Local Businesses Invest in the Future of Youth Rugby

Running a volunteer-based youth sports organization is fun—but it's also very hard work.

This is particularly true for an organization like ours, (AYRU), who is trying to bring a new and a foreign sport to Mountain View and surrounding cities. 

There have been many occasions over the last three years when the obstacles and prejudices we have encountered have felt overbearing and insurmountable. However, every now an again good things happen that restore our faith in our local community.

In December last year, AYRU made a bold move to join the . We have whole heartedly embraced this great organization and attended various events. We also joined a networking group called Business ConneXions which gave us a platform to share our vision for AYRU with other commercial enterprises.

Our message of bringing the unique sport of Rugby to the kids of Mountain View has obviously struck a chord with several members of Business ConneXions and just recently two businesses “Pacific Eye Care Optometry” and “Alan Russell - Princeton Capital” have stepped forward to offer financial support to AYRU.

The sponsorship that Dr. Allison Zaum and Alan Russell have provided comes "hot on the heals" of the support AYRU received from Restaurant an Irish bar on Castro Street.

These sponsorships will allow us to pay the $800 application fee to become a 501(c)(3), a tax-exempt not-for-profit organization. Having this status, which is now a prerequisite for all Youth Sports Organizations (YSO) in the City of Mountain View, may allow us to join the elite group of "Recognized YSOs" and perhaps get access to playing fields when we need it. (More on that topic in future blogs!)     

The funding we have received will also allow us to offer 5 full scholarships for kids from less privileged backgrounds and give them the opportunity to experience the thrill of rugby and learn new life skills.      

It is becoming clear to me, that there are many business people in Mountain View with a strong sense of corporate responsibility in our community. These business owners are prepared to take time out and to listen to what AYRU is all about. They are prepared to set aside common misconceptions and myths about Rugby and try to understand our novel approach to "the game played in heaven".  

Unlike most rugby clubs - safety is our number one priority; kids who are new to the sport play touch/tag/flag rugby until their coach gives the "green light" to progress to contact rugby. We are not obsessed with winning or inflating the egos of macho coaches ....we simply want kids to fall in love with the sport first. If we can achieve this, the competitive elements of the game will come more naturally.

At AYRU we help kids get fit and learn key life skills such as effective leadership, good teamwork and the importance of having respect for opponents and for authority.