students who need extra help are offered the services of the charity’s volunteer tutors, mentors, or counselors.

Kids who have participated in the organization for several years are expected to volunteer at local charities and may become eligible to participate in the Harlem Rangers, a team that travels to other states to play. (Team members, along with their coach, are shown here.) Student members who excel in their schoolwork become eligible for college or prep school scholarships provided by the organization.

So far, Ice Hockey in Harlem, which is in its 12th year, has served nearly 1,000 kids ages 4 to 19. A staff of four runs the organization, with help from more than 100 volunteers.

Members of the New York Rangers hockey team have helped the group raise money, and Nike has donated $100,000 worth of hockey equipment and uniforms, says Todd Levy, the charity’s executive director.

“A lot of these kids are living in a home where they wouldn’t get this kind of opportunity,” he says. “We’ve become a family for these kids.”