Generations thrive through Friars Club’s mission

It’s the kind of testimonial often heard by Sandy Sieben, vice president for operations at the Franciscan Friars Club of Cincinnati for the past four years.   

“I played here. My son played here. And I want my grandson to play here,” said one grandpa bringing a child to enroll in the Friars Club program, which offers basketball, baseball and martial arts, along with a variety of sports programs and education to urban youth.  

Sometimes Friars Club alumni will come by. One, with a good job, a successful life, married and with children, noted, “I have to be honest. I didn’t have a lot of family and strong support growing up. Without the Friars Club, I would have ended up on the street or in jail.”   

Every year, more than 1,000 young people enter the doors of the facility, located in the St. Bernard neighborhood. Volunteer coaches and counselors, along with four full-time staffers and two part-timers, are there to guide them.  

Programs include a popular day camp. Sports are not the only emphasis. A Catholic Inner-City Scholars Education Program brings together 300 students from urban Catholic schools for after-school educational enrichment.   

The place bustles with activities, including a Dribblers Academy for four-year-old aspiring hoopsters and the Ron Walker Youth Sports program for older students in basketball, volleyball and baseball.   

A Leadership program trains high school student volunteers to coach grade-schoolers.  

“The cool thing is that we are from all over. You don’t have to live in a certain zip code,” said Sandy. Programs are geared to promoting sportsmanship and good behavior as much as winning skills.  

“The skills they learn on the court are life skills to be used away from the court as well,” she said, noting the focus is on what she describes as “the Franciscan way.”   

A team huddles up at the Friars Club court. Basketball is just one offering for youth enrichment in this Franciscan program. (Photo courtesy of Friars Club Cincinnati)

A proud history 

The Friars Club remains a Franciscan ministry, formerly of the St. John the Baptist Province based in Cincinnati. Now, it's part of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The organization's board includes Cincinnati community leaders and three Franciscans.  

A congenial atmosphere pervades. No swearing is allowed. Players learn to treat each other with respect, a quality lacking in some youth leagues. Still, the Friars Club boasts alumni who played basketball at Division I schools and the NBA.  

There’s been several changes to the program, including new facilities, relocations, and the emergence of lay leadership under the direction of President Annie Timmons.  

The Friars Club began 164 years ago when friars devoted themselves to providing an after-school outlet for the children of German immigrants who crowded into Cincinnati. It began in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood and moved to a new facility during the Great Depression. 

German immigrants are now rare in Cincinnati, but new generations replenish the program.  

Participants now come from all over the city, its suburbs, and nearby areas of Kentucky and Indiana. Scholarships help defray the costs for those who cannot afford to go.  

At one time, the Friars Club included services for dependent youth, homeless families, and community empowerment programs. Now its focus is on sports and education for youth, particularly for younger children.  

The Friars Club opened a facility next to the Franciscan-founded Roger Bacon High School in the St. Bernard neighborhood in 2014. Funding came from the Province and a facilities steering committee project that called for community support.  

Big Smiles on Junior Dribblers: At the Friars Club, outstanding junior and high school students can volunteer to coach and mentor more than Jr. Dribblers K-2nd grade. The coaches get the training, and the kids score the points—and the cupcakes! (Photo courtesy of Friars Club Cincinnati)

Register for summer camp! 

Just in time for summer, registration for the Friars Club Summer Camp is open!  

The Friars Club Summer Day Camp runs June and July from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program lasts eight weeks and includes academics, athletics and enrichment activities. Each day, campers get breakfast, a snack and a hot lunch. Activities include swimming lessons and swimming, golf lessons and golfing, chess, field trips and more!  

To learn more about the Friars Club Summer Day Camp, visit https://www.friarsclubinc.org/summer-program/  

For more information about the Friars Club, call 513-488-8777, email info@friarsclubinc.org or visit them online at www.friarsclubinc.org.   

This story appeared in The Franciscan Way, a publication of Franciscan Friars Charities.