Business Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 - 5:00   |   205 North Park Avenue, Avenal, CA. 93204   |   559.386.9083 ext. 1010
Responsible Athletes | About
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Our Mission

Our mission is to enable all youth an equal
opportunity to compete, train, and learn the
proper balance of a student-athlete, all while
nurturing our student athletes into responsible
contributing citizens.

Who is RAP?

Responsible Athletes Program is a federally
and privately funded non-profit organization
providing children K-8 and adults with year
round sports and after school programs.

What is a
501 [c] [3]
non-profit?

It is a tax exempt charitable organization
dedicated to foster amateur sports whose
purpose is to benefit the community.

Why We Started

 

Both co-founders grew up playing sports in the community of Avenal.  Although limited in resources we strongly believe competing in athletics kept us out of harms way. Avenal suffered from many social issues during our child hood such as gangs, and drug abuse. Upon a return to the community, we saw that athletics in the community was relatively non-existent, and the social issues in the community were at an all time high. As we saw a need in the community, we felt we can fill a void in the city of Avenal and the Responsible Athletes Program was how we were going to do just that. Beginning operations in 2009, we set out to create and provide Youth and adult Recreational sports programs. RAP has now established several youth leagues in sports such as basketball, baseball, soccer, and flag football for both youth and adults a like. We have currently established After-school programs and electronic sports programs to further expand our influence in the community and schools. As we have now solidified our presence in the community of Avenal, we feel that in the near future we can begin to offer these services to other communities and schools whom are looking to provide their youth and families with a brighter future and improve the quality of life. Through sports, we hope to offer an opportunity to do just that.

Meet the Team

resonsible-athletes-enrique-jimenez

Enrique Jimenez

Executive Director & Co-Founder

Enrique Jimenez is the Executive Director and co-founder for The Responsible Athletes Program. When Enrique Jimenez moved into the city of Avenal he immediately became a part of Avenal’s youth soccer program in which he was given the opportunity to train and compete up and down the state of California and even allowed to compete outside the Country. After high school, he left Avenal to pursue a higher education in the city of Fresno. After being away for four years, and then returning to the city of Avenal, Enrique was able to recognize the lack of resources in the community. Although he felt lucky to be a part of one of very few programs in the community, the amount of the youth being left out was of concern.
It was at that point where Enrique teamed up with Andre McMahon and developed RAP to provide the foundation for the youth of Avenal to grow and gain the necessary skills to be successful in life.

resonsible-athletes-andre-mcmahon

ANDRE MCMAHON

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & CO-FOUNDER

Andre McMahon is the Director of Operations and co-founder of RAP. Andre arrived in the small town community of Avenal, CA from Brooklyn, NY in the summer of 1989. Rather than looking back Andre had the unique opportunity to grow and develop within the small town community of Avenal. Using the power of sports as a vehicle to become a community leader amongst his peers, Andre has and always will be a firm believer in the endless amount of benefits that a small town community may offer in terms of growth and development by the numbers. Rather than being lost in the numbers in terms of size Andre believes the one advantage a small community may be able to offer is the ability to focus on student-athletes as individuals rather than just another number.
Since establishing the RAP alongside Enrique Jimenez in 2008 Andre has since been committed to the goal of providing all Student Athletes with the adequate amount of tools and resources needed to inspire and encourage an active and healthy lifestyle amongst the youth.

resonsible-athletes-erica-kalingking

ERICA KALINGKING

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Erica Kalingking is the Director of Development for the Responsible Athletes Program. Coming from a background in nonprofit theatre management, she holds a B.A. from University of California, Davis, in dramatic art and psychology. Erica has worked with many nonprofit theatre companies in California and New York in the areas of development and holds experience in Human Resources from time spent working with NewYork-Presybyterian Hospital. Erica works with RAP to develop relationships and grow individual and corporate giving. She is excited to gear her experience toward RAP and believes in the great impact the organization has on the lives of participating youth. She will be continuing her education at University of San Francisco to earn a Master in Nonprofit Administration.

resonsible-athletes-liz-contreras1

ELIZABETH “LIZ” CONTRERAS

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

Elizabeth “Liz” Contreras is the Director of Public Relations. She recently graduated from the California State University of Fresno with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Spanish. Throughout her student career at Fresno State she had the privilege to intern with amazing non-profit organizations, some of which were Downtown Fresno Partnership, Lemoore Chamber of Commerce and Fresno County 4-H. Upon graduating she became part of Responsible Athletes Program as their Public Relations director. Growing up in the small community of Avenal she has had family take part in the sports programs offered through the RAP and has witnessed the great impact the kids experience. She is honored to take part of the program and create awareness in the community and throughout the Central Valley because ‘Together everyone achieves more’.

resonsible-athletes-javier-hernandez

JAVIER HERNANDEZ

DIRECTOR OF ACTIVITIES & SOCIAL MEDIA

Erica Kalingking is the Director of Development for the Responsible Athletes Program. Coming from a background in nonprofit theatre management, she holds a B.A. from University of California, Davis, in dramatic art and psychology. Erica has worked with many nonprofit theatre companies in California and New York in the areas of development and holds experience in Human Resources from time spent working with NewYork-Presybyterian Hospital. Erica works with RAP to develop relationships and grow individual and corporate giving. She is excited to gear her experience toward RAP and believes in the great impact the organization has on the lives of participating youth. She will be continuing her education at University of San Francisco to earn a Master in Nonprofit Administration.

How is RAP funded & where does it go?

Grants and Cash Donation

  • Waste Connections

  • Stericycle Playmakers Donation

  • Kook Foundation

  • ROLL Giving Employee Donation

  • Reef Sunset Unified School District

  • City of Avenal Donation

  • Paramount Farms Resnick Donation

RAP Revenue-Program Income

  • Playmakers Skills Camps

  • SOTD Softball Tournament Participant Fees

  • Turkey Bowl Participant Fees

  • Adult Futsal

  • Adult Basketball League

  • Adult Softball League

  • Youth Basketball Development Program

  • Youth Soccer Development Program

  • Youth Baseball Development Program

  • Community Gym Services Income

RAP Revenue-Program Income

  • Mileage and Transportation

  • Marketing and Promotions

  • Insurance

  • Trophies and Awards

  • Uniforms

  • Referees and Staff

  • Salaries and Benefits