Beat the Streets-TOLEDO began as a merger between the Beat The Streets USA Wrestling Program (www.btsusa.org), Toledo's Institute for Building Careers (I.B.C.), a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization, and Toledo Public Schools. The mission of the partnership is to empower youth in the greater Toledo area to succeed in life. 

As a team, we are offering free athletic training, tutoring, vocational training, and life skills coaching/guidance for young people in the community ages 8-20. We offer different sports for both boys and girls, as well as a variety of activities for those not interested in competitive sports, but who want to be physically active and part of a winning team. 

Every Monday and Wednesday, our members travel to the University of Toledo to receive on campus tutoring from UT honor students and faculty.  To learn more about our program offerings click:
http://www.beatthestreetstoledo.org/BTS_TOLEDO_WRESTLING.php

We are bringing Beat The Streets to Toledo for many reasons. Toledo Public Schools is the 4th largest public school system in Ohio with over 30,000 students. Recently, many of their programs have been cut, leaving these 30,000 students with no options to take part in athletic activities that have become part of who they are, and a possible ticket to college. That is where Beat The Streets comes in. We are offering many of the sports and activities that have been cut in our area.

Toledo is the 8th poorest city in the nation, with an unemployment rate of 10% and a crime rate that is 1.72 times the national average. Gangs are a big part of this crime rate with an estimated 37 established gangs in Toledo with more than 3,000 members. Beat The Streets Toledo is going to offer these teens alternatives to this dangerous lifestyle. Surveys suggest 93% of Toledo's 7-12th graders have used tobacco, alcohol and/or marijuana at least once. 

We offer our students the guidance, knowledge, role models and opportunities to avoid this dangerous path and become champions in life. We help them acquire marketable skills through our various program offerings so when they leave the program, they can have a resume and valuable training in employable skills that will benefit their future success. 

At Beat The Streets Toledo, sports and activities come second to education. If you don't have the grades, you do not participate until you do. It is that simple. We provide tutoring and all of the individual help each student needs to become academically successful. We also bring in nationally-recognized talent to coach, teach and mentor them. 

Beat The Streets Toledo is also proud to announce the Steven Scott Everhart Scholarship Award to be awarded to one Beat The Streets student each year.  

We truly are a one-of-a-kind organization with one goal in sight; Empower youth in the Greater Toledo area to succeed in life.

There will be a live Press Conference with a local TV Station held on Thursday-Dec. 15 at 10:00am announcing the Partnership with the Superintendent of the Toledo Public Schools and then on a local sports show later in the afternoon. 

The morning conference will include all local media, newspapers, and TV along with Chairman Al Bevilacqua of the Beat the Streets USA Program.  

“We are very excited that the IBC has partnered with us to help kids in the Toledo public schools.  Toledo has a long history with wrestling having created the FILA International World Cup of Wrestling that began in the late 1960’s under the leadership of the late Joe Scalzo.  I coached the 1985 World Cup with Joe Seay (former Oklahoma State Head Coach) that was held at the University of Toledo,” said Bevilacqua.

You can play an important role in the lives of at-risk youth through your gift of time, talent or treasure. Toledo's future depends on the success these and other young people are able to make of their lives. They are our future, and they depend on the generosity of people like you. 

If you would like to donate, join, volunteer or just get more information please contact Matt Moos at  419-244-8955 or MattMoos@BeatTheStreetsToledo.org .