The Riverside Hawks celebrated education, empowerment, and community at their 65th Annual Sports Gala: “The Power of the Game,” held at The Grill and The Pool in New York’s iconic Seagram Building.
The evening, hosted by Michelle Miller, award-winning journalist and national correspondent at CBS News, honored the program’s legacy of developing young student-athletes both on and off the court.
A dynamic panel discussion—moderated by Erika Irish Brown, Head of Talent Management & Engagement at Citi and Riverside Hawks Board Member—featured Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings of Earn Your Leisure, and Jose Minaya, Global Head of BNY Investments and Wealth.
Other speakers included Crystal McCrary McGuire, award-winning writer, filmmaker, and co-founder of Game-Up, and Coach Keydren Clark, two-time NCAA Division I scoring champion and assistant coach at St. Peter’s University.
Coach Zach Kuba, Head Coach of Riverside Hawks Select, was celebrated as Coach of the Year, while honorees included Erika Irish Brown, Rashad Bilal, Troy Millings, and Jose Minaya—all recognized for their leadership, mentorship, and enduring commitment to the Hawks’ mission of excellence through education and sport.
VIBE gathered photos of the key moments from the Riverside Hawks’ 65th Annual Sports Gala.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Erika Irish Brown, Keydren Clark, Crystal McCrary, Jose Minaya, Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings attend Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Scott Mills and Erika Irish Brown attend Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Danielle Belton, Chuck Nice! and Aubrey Bernard attend Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Tai Marie, Venus Rose and Jameila Grant attend Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Chuck Nice! attends Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Coach Zach Kuba and Michelle Miller attend Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Jermel Thomas, Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal attend Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Erika Irish Brown, Keydren Clark, Crystal McCrary, Jose Minaya, Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings attend Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Jose Minaya, Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings attend Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Michelle Miller attends Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Venus Rose and Francoise Blanchette attend Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Danielle Belton and Crystal McCrary attend Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings attend Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Scott Mills and Erika Irish Brown attend Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage DJ Trauma attends Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
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Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage Scott Mills attends Riverside Hawks Sports Gala With Earn Your Leisure on October 29, 2025 in New York City.
Harlem’s Riverside Hawks & Earn Your Leisure Celebrate Education adn Community at 65th Annual Sports Gala
overview of Harlem’s 65th Annual Sports Gala
Harlem has long been a beacon of cultural strength, community unity, and educational empowerment.Marking an inspiring milestone, the 65th Annual Sports Gala brought together Harlem’s revered Riverside Hawks and dynamic media duo Earn Your Leisure to celebrate the powerful intersection of education, sports, and community engagement.
This iconic event has not only highlighted Harlem’s rich sporting legacy but has increasingly emphasized holistic youth development, combining athletic excellence with academic achievement and social awareness.
Who Are Harlem’s Riverside Hawks and Earn Your Leisure?
The riverside Hawks are Harlem’s staple youth sports institution known for fostering athletic growth and community leadership in young athletes. Over the decades, they have cultivated talent that shines both on the field and in academic spheres.
Earn Your Leisure (EYL), a pioneering media platform, is dedicated to empowering urban communities through education on finance, culture, and business.The collaboration with Riverside Hawks for this sports gala creates a unique synergy that reinforces socioeconomic advancement through knowledge and action.
Event Highlights and Key Moments
- Community Awards: Recognition of local heroes and youth who exemplify leadership, perseverance, and academic excellence.
- Panel Discussions: Earn Your Leisure hosted insightful conversations around financial literacy for youth athletes, and the importance of education beyond sports.
- Sports Clinics: riverside Hawks provided interactive coaching sessions, combining skill development with motivational talks on discipline and teamwork.
- Charity auction: Proceeds went to scholarship funds supporting Harlem’s underserved students.
- networking Opportunities: The event created spaces for families, educators, coaches, and community leaders to collaborate and strengthen Harlem’s youth ecosystem.
Benefits of Combining Sports with Education in Harlem’s Community
The collaboration between the Riverside Hawks and Earn Your Leisure at the gala underscores the multiple benefits of intertwining sports with education for youth empowerment.
- Academic Motivation: Sports engagement encourages discipline that translates to study habits and higher academic achievement.
- Physical Health: Youth maintain better physical and mental health, combating community health disparities.
- Financial Literacy: Programs like Earn Your Leisure’s educative impact ensure that young athletes are equipped with money management skills beyond the field.
- Community Pride: The event fosters a sense of belonging and pride,reducing negative influences and promoting positive role models.
| Benefit | Description | Impact on Youth |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Support | Integration of study programs during sports training | Improved GPA and graduation rates |
| Mentorship | Access to role models and community leaders | Higher self-confidence and goal-setting |
| Financial Education | Workshops on budgeting, saving, and investing | Long-term economic empowerment |
| Health & Wellness | Focus on nutrition and physical conditioning | Reduced obesity and improved mental health |
Case Study: Impact of Earn Your leisure’s Financial Literacy Panel
During the 65th Annual Sports Gala, the financial literacy panel hosted by Earn Your Leisure highlighted practical money management tools catered specifically for Harlem youth athletes. This session led to:
- Personalized Finance Plans: Coaches and students left with tailored strategies for budgeting sports earnings and scholarships.
- Increased Savings Awareness: Participants expressed newfound understanding of saving mechanisms and investment basics.
- Community Mentoring: Attendees were connected to mentors offering ongoing support and guidance outside the event.
These results reinforce how targeted educational programming, when combined with popular community events like the sports gala, can yield tangible empowerment outcomes.
How you Can Support Harlem’s Riverside Hawks and Earn Your Leisure
Community involvement is key to sustaining and expanding initiatives like the 65th Annual Sports Gala. Here are practical ways to engage:
- Volunteer: Join coaching teams, event planners, or mentorship programs supporting the youth.
- Donate: Contributions help fund scholarships, educational workshops, and sports equipment.
- attend Events: Show up at future sports galas, fundraisers, and educational panels to strengthen community bonds.
- Spread Awareness: share content from Earn Your Leisure and Riverside Hawks on social media platforms to increase visibility.
Practical Tips for Parents and Educators
Parents and educators play vital roles in maximizing the benefits of combining education and sports in young lives. Here are some tips inspired by the success of the Harlem Gala collaboration:
- Encourage Balanced Schedules: Help youth allocate time efficiently between practice, academics, and rest.
- Promote Financial Education: Use the resources provided by programs like Earn Your Leisure to teach budgeting and saving early.
- Support Goal-Setting: Use the examples of Riverside hawks athletes to inspire goal-driven mindsets in and out of sports.
- Foster Community Pride: Attend local events to build social support networks and sense of belonging.
First-Hand Experience: Voices from the Gala
“the 65th Sports Gala was more than sports; it was an eye-opener on the power of education. Earn Your Leisure’s insights showed me how to handle my scholarship money responsibly.” – Jamal, Riverside hawks athlete
“Seeing the families and coaches come together made me realize this is a genuine movement to uplift Harlem’s youth. I’m proud to be a part of it.” – Maria, community volunteer
“Combining sports excellence with financial literacy is what urban communities need. The gala was inspiring and actionable.” – Maurice, Earn Your Leisure co-founder

