POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Five youth sports programs in Dutchess County will share more than $121,000 as part of a partnership with New York state's Youth Team Sports (YTS) grant program, Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said.

Boys & Girls Club of Poughkeepsie's Triple Play basketball program received more than $38,000. Players like 9-year-old Christian Patterson look forward to visiting the local club.

“We do skills," Patterson said. "Work on our speed, and we play a little game against each other."

For Patterson and teammates like 10-year-old Xavier Higgs, the Boys & Girls Club of Poughkeepsie provides more than a game. The two aspire to play professionally one day, and are looking forward to gaining more exposure outside of their hometown. 

“Definitely Timberwolves or Hornets," Higgs said. 

With the help of YTS state funding, Patterson and Higgs will get a chance to travel with their coach, Shajai Stanfield, throughout the tri-state area to compete in various tournaments.

“It keeps the kids out of the streets and away from violence, and all of the drugs and everything," Stanfield said. “A lot of our kids don’t have the opportunity to come to programs like this... A lot of them you have to pay for like $900 or $800 for, depending on where you’re at and where you’re located."

That's another reason why Kevin White, CEO of the Newburgh and Poughkeepsie Boys & Girls Club, said he's looking forward to laying the foundation for endless opportunities.

“They go out, they make friends," White said. "They’re on the road, they get to see different places and they also get to play competitive sports... Then, there’s also the physical training that they do while they’re in the program. So, we’re going to get them in shape too."

Dover Little League in Dover Plains, Mid-Hudson Aquatics in the town of Poughkeepsie, Northern Dutchess Aquatics in Red Hook and the YMCA of Kingston and Ulster were also recipients of the YTS program. 

While the state funding is awarded annually, White said he encourages any parent interested in signing their kid(s) up for youth sports to contact the Boys & Girls Club of Poughkeepsie.