Athletes United encourages athletes to participate in community events. (Photo courtesy of Lisberma Peralta)

By Armando Martinez ’19and Lisberma Peralta Aquino ’20

Athletes United is a new organization that has been created by a group of athletes that attend Passaic High School, who aspire to demonstrate how they can be building blocks to a better place in their community.

Current members of Athletes United strive to teach not only themselves, but others on how to become leaders in the classroom and their community.

To have students excel in their academics like they do in sports, and extracurricular activities, Athletes United wants to offer tutoring, to help those students get on the path of academic success. They want to show unity between the various sports teams at Passaic High School, by appreciating and supporting all the athletes at their tournaments or games equally.

Passaic High School has 14 sports teams, and all of them should get the same amount of love, because every player puts in their hard work. A family environment among sports would not only bring unity, but a sense of harmony among the students at PHS.

One of the organization’s originators, Mariano McGaskey, the star quarterback/running back of the Passaic Indian Football team, had a lot to say about the need for Athletes United. He said, “Athletes are supposed to be a family so they can change the direction their city for the better, but how can we do that if we aren’t on the same page? We can change the environment around us, but we need all of us to do it.”

The organization aims to participate in more city events such as parades, community service, fundraisers and even school field days in order to represent the athletic teams from Passaic High School, and to demonstrate that there’s more in them than just their sport abilities.

This past Earth Day, on April 22, members of Athletes United joined other residents of Passaic to help clean the Christopher Columbus Park, and it was a great turn out! As benevolent as this community-building action was, they didn’t stop there. The next Sunday, April 29, they were at City Hall for the Celebration of Children, where they took their younger siblings to spend a joyous day alongside so many others.

Even though this a new organization, there is no denying the impact it will have Passaic High School, and the residents of the city.