Spark Fund has provided $2,500 of match funding
Empowering Kids Through Basketball
New York, United States
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Part of the New York Founding 50
Aim
Help Steady Buckets raise money to support our inclusive basketball program providing services to children on the autism spectrum.
Help Us Create a Place Where Every Kid Can Play
At Steady Buckets, we believe that every child deserves the chance to feel confident, included, and part of a team. Basketball is the foundation we use to make that happen.
Today, we are raising money to grow our basketball program for children on the autism spectrum, so more children, regardless of ability, have access to a safe, supportive, and empowering environment.
The Need
For families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), finding the right extracurricular activity can be a challenge. Many programs aren’t designed to meet their needs, which often leaves kids with ASD on the sidelines. Autistic children are 81% less likely to play organized team sports. 74% when asked, said that they would like more opportunities to play organized team sports.
We created our ASD program to change that.
How Our ASD Program Began
In 2019, our founder, Macky Bergman, and his wife Melissa welcomed their son, Cyrus. In 2021, Cyrus was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Like many parents, Macky was faced with a new and uncertain path. But he also saw an opportunity—to create something he wished existed not just for his son, but for other families navigating the same journey.
Drawing on years of coaching experience, he began developing a basketball program tailored specifically for neurodiverse children—focused on structure, patience, and individualized support.
What started as a small initiative quickly grew. Families began to see meaningful changes: improved focus, increased confidence, and a greater willingness to engage with others. Word spread, and the program expanded session by session.
Our Story
Steady Buckets started in 2010 as a small afterschool basketball session in a local YMCA in lower Manhattan. Just three kids showed up that first day.
What began as a simple effort to provide better basketball training quickly grew into something much bigger. Over the years, we’ve worked with tens of thousands of young athletes across New York City, always with the same mission: use basketball to teach discipline, resilience, and confidence that carries into everyday life.
What We Do Today
Our ASD program has grown into a vital part of Steady Buckets. We now offer:
Group and one-on-one training sessions tailored by age and ability
A dedicated ASD basketball team with practices and games
Our first-ever ASD summer basketball camp
A supportive, consistent environment where every child can progress at their own pace
For many of our players, this is more than a basketball program—it’s a place where they feel comfortable, capable, and understood.
How Your Donation Makes an Impact
Your support directly helps us:
Secure gym space in New York City, ensuring consistent programming
$150 = 2 hours of gym space
Provide scholarships for families who need financial assistance
$2,750 = scholarship for one kid for the entire summer of camp
$550 = scholarship for one kid for full day/full week of summer camp
$150 = scholarship for one kid for single session/full week of summer camp
$75 = scholarship for one kid for a single session/single day of summer camp
Expand our camps, teams, and year-round offerings
$150 = one team practice
$25 = one uniform
$200 = one tournament fee
Reach more children who can benefit from this program
Every contribution—no matter the size—helps us open the door for another child.
Our Goal
We are working to expand this program in the coming year—serving more families, adding more sessions, and continuing to build a community where every child has a place to belong.
Join Us
What started with three kids in a gym has grown into something that is changing lives.
With your help, we can continue to grow—reaching more children, supporting more families, and proving that every kid deserves a chance to play, connect, and succeed.
Donate today and be part of something meaningful.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 27th July 2026 at 12:20pm CDT