Stamford Peace Basketball Club Honors Student-Athletes

From Stamford Peace Basketball Club:

STAMFORD, Conn., March 9, 2016—Stamford Peace Basketball Club, Inc. (Stamford Peace), a high-level youth basketball program serving boys and girls from elementary through graduation from high school, in and around lower Fairfield County, honored two of its players at a ceremony on March 6 in Stamford. The high school seniors, each of whom have played with Stamford Peace for six years, and who will play college basketball next year, were honored with Stamford Peace’s Kyle A. Markes Humanitarian Award.

Brian Kriftcher, Founder, President and Head Coach of Stamford Peace presented the awards to Elizabeth Grosso (Westhill High School) and Natalie Wind (KING). “In The Name of Peace not only marks the transition from our winter league playoffs to the start of our spring/summer AAU travel season, but also gives us occasion to reflect upon the impact we have had on our players and other young people in the community, and to pay tribute to the players and their families who have had such a meaningful impact on us.”

“With all of our tangible achievements as a program, we remain most proud of the lifelong positive relationships that PEACE has helped to create. While every team has its unique story, we cannot imagine any team, anywhere, who ‘got it’ more than the 2015 PEACE 16U girls’ team,” said Kriftcher. “Exceptionally well grounded, they appreciated from the outset that their PEACE journey was about far more than a means to an end,” he added. “Through their experiences, they developed best friendships – as did their families – that will last long past the length of anyone’s basketball playing days.”

Grosso and Wind have each earned numerous honors at the high school level. Grosso earned FCIAC honorable mentions in 2013, 2014, and 2015, and was named FCIAC Scholar Athlete of the Month 2014 and 2015. She has played Varsity all four years on the Westhill team, was a starter for three years, and has been Captain of the team since her junior year. Her academic achievements are equally outstanding, with a cumulative GPA of 4.45. Grosso is also active in the community and has worked as a volunteer and peer mentor with local church and school groups.

Wind has been a Varsity starter at KING since her freshman year, earned FAA All-League honors and NEPSAC All-Conference in her freshman and sophomore years. Academically, Wind has earned high honor roll in all semesters at KING, with a cumulative GPA of 3.83. Wind will be playing basketball at Wheaton College next year, while Grosso is expected to make her final college selection later next month. Additional information about Grosso and Wind’s accomplishments, both on and off the court, can be found on the Stamford Peace website.

The Kyle A. Markes Humanitarian Award was presented at “In the Name of Peace,” a player appreciation banquet held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at The Italian Center in Stamford. Approximately 200 people attended. There was a Pop-a-Shot Game for the athletes; a “selfie wall” for players and guests to post selfies live during the evening, with the hashtag #StamfordPeace; and a Chinese Auction, which included a basketball signed by players in the 2015 National Basketball Association All-Star Game, tickets to attend a New York Mets game at Citi Field and more. Nearly $7,000 was raised in support of Stamford Peace’s programs and scholarships, including its Beyond Limits Academic Program.

About The Kyle A. Markes Humanitarian Award On Tuesday December 24, 2013, Kyle Anthony Walter Markes joined God's army of angels, following a thirteen-month battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Kyle was born to Mr. Walter and Dr. Jackqueline McLean-Markes on March 31, 2002 in Stamford, Connecticut. He attended pre-school at Mothers Little Helper in Stamford; kindergarten at Newfield Elementary School; and was in 5th grade at New Canaan Country School when first diagnosed. Kyle was a proud student of New Canaan Country School, member of Jack & Jill of America, Stamford/Norwalk chapter; First United Methodist Church Children's Choir; Stamford Football; Stamford Youth Soccer; Stamford Youth Basketball; and Go-Kart Racing School Grand-Prix. Kyle's love of learning shared equal time with his love of sports. He loved to play, watch and follow basketball, football and soccer.

About Stamford Peace
Founded in 2008, Stamford Peace offers innovative basketball programming for boys and girls ages 5 to 17, from in and around lower Fairfield County, Connecticut. Stamford Peace uses high-level basketball competition, training and instruction as a means of teaching the importance of education and other essential life skills to students from diverse socioeconomic, religious, racial and ethnic backgrounds. Among the life lessons emphasized to participants in the Stamford Peace program are the value of teamwork, discipline, a strong work ethic, personal integrity, sportsmanship and resiliency. The broad pursuit of excellence—on and off the basketball court—is a cornerstone of the Stamford Peace program. In 2013, Stamford Peace established the Beyond Limits Academic Program, providing math and science tutoring, and informal peer mentoring. Tutors are recruited from among Stamford Public High Schools and work one-on-one with Stamford Peace student-athletes and other Stamford Public Schools students. Fees are highly subsidized, and students who receive free or reduced-price lunch qualify for a 50 percent reduction of the already subsidized fees. For additional information, please visit the Stamford Peace website at www.stamfordpeace.com.

Photo: The Markes family with the Kyle A. Markes Humanitarian Award recipients and Stamford Peace Co-Founder, President and Head Coach Brian Kriftcher. From left to right: Jackqueline McLean-Markes, Kayonne Markes, Natalie Wind, Walter Markes, Elizabeth Grosso, and Stamford Peace Co-Founder, President and Head Coach, Brian Kriftcher.