11:15am | by Miles J. Nevin |  There are many victims of the economic downturn that began four years ago. From infants to those in their later years, the impact is widespread and often constitutes a significant change in people’s lives. This past week we at the Long Beach Post discovered yet another example of the unfair impact budget cuts have on our community – the possible demise of Long Beach Unified’s Middle School Sports programs.

In actuality, the decision has already been made to end this $380,000 a year program. Unless the community finds a solution, the school district must eliminate support for Boys/Girls Basketball, Boys/Girls Soccer, Boys/Girls Track & Field, Boys Flag Football, and Girls Volleyball for the coming academic year. Thousands of students would be stripped of their passionate hobbies, their dreams of preparing for high school and college athletics, their only after-school release, and one of the educational activities that supports mental health.

But the community is responding. After a group of proactive Long Beach citizens organized themselves around this issue, Middle School Sports are very close to being saved. Long Beach Unified Superintendent Chris Steinhauser and his staff have found half the funding by borrowing from other school district programs. Under the leadership of Executive Director Judy Seal, the Long Beach Education Foundation has engaged in aggressive fundraising that will continue until they reach the finish line.

And they need our readers’ support. The next opportunity to help the middle school athletes is on Wednesday, February 8, when the foundation will host a luncheon being attended by Football greats Ty Willingham and Ronnie Lott. The noontime luncheon takes place at the Law Offices of Keesal, Young & Logan in the Union Bank Building, 400 Oceangate, Long Beach. An 11:30 VIP Photo Reception is available. Donations can be made and the $50 luncheon tickets can be purchased through the Long Beach Education Foundation web site or by mail to 1515 Hughes Way, Long Beach, CA 90810.

Thanks to the support of Football greats Willingham and Lott, the leadership of the school district and its foundation, and several remarkable community members, Middle School Sports are poised to be saved. This community based solution to a local budget problem is one more example of Long Beach’s commitment to its own posterity. Should we meet the finish line in finding these vital funds, we will continue to know that as citizens we can work as a team to make Long Beach a place where everyone can thrive during difficult times.

In learning about this community need I recently met with those most intimately involved behind the scenes. Long Beach first lady Nancy Foster, whose dining room table served as the meeting spot, along with Long Beach Education Foundation director Judy Seal and board member Mike Murray, all spoke emphatically about the need to for Middle School Sports. They lauded those who provided donations so far, and showed no signs of falling short of their goal. “We will get there,” said Mrs. Foster, “we just need a little more support to get there.”

When they do get there, the beneficiaries will not only be the thousands of students who will continue to grow through athletic involvement, but the 208 coaches, referees, transportation providers, and sports coordinators who support the development of all these teams.

For additional information regarding the February 8 Fundraising Luncheon, please contact Judy Seal at [email protected].