Edited by Norma Schwartzberg

​The Riverside Hawks organization is one of the nation’s paramount athletic-academic programs celebrated it's Annual Gala 2022 on December 13 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in NYC. Bringing together an important group of new and prior supporters whose altruism made possible the continuation of these programs for young people. This year The Riverside Hawks raised nearly a million dollars and 50.000 additional dollars during the live auction conducted by co-chair Erika Irish Brown during the actual event.

This year’s event gathered business professionals, parents and students to make the evening, one to remember.
Chicago native and Columbia University Business School graduate, Portia Fultz Archer, the first woman and the first African American to hold the newly created position of COO, with the NBA G League was one of the honorees and announced that Riverside Hawks participant and presenter, Rebecca Osei-Owusu. Among the other honorees was another Columbia Business School graduate, Meredith Marshall, founder of BRP Companies a leading real estate development and investment organization. This year’s Hall of Fame inductee was Anthony Hargraves a Riverside Hawks alumnus who went on to play Division 1 basketball at Iona College and was named Associated Press Academic All-American in 1985. Mr. Hargraves was recognized for his
A 40-year commitment to the Hawks program, and is currently the Hawks Program Director. The
Hawks’ Coach of the Year honoree was Karriem Memminger. Mr. Memminger has been an
important figure at Riverside, responsible for coaching sensational young players like the
outstanding 6-foot-3 guard from Harlem, Cam Estevez, who will be attending the University of Rhode Island next year to play for the Rams. Ardian, a global private investment house with roots in Europe, and a generous supporter and friend of the Riverside Hawks was recognized with this year’s Corporate Citizenship Award. This year’s Riverside Hawks 3 rd grade AAU National Champions were also among those honored at the 2022 Gala.
The funds raised this year will allow the Riverside Hawks to continue providing opportunities to hundreds of gifted young athletes to attend prestigious private high schools and some of the nation’s leading universities and colleges. Over the years the organization has built an impressive alumni roster that includes hundreds of professional basketball players and notable members of the NBA. Among the most recognizable of these names are Donovan Mitchell, Ty Jerome, Eric Paschal, Chris Mullin, Tiny Archibald, Kenny Smith, Kenny Anderson, Ed Pinckney, Metta World Peace, Elton Brand, Malik Sealy, and many more. Participation in the Riverside Hawks program begins at age 5 with the tiny tots enrolled in the Hawks in Training program, a no-nonsense initiative that prepares them emotionally and physically. The program includes both boys’ and girls’ teams, with players as young as 8 and 9,
competing in AAU national finals. (r) an emotional Jack Daly, a former Riverside Hawks player presents this year’s Hall of Fame inductee, Anthony Hargrave 2022 National AAU Riverside Hawks Little Champs show off their awards with Coach Danny Colon
 Coach of the year Karriem Memminger with another past honoree, Coach Dermon Player

Evening MC, CBS-2 News anchor Maurice Dubois
shows some love to young presenter Cayden Stephens

In addition to mentorship and coaching, the Riverside Hawks program brings families and
communities together; provide initiatives that enrich a child’s learning experience, including
free tutoring that prepares them for standardized testing for both high school and college
acceptance. The program mixes academics and basketball to ensure student participants excel
at both and gives them the tools needed to achieve both life and career success. Over the
years, the program has earned bragging rights with impressive outcomes, and this year is no
different:
- 100% high school graduation among students in 2022
- 100% of 2022 high school graduates have been accepted into college
- Since 2020 Riverside Hawks students have received over $5 million in college
scholarships and grants (over 4-years) and over $550K in prep-school scholarships
- The program has also provided over $125K in high school scholarships to its students
over the last 24 years.

These accomplishments are made possible by the commitment of partners and donors who
continue to give generously, and the passion of a supportive board that each year makes the Gala a
unique experience for all attendees.

Photo Credit: Nidal Q. Harvey
(see images below)

For more information on the Riverside Hawks, CLICK HERE.