Ice Hockey in Harlem (IHIH) is a unique not-for-profit, after-school educational and athletic program empowering youth ages 4-17 in the Harlem community. IHIH programming includes weekly ice sessions in which volunteer coaches stress responsibility, discipline, character development and teamwork. To gain the privilege of attending the ice sessions, participants attend mandatory weekly classroom sessions in which volunteer teachers, who receive training by IHIH, facilitate a carefully planned curriculum that uses hockey as a catalyst for teaching skills in academic areas such as math, literacy, writing, geography, social studies and history.

Description:
All IHIH services are offered to participants at no cost to their families or the agencies from which they are recruited. In return, participating agencies agree to donate classroom space for IHIH’s educational component of the program. By doing this, our teachers are able to maintain contact and consistency with the providing agency as well as the children. IHIH has developed partnerships with several social service agencies and local schools throughout the Harlem community such as Boy’s Club, YMCA, P.S. 101, and P.S. 102. These relationships make it possible for IHIH to recruit over 200 children each year to participate in the program. The IHIH office is located in East Harlem and operates out of Public School 101 in donated classroom space. IHIH limits first year participation to children between the ages of four to ten. This enables the participants to grow with the program on the same level of others their age. When they reach the age of 14 after a minimum of four years, they are invited to be a part of our Harlem Rangers traveling team. This phase of the program engages our oldest participants and keeps them involved with the organization through their adolescence. In addition to a marked increase in ice time and competitive opportunities, a community service component becomes the focus of their IHIH experience, stressing the importance of contributing back their community.

History:
Ice Hockey in Harlem began in the winter of 1987 with forty eager participants ranging in age from 9-12. With a cursory knowledge of the basics, the youngsters donned mismatched, second-hand equipment and wobbled onto the ice at Lasker Rink, an outdoor facility at the northern end of Central Park.
The program continued to grow and raise money through its two major fundraisers. The annual Sports Auction, held in each February at Park Avenue Country Club, and the Annual Benefit on the Green Golf Tournament, held at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, NY.
Today, with our comprehensive programs serving over 200 children per year, our mission remains constant, EDUCATION IS THE GOAL!

Contact person: Jessica Murray, Coordinator, (212) 722-0044, (email)
Office fax number: (212) 722-0044

Address:

PS 101, 141 East 111th St. 4th Floor New York, NY 10029 (See a map)