Coach Alex for the past three seasons has coached at the Maryvale YMCA. At this time he is coaching three basketball teams. Because of the area we live in, a low income area, there is not very much parent involvement. Coach Alex has become a father figure for many of them. For many of these kids, we never meet the parents! Alex makes sure they get home safe and have had something to eat. These are good kids and instead of getting in trouble, they are always at the Y and coach alex truly appreciates that. Many of these kids cannot afford the membership fees to play in the teams, he has gone as far as organizing raffles and other creative ways to raise money to help pay for their registration as well as provide snacks and drinks for after the games. Alex has a full time job but still manages to make it to the Y on time for practice. He is committed to "his boys" (as he calls them)...They have won the state championship two seasons in a row! He comes home very tired, from work and then going to practice..but I know there is nothing he would rather do, he volunteers for this, and the payment he gets is knowing these kids are doing something good and staying out of trouble!

Signed,
Julie Ojeda