The Page Youth Center (PYC) has formed a partnership with Blenders, and beginning this year the center’s popular Winter Basketball League, which annually serves some 800 boys and girls in grades 1-8, will be sponsored by Blenders and known as the Blenders Basketball League.
Blenders, which is locally known for its smoothies, has been a long-time supporter of healthy living and youth sports in the greater Santa Barbara community.
In 1995, Blenders opened its first store in Isla Vista. It now has seven locations in the Santa Barbara/Goleta/Montecito area, and 17 locations in total.
Online sign-ups for the Blenders Basketball League at www.pageyouthcenter.org run Aug. 1-Oct. 13 and will be followed by evaluations and drafts in October and November. The Blenders Basketball League runs December through early March.
For over 25 years PYC, at 4540 Hollister Ave., has provided sports programming as a method of developing self-confidence, physical fitness, personal responsibility and other essential life skills to thousands of children. Studies have shown children who participate in sports stay fit, learn about teamwork, make friends, learn the value of practice and gain an improved work ethic.
Athletes who have participated in PYC sports programs continue on to compete in high school and college sports. A number of those youths have gone on to become business and community leaders in Santa Barbara County and elsewhere.
— Wana Dowell for Page Youth Center.