Trying to raise money for my youth team

Christian Youth Basketball League 
What is it?
The CYBL (Christian Youth Basketball League) is a high school basketball league for young men ages 14-18 in the Los Angeles area. Games are once a week on Saturdays and teams have scheduled practices once a week. There are 10 games for regular season, playoffs, and a championship game. The games are held at the Los Angeles Dream Center Gym. Currently there are 6 teams that actively participate in the league, but we are looking to expand to 10 teams this coming season. 
Our Mission
Ultimately our mission is to use basketball as a tool to influence young men to make better lifestyle choices by building godly character, imposing discipline, and surrounding them with positive role models. The structure of a basketball team creates an opportunity for teamwork, good work ethic, discipline, and accountability. Giving these young men a positive outlet will steer them away from gangs, drugs, alcohol, vandalism, etc. It is our hope that each player in the CYBL would learn to become men of honor, integrity, discipline, with an end result of coming to the Lord.
The Players
The CYBL intentionally reaches out to young men in rough neighborhoods. Most players are missing a father figure in their household and struggle with finding their identity – so they go out and see the “homies” on the block and look up to them as male role models in their lives. This leads them to making bad decisions such as joining gangs, doing drugs, dropping out of school, and living recklessly, subconsciously finding their identity on the streets. The hope is that the players will begin to find their identity in something more positive, in this case the team, and accept their coaches as the positive male influences in their lives. We are using basketball as our tool to build relationships and introduce Christ to these young men. And as the players change, so will their families and their community.
Meet Joseph
Joseph is an 8th grader at El Sereno Middle
School in East LA. He comes from a broken home where both parents are incarcerated. He and his two brothers have been raised by his grandmother in the Ramona Gardens Housing Projects. Joseph’s parents have been incarcerated for most of his life. His outlet is playing sports, especially basketball. Although finding good leagues for Joseph to play in is difficult because of financial instability, the CYBL is hoping for the opportunity to sponsor him and others in his situation.
Meet Miguel
Miguel is a senior at Lincoln Heights High School in Boyle Heights. He has played two seasons in the CYBL and the team has been a constant positive influence in his life through rough times. This past season Miguel was the victim of a drive by shooting. He was shot in the face, but thankfully the injury wasn’t fatal. This incident happened because of his association with the neighborhood gang. Thanks to the CYBL, Miguel has changed into a leader on the team and become a positive role model for the youngsters in his community. He now voluntarily picks up trash in the neighborhood every week and has decided to pay back the damage done by his past vandalism. Miguel is a great example of the impact the CYBL hopes to make on every young man in the league. 
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How You Can Help
The CYBL is independently funded and all of the finances come directly from the players. This is a problem because the young men we are reaching are from poor neighborhoods and are financially insufficient. Therefore, we would like to be able to offer scholarships for the individuals that need support – and that’s where we need you. If this is a ministry you feel led to support, I ask you to consider sponsoring one or more of our players.  The cost to sponsor one kid to play in the league for one season is $50. This cost covers the whole season, along with the jersey and trophy. 
If you would like to give, checks should be made payable to me and sent to:
Alex Allsbrook
DCLS
2301 Bellevue Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
and in the memo line please write CYBL
In addition to any financial support you can offer, we always covet your prayers. We would love for you to partner with us in prayer for this ministry. We’re looking forward to seeing the lives of these young men radically change for the glory of God. Thank you for your time and consideration. This could not move forward without your support.
Thank you,
CYBL Staff

Slow And Steady Wins The Race

Whelp life here is never really slow. I even had to start writing things down so I wouldn't forget to do them. I love it though, but one night I was down in skid row and meet a guy named Ernest he is 22 and had been dropped off in front of the shelter by his parents. There was nothing wrong with him he wasn't drugged out or any of the normal that fits the skid row lifestyle. I tell you about him because I haven't been able to find him since I first meet him, so I ask that you pray for his safety and his faith. But while I was down in skid row I reconnected with some people down there a guy named Calvin a.k.a. Stone and Muhammad Alim and no not Muhammad ali, just to clarify. Stone the first time I meet him he kept trying to test my strength by arm wrestling me because he was convinced I was a UFC fighter but thank God he never tried to fight me. But ever since then he has been comin to church at least every other week, which is AWESOME. Muhammad Alim is probably my favorite guy on skid row, but not the most fun. I say that because he is the most faith challenging guy, he is super smart and understands Christianity very well but that may be because he is 60 years my elder. He usually always beat me in our debates which made me go back to study, it wasn't a bad thing but I don't like losing. This time though when I first came up to him, he remembered me and first thing he said to me was another debating question, Why do you pick up for church? doesn't seem like much but when he starts bringing up that the body is the temple of the holy spirit, it gets pretty heated. The moral of the story is I beat him and he actually smiled which he never does so I don't know if that was good or bad but im going to take it as good. I still haven't got him to come to church, but one small victory at a time.My small group family is doing great they are starting to accept that we are family more and more and I LOVE them they are seriously awesome and I love watching them change. My project is still having its war and its still hot. 3 more people have been shot and 1 killed, its sad to see or to understand I have even argued with some of the gang bangers on why, don't know if it was smart but oh well, you only live once haha :). But my youth league team had their first couple practices and game. The practices were rough, just trying to get the kids to show up was hard enough, but I got it done and the first game was great we won 66-16. Next week will be a little harder though. The greatest part about this is they all signed a contract to be on my team which makes them come to at least 2 church services and 1 youth service a month, so I'm taking my gang banging, smoking weed kids to CHURCH!!! and there is no other way id have it. I mean if they switch their life around real quick that'd be great, but I guess I got to take it slow. I know I am forgetting things but hopefully I remember them next time love you all.
With Love and Gods Grace,
                                    Alex

First little update

Hey guys just wanted to give an update on life, didn't want to be the one guy that post a huge status on Facebook that takes up your whole newsfeed. In this last month a few things have happened, where to start is the hard part so why not just jump in. I still work in Jordan Downs Housing Projects in Watts South Central, and a lot is going on there. The Jordan down gang, grape street or peda roll mafia, is at war with the Nickerson Gardens bounty hunters, and Imperial courts, another project. I call Jordan Downs little Israel because they are always getting hit from everywhere. The war is getting so bad that Nickerson gave a shout out that if anyone is out of their house past 8p.m. they are fair game in JD and unfortunately the body count between the three is up to 9 over the course of one month. So it gets pretty sketchy out when I am trying to drop off kids after church on a Thursday night, sorry mom :). Once you get past that tho life is great, I am even going to be coaching some of the teenagers in a youth basketball league that we have here at the Dream Center, bought them jerseys and everything, as if my life wasn't busy enough but if it helps these kids I'll do anything. But as being a second year in my program I am a "parent" in my small groups family. I have two wives, Semaj, its spelt james backwards, and Allyson, and no we don't endorse polygamy here it just happens that more women wanted to come back. Anyways I have 8 kids, Gabe, from Spokane, James, from Edmonton,  Alberta, Jordan, from Phoenix, Andrea, from Kenniwick, Rubi, from St. Paul, Minnesota, Lyndsie, from LA, Nicole, from Denver, and Seranna, from Edmonton, Alberta. So we got kids from everywhere, with all different personalities which is awesome. And we get each Friday to hang out and do whatever and I love it. So a little sidenote, Chris, a guy on staff here, and I ended up helping a girl named mikaela who was strung out on meth and homeless get into a homeless shelter, we also got her some clothes and basic needs, but anyways I hadn't seen her for about a week and I was walking around with my girlfriend, Samantha Pina. I saw some homeless people I said have a goodnight to them and one waved at me and started walking up to me until I realized it was mikaela. She ran up, hugged me, and said she loved me the feeling was great I can't match it with anything else, the cool part she has been off of meth for week I didn't see her. I have multiple stories like this but not a lot of time feel free to call or text me I love all you guys and sorry if a had few run-on senteces, been out of school for a couple years. anyways I'll try to right on this every couple weeks.
 With Love and God's Grace
                                Alex