Rising Stars founder and President Paul Savramis, recently announced that Open Season a grassroots program from the Great South Bay area of Long Island will soon become a part of the Rising Stars’ family.

According to Paul Savramis, this is just one of three recent community outreach programs initiated by Rising Stars. The Great South Bay of Long Island has seen an increase in the number of youth searching for basketball program in recent years. Paul Savramis believes a partnership between Open Season and Rising Stars will not only help to fill this need it will also create awareness in providing families from the area additional information of safe and nurturing environments available to them.

Paul Savramis reports that Rising Stars has seen great success from outreach programs over the past 12 months, including sponsorship of the Alzheimer’s Basketball Classic and the Academic+ program at the Great South Bay YMCA. Continue reading →

December 19, 2016

Carmelo Anthony and his namesake nonprofit organization recently rewarded 200 local children with an amazing night of friendship and fun. Rising Stars Founder and President Paul Savramis reported that a half dozen Rising Stars student athletes were among the lucky attendees.

“ We are proud to see our program represented and equally proud to see these kids recognized for what they are doing “ said Savramis.

Savramis added,”There is never a shortage of reports on the negatives surrounding sports and athletes so it’ a refreshing change of pace to see a focus placed on oft the many positives that are there as well.”

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Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis says his organization is much more than basketball; and for that, he is grateful. In this short discussion, Savramis talks about what gratitude and the act of giving means to the boys and girls who have been a part of this amazing program over the past 20 years.

Q: Over the past 20 years Rising Stars has worked with a largely underserved clientele. How do you demonstrate to these children that they have something to be thankful for?

Paul Savramis: We all have something that we can focus on to help put us in good spirits. For many of our student athletes, it’s having someone that cares enough to shuttle them from game to game. I like to help each child look back at where they began as an athlete, watch them realize how far they’ve come, and demonstrate to them how far they can go. It goes to show that no matter where they started, they have the power to advance themselves, and that is something to be grateful for.

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It’s been over 20 years since Paul Savramis founded Rising Stars back in 1996 as a way to give back to the community that gave him so much. Today, Rising Stars serves hundreds of boys and girls throughout Long Island and is continuing to work on addressing the need of expanding its popular and very successful youth programs to other areas.

Hearts and Hoops 2016

According to Paul Savramis, parents and students continue to be the most valuable resource Rising Stars has. This holds especially true during the holidays. Rising Stars hosts a number of charitable giving opportunities each year, with Hearts and Hoops being perhaps the most impactful. Hearts and Hoops was started in 2015 and brings together more than 100 student athletes from 4th through 8th grade to lend a hand to several local charities. “It’s one of our biggest successes of the year,” states Savramis. “The feel-good barometer goes off the charts with this one,” Savramis added. “Doing for others during the holidays is a gift you can give to yourself that just keeps giving!!”

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