{"id":100080,"date":"2026-01-14T15:33:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T15:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/100080\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T15:33:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T15:33:10","slug":"unity-games-return-in-march-with-emphasis-on-friendships-spreading-awareness-and-basketball-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/100080\/","title":{"rendered":"Unity Games return in March with emphasis on friendships, spreading awareness \u2014 and basketball, too!"},"content":{"rendered":"

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 The Unity Games, a combination of basketball games with youth activities mixed in, help promote respect and tolerance among the youth of the community.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s 21st annual Unity Games will take place on Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15, with a team selection on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 9 a.m. at the Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC on Manor Road in Sea View.<\/p>\n

The process is mandatory to participate in the games, which take place two weeks later.<\/p>\n

The team selection is a way of creating teams that are equal in culture and ability.<\/p>\n

The innovative project born through the efforts of longtime friends Dr. Mark Sherman and Jacob Carey, continues to gather city youngsters of all ethnicities over their love of basketball.<\/p>\n

\"it\u2019sUnity Games co-founders Mark Sherman and Jacob Carey.File photo<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not a tryout,\u201d says Dr. Sherman. \u201cEveryone who registers for the games and comes to team selection is automatically in!\u201d<\/p>\n

The games are geared for boys and girls in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades and the event has been expanded to those who reside throughout the metropolitan area.<\/p>\n

\"UnityThe colorful Unity Games symbol. (Courtesy\/Dr. Mark Sherman)Staten Island Advance<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a combination of basketball games combined with youth activities during a number of fun weekend activities.<\/p>\n

Topics discussed are gang and drug awareness, cyber bullying, overcoming obstacles, cultural sensitivity, health and fitness, and other topics prevalent among today\u2019s teens.<\/p>\n

\"UnityYoungsters pose for a photo at the recent Unity Games Reunion at the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island in Sea View. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Mark Sherman)Dr. Mark Sherman<\/p>\n

The goal? To improve community relationships among young people and build a better understanding of one another and \u2014 even make new friendships along the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cBasketball brings the kids in, but the essence of the games is their education,\u201d notes Dr. Sherman.<\/p>\n

\u201cFriendships are formed and fears are erased. The basketball, game room, two hot meals a day, closing ceremony, guest speakers and entertainment, all contribute to why this event has been nationally recognized, and a success for all these years,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s not too early to reserve.<\/p>\n

Throughout the years some 3,500 children have already participated \u2014 and they keep returning \u2014 with many volunteers graduates of the program, and coaches for their teams.<\/p>\n

The hub of the games remains at Susan Wagner High School with the JCC and St. Rita\u2019s also participating. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are greatly indebted to the JCC, as they have always donated the use of their building for these games,\u201d says Dr. Sherman.<\/p>\n

The webpage is open and registration has begun \u2014 www.theunitygames.com <\/p>\n

Donations can be processed through the website, inasmuch as the games are free.<\/p>\n

The Unity Games are always looking for volunteers who also can register on the webpage.<\/p>\n

This year there are several new workshops, which are more interactive than ever, with a number of new instructors who\u2019ve climbed on board.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 The Unity Games, a combination of basketball games with youth activities mixed in, help…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":100081,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[9,24,63,137,134,136,135],"class_list":{"0":"post-100080","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-staten-island","8":"tag-new-york","9":"tag-new-york-city","10":"tag-nyc","11":"tag-processedbyclaro","12":"tag-staten-island","13":"tag-staten-island-headlines","14":"tag-staten-island-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100080\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}