Eli, You Are F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S!

Sorry we haven't been blogging about our events as much lately, but trust us, we've been BUSY! Don't worry, we'll tell you all about them very soon!

In the mean time, please join Cheer NY in congratulating Eli R. who won the Fabulous Award last week! We definitely pushed Eli to the max last week, but you wouldn't know by watching him that he was tackling stunts and pyramids that he had never done before. He was high-flying in the air like a pro! Way to go Eli!

Eli R. is a constant bundle of energy and we would love for you to get to know him a little better.

Name: Eli R.
Member Since: August 2012.
Position: Mid-Base Flyer.
Why on Cheer NY: I joined Cheer New York because I wanted to give back to the community, create new friendships, and pursue my passion for cheer & dance again.

Fun Facts About Eli:

• My celeb crushes are Adam Levine, Joel Madden, & Daniel Radcliffe
• Favorite bands are Green Day and Blink 182! Do Britney Spears & Madonna count too?
• Favorite meal is sushi. I'm Asian/Islander, I know! Typical. 
• Favorite dessert is red velvet cake.
• People might be surprised to know that I enjoy fishing. 
• In my free time, I roam the city looking for design inspirations, whether it's from browsing at flea markets, sketching at Central Park, or running in my neighborhood. This city is truly magical.
• Growing up I always thought I'd be a nurse or a doctor but as you grow up you learn more about yourself and discover your passion in life. For me, it's fashion design and that is how I ended up here in NYC. 
• I am so glad to be part of this amazing organization. The people on the team have become my closest friends. Everyone is genuinely passionate and kind, I definitely felt at home after the first practice. In cheerleading trust is important and I think that's what initially connects each and everyone of us immediately. 

  

NYC Half 2013

On Sunday, March 17th, Cheer New York layered up to cheer at an event we participate in every year, the NYC Half Marathon. The thousands of racers weren't going to let the unseasonable cold keep them from putting a "spring" in their step! Upon arriving at the designated Cheer NY Cheer Zone, teammates were shaking and chattering due to the weather, early hour and excitement for the NYC Half. 

Once the race started, a sea of faces streamed down the West Side Highway, and Cheer New York was there near mile 11 to pump the runners up for the final stretch.

photo courtesy of NYRR

For many members of the team, this race is possibly one of the most emotional. It's always fun to dance, stunt and cheer but at this race we are able to connect more with several runners who not only waved and smiled but, high fived, hugged and a few racers even got a little jiggy with us. This race is longer and more physically demanding than a 5k, but more intimate than the NYC ING Marathon.

 We rallied on the athletes for three hours and in that time we saw the spirit of those racing; beginning with wheelchair racers, followed by the top men and women, LGBT friends from the Front Runners NY team, the thousands of NYRR racers and all the way to the very last local runner.

Some runners who were out of steam seemed to come alive and picked up the pace once they saw us. It is incredibly inspiring to see runners light up and get a second (or perhaps third or fourth) wind.

When the racers laughed, smiled and even thanked us for cheering them on, all thoughts of chilly weather were gone. And it was a special treat for us to cheer on three of our own teammates, Abbey C., Katie M., and Rachael G., as they traded in their pom poms for some sneakers and took to the pavement.

It was an intoxicating feeling knowing that you helped at least one person achieve a personal goal. We did not stunt or jump this year (due to the bitter cold), which for some members is a personal favorite part of events, but it was always easy to keep a smile on our faces at the NYC Half.

Great job and a huge congrats to the thousands of finishers from this past weekend’s NYC Half Marathon. We are proud of YOU!

Thank You, GLBT Expo 2013!!

This past weekend, Cheer New York appeared at The Original GLBT Expo in New York City as one of the many exhibitors at the 20th annual Expo on March 9th and 10th at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center.

Cheer NY showed off our new members, new uniforms, did some recruiting, performed stunts, jumps, cheers, dances and even tumbling to raise awareness our two local charities (Art Start & Bronx Aids Services).

The two-day event was the first performance for many of our new team members and our very own John-Deric M. performed on the main stage as did David G. with drag performer Peppermint, who even gave us a special shout out.

This event marked the start of the 2013 Pride season for Cheer New York; so many fans that came and told us how great we looked and couldn't wait to see us at the Pride Parades.

This event was such a fun and successful experience for us. Cheer New York is always honored to be with such a dynamic group of people that attend The Original GLBT Expo and who cheer us on just as much as we cheer them on.

If you missed seeing us at the Expo this weekend, fear not! Cheer New York will be on the sidelines of the NYC Half Marathon Sunday morning (March 17th) cheering on all of New York City's finest Road Runners (including a few of our own teammates, Abbey C., Katie M. and Rachael G.)! Make sure you check us out at the "Cheer NY Cheer Zone" on the West Side Highway near Christopher St. (around mile marker 10!) and say hi, help us cheer on the runners and give them a bit of encouragement!

Photo courtesy of NYRR 2012

Cheerleader 0f The Year: Wilson V.

Cheer New York is made up of adult men and women varying in ages, from all different walks of life. Each year we have approximately 30-40 Performing Members plus 15 or so Active Alumni and Auxiliary Members. Each November, the entire team gets all dressed up for our annual Cheer New York Awards Banquet. There are a handful of awards that the team gets to vote on, "Best Jumper," "Best Dancer," "Most Improved Flyer," etc. But there is one award, that is given by the Cheer NY Leadership, and it just might be Cheer New York's most coveted award..."Cheerleader of the Year!" The winner of this award embodies what Cheer NY is all about. They put their heart and soul into every practice, every event, every parade, raising money for local charities etc., etc., etc. We are fortunate enough to have many members of our team that could easily win this award, making leadership's job to pick only one person each year a bit difficult. But after careful consideration, leadership made their choice for the 2012-2013 recipient. Drum roll please.......

This year's Cheerleader of the Year is......

Wilson V!!!!

Wilson has been a vital part of this team since August 2009 and was a Co-captain for the 2011-2012 season. He is one of our strongest bases and one of our most talented tumblers.

He says that he is on Cheer New York because "It's a great way to give back to the community while doing one of my favorite activities, whether it be cheering, tumbling or dancing. I enjoy learning new skills and challenging myself with new stunts. But most of all, I've had the honor to meet some of the most incredible people in New York City."

Wilson makes time for Cheer NY after long days at the office as the Senior Account Service Representative for Turner Broadcasting. In his free time, he enjoys going to gymnastics classes, diving at Columbia University, coaching adults and kids in gymnastics, watching movies, and dinning out with friends and loved ones. The one meal that he just cannot get enough of is pasta, pasta, and more pasta!

What inspires Wilson? "My biggest inspiration has been my dad. He came from Cuba at the young age of 19 and was able to start a business, buy property, raise a family and become an American Citizen. He's inspired me to work as hard as I can in just about everything I do. It has affected my gymnastics, my education and my career in so many positive ways."

Giving back to the community, and raising money for charity is so much a part of this team, and a part of Wilson. "I really like how Cheer NY focuses on giving back to local organizations. How these organizations are small yet have a big impact in the community. Also, being that they are small organizations, we don't have to raise $100,000 for it to benefit the organization...every little bit counts, if it's 2k or 20k. These organizations do a lot for our community and I like to know that we can do a lot for them with the money we raise for them through our Cheer For Life fund."

Congratulations Wilson V!!! Thank you for your commitment and everything you do for Cheer New York.

Make sure you say hi to him at our next event, and congratulate him on receiving this prestigious award!

The Will Clark Show: Cheer NY Bingo!

Cheer New York recently held its semi-annual Bingo fundraiser at the Ritz Bar hosted by Will Clark. We had a blast getting to meet some of our fans, selling Bingo tickets, and raising money for our two charities we are supporting (Art Start & Bronx AIDS Services). As cold as it has been these past few weeks in New York City, we had a surprisingly nice turnout and raised some great money for our two charities in just two hours selling $1 bingo cards.

We are honored to have been the final Bingo event at the Ritz Bar along with Peppermint and Lucky Charming, a “boylesque” performer, who both nearly stole the show with their amazing performances. We are so happy that we had such a wonderful turnout and got to meet many new people and introduce them to Cheer New York and see several of our fans, who are always there to support us. We were even graced by a few of our own potential new members and recruits!

Cheer NY is always happy to have new fans and play Bingo with Will Clark. We hope to see you at the next Bingo event!

Congrats 2013 Newbies!

Cheer New York is very lucky in that we live in the greatest city in the U.S. (in our humble opinion). We have such a huge pool of talent show up at our auditions each year, it's hard for us to make cuts. That being said... Congratulations to the lucky 16 who recently went through our mid-season auditions and made the team!

Thank you to each and every person who auditioned.... we sincerely wish we could take every one of you. Please, re-audition for us again this summer for our 2013-2014 season!

Congrats again, and welcome to the Cheer NY family: Ashley S., Brennen C., Caitlin O., Cassie J., Dustin B., Justin K., Kendrew D., Lyndsey A., Mikaela D., Omer C., Sloan L., Zavier C., retuning member Jovani P., and our new auxiliary members, Cleopatra A., Jeremy K., and Austin N!
 

Now let's get ready for Pride season!!!

  Please join us in welcoming the newest members to the team!
Cheer NY would love to see you at 
Boxers Sports Bar in Hell's Kitchen
(50th St. & 9th Ave.) this Sunday, February 17 @ 6pm-9pm
for our semi-annual "Newbie Night!" 
Always a fun time, we hope to see you there!

Cheer NY Gives Back To Camp CHAM!

On Tuesday January 22nd 2013 members of Cheer New York presented a check for $5,000 to the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, last seasons Cheer For Life (CFL) nominated charity.

Two representatives from Camp CHAM, a summer camp for children living with diabetes, were there to accept the check. The Camp CHAM ladies were all smiles and so appreciative of Cheer New York's gift.

The money will support expenses at the hospital as well as funding for next years Camp CHAM. We spoke about Cheer New York's continued support of Camp CHAM and discussed maybe cheering for the camp this upcoming summer!

Thanks to all who attended and remember:

 Cheer Loud, Cheer Proud for charity!!

Jock-A-Thon!!

Last night, Monday February 4, 2013 Cheer New York attended the 7th annual Jock-A-Thon Ball Gay Sports Party & Time Square Social Presented by TheMenEvent and Edge Networks at Dave & Buster's in Time Square. 

Cheer New York, along with other participating NYC teams came out to recruit and gain new athletic supporters. Hundreds of men and women came out to meet the jocks, and perhaps, end up on a team! This event has been a staple of the gay sports community and has been an excellent way to mix and mingle with all team members and those interested in learning more about gay sports in NYC.

With our upcoming tryouts, less than a day away, this event was a great way for us to gain some last minute recruits for this week's auditions.

We had a blast getting to know some of the new teams in NYC and reconnecting with long standing friends (Front Runners NY, Team New York Aquatics, and Big Apple Dodgeball just to name a few). We also gave away some great prizes for those that participated in our raffle- congrats to the winners of the theater tickets and the North Face jacket!

A big thank you to everyone that made it out last night, we had so much fun meeting you! We hope to see some of you tomorrow night (or Sunday afternoon) to audition for the remainder of our 2013 season! Don't forget to checkout out website for official details: www.cheerny.org

Fabulous VAL!!

This week's Fabulous Award winner comes to Cheer New York all the way from Russia!

Valerie D. joined Cheer NY this past August because she saw it as a great opportunity to combine her love for cheerleading with helping the community. Val is one of our most flexibly flyers, with her favorite stunt to perform being a scorpion twist. One of the reasons leadership crowned Val this week's winner is because while she may often come across as timid and shy, she really goes out of her way to get to get to know each of her teammates personally.

Having only been in New York City for about a year and a half, Val says that through Cheer NY "I've gained an amazing family, I love my cheerios!"

Well, we love you too Valerie D! Congratulations on winning the Fabulous Award - keep up the good work!!

If you think you've got what it takes to be a fabulous member of Cheer New York, show us what you got! Mid-Season Tryouts start this Wednesday for the remainder of our 2013 season and we'd love to meet you.

 Please visit www.cheerny.org to REGISTER & get more details.



What Is Cheer For Life?

This is the season of giving, and that is exactly what Cheer New York is all about. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle and forget what the meaning of the holiday spirit is all about. But don’t worry, stick with Cheer NY and we can help you figure out the best charity to donate to on behalf of your boss (wink! wink!)… us!

Cheer New York’s mission is to make the world a little bit better by raising money through our Cheer For Life fund and giving the money we raise to small local charities in New York City that support the fight on aids, life-challenging illnesses and conditions. Every year, we pick a new local charity to support, but because of our growing fans and increased number of members, this year we decided to choose two charities! The money that we raise this holiday season and in the upcoming year will be split equally between the two charities our Cheer For Life fund will be supporting: Bronx Aid Services and Art Start.

The first charity that we've chosen is The Bronx Aid Services (BAS). Its mission is to help adolescents and adults in the Bronx area that are HIV positive or at risk who lack the means and resources they need in their daily lives. BAS was started in 1986 and helps over 8,000 people living in the Bronx by offering them counseling, legal aid, and medical services.

The second charity that Cheer NY chose to support is Art Start. Every night 17,000 children spend the night on the streets or in a homeless shelter. The purpose of Art Start is to nurture these 17,000 children through daily creative art projects conducted at homeless shelters. Founded in 1991, Art Start helps transform and educate young lives through music, art, and other creative arts.

So, if you’re having trouble with the perfect gift for that special someone, donate to our Cheer for Life Fund on behalf of them and help out one of the 17,000 young children through Art Start or a Bronx resident affected by HIV. We will be gift-wrapping Thursday through Sunday at the Barnes and Noble in Union Square where your donations will help support the two charities.

Everyone at Cheer New York wishes you and yours a happy holiday season!

World AIDS Day 2012

Happy Holiday's Cheer New York friends, family and fans! Today, December 1, 2012, is World AIDS Day. An opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. Please show your support by marking this day, taking a moment to reflect on this worldwide issue. Please show your support by wearing a red ribbon, raising awareness, give a donation to an AIDS organization or attending a local event.

Cheer New York & The Will Clark Show

On Wed. Oct 11 Cheer New York teamed up with The Will Clark Show to raise money for The Cheer for Life Fund playing good old fashion BINGO.  
That is, if old fashion BINGO featured booze,  Adult prizes, and some risqué banter from Will and co-host Collin Stone. 

 The team sold $1 Bingo cards to Ritz bar patrons who were treated to off color comedy, Happy Hour specials, and music by DJ Chauncey Dandridge.  Special guest Joe Conti also performed his new single When it Comes to Love (available on iTunes) during a break between rounds.  

Will was a gracious host giving shout outs to the team several times through out the evening and sharing our mission with the crowd.  Thanks to the Ritz, Will Clark, and to everyone who came out and had a great time.  BINGO!!!

Who's Fabulous? Mark C!!

Cheer New York was at it again last Wednesday for another grueling practice. At the end of each practice, our leadership gets together and decides who should win that night's fabulous award. Some nights, it's a no-brainer and other nights, each of the teammates have worked equally as hard so it might be a bit tougher for them to decide. It's especially difficult when you have a teammate who is consistently fabulous, they can almost fly under the radar. That is exactly why Mark C. won last week. Since joining the team at the end of the summer, Mark has showed up to every practice and almost every event. He has helped a ton behind the scenes and always gives 110%. 

"I am so honored to be part of Cheer NY and to be recognized as fabulous. Thank you team for allowing me to be part of something greater than myself!" - Mark C.

Thank YOU Mark, for being so fabulous!
Cheer New York is taking a break from practice next Wednesday to go trick-or-treating! But keep checking in with our blog, we've got some great posts coming up from our most recent events!

Luis L, You Are Fabulous!

Last week's Fabulous Award recipient was none other than Luis L! 

Luis started this season better and stronger than ever. He has really stepped-it-up athletically and behind-the-scences and proven why he is such a vital part of Cheer NY. This award could not have come at a better time for him either as he received it on the eve of his birthday! 

"Winning the fabulous award is something that I feel proud of that my coaches and teammates see how I am growing as a cheerleader and I am proud to be a member of Cheer New York" - Luis L.

Congrats and Happy *Belated* Birthday Luis! Keep up the fabulousness!!

come to Sea Tea... TONIGHT!

That's right folks! Cheer New York friends, family, and fans.... the date for Sea Tea has finally arrived!
Please come join the sexy men and women of Cheer NY as we set sail along the Hudson and East Rivers for spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges and the beautiful NYC skyline.

Cheer NY will be on the dock at 5:30pm welcoming guests onto the boat. The boat will set off into the sunset at 7:30pm. Please bring your valid ID to board the boat and $25 cash or check (made out to Cheer New York) which includes the boat ride, and the buffet. Cash bar only!

Please contact us at info@cheerny.org for further details or get in touch with your favorite Cheer NY member today! We can't wait to see you there, this is definitely an event not to be missed!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Cheer New York would like to wish you a happy Labor Day weekend from our family to yours! 
We hope that you're all doing something fabulous to celebrate the last weekend of summer 2012.

We hope to see many of you just one week from today when Cheer NY sets sail on our annual Sea Tea boat cruise around lower Manhattan. Cheer NY will perform on the dock from 5:30pm - 6:30pm. At 7:30pm, the boat will set sail into the sunset, cruising up and down the Hudson and East Rivers.

Your $25 ticket includes a free buffet dinner, a show, lots of dancing, and spectacular views of NYC! There will be hot guys and girls, a live DJ, beautiful views of the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, and the NYC skyline!

Please buy your tickets through...
A) Cheer NY member or B) Cheer NY’s main website
else Cheer NY doesn't receive the donation!

Contact Us for details: Info@cheerny.org

Purchase Sea Tea Tickets: http://www.cheerny.org/donations.htm

Get your tickets TODAY!!!

Ashlee, You Are FABULOUS!

Last night, Cheer New York kicked off their 11th year with the first practice of the season.
Bases were flexing and flyers were flying.... watch out New York, Cheer NY is coming back bigger and better than ever!
One of our wonderful flyers, Ashlee S. really took things to new heights last night and showed her teammates and coaches her true love for cheerleading and this team thus earning her the coveted weekly Fabulous award!
Ashlee says, "I am so happy and lucky to be a part of Cheer New York and love what we do for the community. I LOVE CHEER NEW YORK!"

And we love you too Ashlee! Congrats again on being the very first Fabulous Award winner of the 2012 - 2013 season!

International Aids Conference 2012

The weekend of July 21 and 22, Cheer New York joined forces with PCA members Cheer Los Angeles and CHEER San Francisco for a fun-filled stunt fest as part of the “March on Washington: Keep the Promise on AIDS” in Washington, DC. Despite ominous rain clouds and poor weather on Saturday, the groups assembled near the steps of the Capitol Building to learn a high-energy collaborative routine before welcoming International AIDS Conference 2012 participants at Union Station with stunts, basket tosses, glowing smiles, and the repeated chants of “Keep the Promise!” The following afternoon, the three teams opened for comedian Margaret Cho, Wyclef Jean, and a number of other well-known national figures who had gathered as spokespeople for the global fight against AIDS. After wowing the audience with some high-flying crowd pleasers, the group then took its positive energy to the streets, cheering, stunting, dancing, and flipping all the way from the Washington Monument to the Capitol Building.

Cheer New York would like to thank Cheer Los Angeles and CHEER San Francisco for granting them the opportunity to participate in such an amazing and important event. 

We had a fantastic time with all of you and look forward to collaborating again in the near future! Keep the promise! GO PCA!