INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Youth Institute announced an ambitious new initiative to strengthen support networks for Indiana’s youth during the 2025 KIDS COUNT Conference in downtown Indianapolis.

The “FIVE by 50” vision aims to ensure that by the year 2050, every child in Indiana will be connected to at least five caring, supportive adults who help them thrive.

The two-day conference brings together hundreds of youth-serving professionals, including teachers, mentors, coaches, counselors, and community leaders who work every day to improve the lives of young people.

This year’s focus on the power of connections underscores the critical role relationships play in helping youth build resilience, succeed in school, and prepare for the future.

“Strong connections do not just happen. They grow through intention, accountability, and teamwork,” said Tami Silverman, President and CEO of Indiana Youth Institute. “FIVE by 50 focuses on building up the support systems around kids, so every young person in Indiana has trusted adults who cheer them on, open doors, and help them pursue their own best future.”

Grounded in research on the impact of supportive relationships, the FIVE by 50 initiative will bring together youth-serving organizations, schools, after-school programs, and community partners to create a strong web of support around every Hoosier child. Kids with multiple supportive adults in their lives have better attendance, stronger mental health, and higher academic success.

IYI is calling on youth workers and youth serving organizations to make a commitment to reach this long-term statewide goal by saying with pride, “I’m one of five for Indiana kids.”

• Youth-serving professionals can join the vision by visiting iyi.org/fiveby50/ and signing up to stay updated on the important work ahead.
• Organizations can join the movement by visiting iyi.org/fiveby50/ and committing as a FIVE by 50 partner.

“FIVE by 50 belongs to all of us,” Silverman emphasized. “A shared commitment to strengthening our communities and investing in our kids. When we work together, we can ensure that by 2050 every child in Indiana grows up supported by five caring adults who help them grow, contribute, and succeed.”

Also at this year’s conference, Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) named Bryan Hammontree, Alternative Programs Principal at Elkhart Academy, as the 2025 D. Susan Wisely Youth Worker of the Year. Once a student in an alternative program himself, Hammontree leads with empathy and vision, fostering a culture of support for students, staff, and the broader community. He prioritizes mental health, staff well-being, and meaningful connections to help young people thrive.

IYI also recognized finalist Amy Pilcher, Social Worker at Zionsville West Middle School, for her outstanding service to Indiana youth.

For more information about the FIVE by 50 vision and how to get involved, visit iyi.org/FIVEby50.

The post Indiana Youth Institute launches bold vision at KIDS COUNT conference appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

MENTONE — Rita Price took in the moment without saying a word.

The sports broadcasting legend who has spent 50 years providing play-by-play, insights and heartfelt analysis for Tippecanoe Valley High School sports, found herself Friday night sitting on the basketball court named after her — The Rita Price Simpson Court — absorbing speeches acknowledging her place in the school's history.

[caption id="attachment_105624" align="alignright" width="475"] Standing behind Rita Price, from left, are Girls Basketball Coach Rebekah Parker, Football Coach Steve Moriarty, Athletic Director Sam Sturtevant, and Boys Basketball Coach Joe Luce. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The 82-year-old Price, who continues to work for WRSW radio, heard a series of short speeches from Girls Basketball Coach Rebekah Parker, Boys Basketball Coach Joe Luce and Football Coach Steve Moriarty as well as compliments from a spokesman for 3rd District Congressman Marlin Stutzman whose comments were entered into the Congressional record earlier in the week.

Price’s sports broadcasting career began in 1975 and paralleled the emergence of Indiana girls high school sports.

Parker praised Price’s talents.

[caption id="attachment_105625" align="alignright" width="370"] Free shirts honoring Rita Price were available to everyone at Friday's game. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

“You are so good at what you do, it’s absolutely like you bring the game to life, like you're right there watching it,” she said.

Luce and Parker both conveyed messages from Indiana sports dignitaries and several former standout players for Valley, including Trey Eaton, the boys basketball's all-time scoring leader.

Eaton's message: "Rita, your voice was more than just commentary. It is the heartbeat of every Valley basketball game, the soundtrack of Valley’s greatest moments, and the steady presence through every high and low throughout the last 4,000-plus games. Thank you for everything you’ve done for Valley.” 

Moriarty talked about the bond his family shares with Rita and her family and the far-reaching impact her words have had.

“From the back streets of Burket, all the way to Athens, Sevastapol, even to Atwood and the main streets in Akron — and even the Java Jacks with your Pink Flamingo — they’ve always been there for you and you’ve been there for us. You’ve been embedded in our community.”

He added, “Those crisp fall nights, you have (been) the voice of Death Valley Football. You are the voice of Death Valley Football.”

Pat Miller, representing Stutzman’s office, expressed appreciation for Price's legacy.

Miller reminded the audience that Price has been with WRSW radio for 65 years and is a Hall of Fame inductee with the Indiana High School Basketball, Indiana Broadcasters Association, Kosciusko County Basketball — and on top of that — is a former Woman of the Year recipient with Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce

"That's quite a milestone and Rita is truly a remarkable woman," Miller said.

Mentone sits in the middle of Indiana's 2nd Congressional District which is represented by Rudy Yakym.

While Stutzman's Third District covers northeast Indiana, Miller explained afterward that the two Congressional offices agreed to allow Stutzman to honor Price because the old 3rd District used to include the school before redistricting years ago.

Shirts commemorating Price's impact on Valley sports were distributed before the game and worn by fans, staff and the basketball team during warm-ups.

The ceremony was held shortly before the start of the varsity game against Huntington North, which was won by Tippecanoe Valley, 58-38.

Asked why she chose not to address the crowd, Price said she was eager to get the game started.

After Friday night’s game, She and her broadcast partner, Baylen Hite, would be headed to Logansport Saturday morning to cover all three games of the girls semi-state that includes Whitko for the first time in school history.

Price downplayed her legacy just a bit.

"It is true, if you stay around long enough, good things will happen to you," Price said.

"I'm very humbled by all of it," she said. "You know, I never did this for that, but it sure is nice."

[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="105617,105630,105620,105613,105656,105621"]

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This is the final in my three-part series on things in sports that are broken and desperately need fixing.

I repeat what I said at the beginning — this is not an all-inclusive list. There are many more things that I didn’t have time and space to put in here.

These are just the biggest things that need repair.

Summer youth sports are a mess.

Now, saying that will immediately send the hair on the back of some of your necks into “attack” position. I understand.

We’re not talking about your local little league or your varsity coach’s summer basketball program.

But the lies that are propagated by those who operate “travel” sports organizations have been harmful to families and self-rewarding for those who have financially filled their pockets by telling them.

Now, I would be a fool to say that an individual player doesn’t benefit by playing with better competition during their offseason. Of course they do. Doing that will improve their game and make them better. But when they come back to their school team, how does that experience translate? There is a risk of bad habits being picked up playing for a summer coach who focuses on your offensive game and doesn’t care as much about your half-court defense and whether you block out or not.

Why?

Their thought process is that offensive skill gets you noticed by college coaches. Colleges offering their summer players scholarships adds to their resume. That means more players will seek to be on their team, and they can pick and choose who they take for their roster.

And every time they add a player, they get paid.

The other half of the lie is that this is the only way to get a college to notice you.

The truth is, in 2024, there are literally dozens of ways to spread the news about a player to college coaches.

If you are good enough to play at the next level, a college will find you.

The Name, Image and Likeness chaos has reached high school sports.

Thirty one states now have laws established by their state high school governing bodies that allow high school students to receive payment for being an athlete. The whole point of NIL is that athletes can get paid for video games using athletes names and jersey numbers and also for marketing campaigns by businesses where the players are spokespeople.

But how it’s evolved (very quickly, I might add) is that college players are getting paid for doing nothing.

Colleges are collecting money and funneling it to players, and the bigger colleges with football programs are getting more money to spend on bringing in better athletes.

How in the wide world of sports are high schools going to be able to do that?

I can count on two hands the number of high schools in Indiana that could pull off that kind of power play.

They are the biggest schools in the most affluent school corporations—Homestead, Carmel, Fishers … you get the picture.

And college sports are in a free-fall because of it.

You’ve read my thoughts about high schoolers being able transfer to other schools, and the proposal that the IHSAA is considering right now that would allow a family to transfer a player once in their four years without any scrutiny over the change of school.

In case you missed that column from a few weeks ago, the basics of the proposal would allow a student to transfer once after the conclusion of their freshman year without having to move to their new school district and without having to explain to anyone why they are changing schools.

We’ve already addressed this, and we are moving on from that today.

In the final analysis, the summary of this is that the concept of high school athletes being considered “student athletes” is in danger. The IHSAA’s positioning high school athletics as “education-based” is at stake with the way this all plays out.

I hope they get it right.

But, in the end, the truth is that there used to be a partnership between parents, their students and their schools.

That partnership was the foundation of how students learned inside the classroom and how they accepted coaching outside of it.

But ask any teacher or coach right now, and that partnership is being shredded.

The respect parents show teachers and coaches is evaporating, and that attitude is being translated to the children who are just mirroring the behavior their parents exhibit.

There isn’t a school corporation or a sports governing body that can do anything to stop that. We, as parents, must do better.

If we don’t, those unscrupulous summer coaches win, and then they actually do become the only way to get a college scholarship.

We can’t let that happen.

The post Things that are broken, Part 3 appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

Occasionally, I get asked by one of you about my thoughts on playing time for a certain player on a certain team.

It happens during the basketball season more than football because more guys play in football than in basketball.

A good share of those conversations are started by parents and grandparents. That’s understandable, right? As someone who follows the team closely and sits in a position to be considered an “expert” on the team (I bristle at the use of that term, by the way), I am someone who generally has an educated opinion on things.

Sometimes, those people who ask really are wanting to hear my opinion. Sometimes those people are “coalition building” — hoping that my opinion matches theirs, which is that the coach is making some sort of mistake in playing time or rotations or player use, and they are searching for validation in that.

That’s not really fair when that happens, and it’s easy to see coming. And, in most sports at most schools, it goes against what most coaches tell their parents in the preseason parent meeting.

But I will, in my space today, address a foundational concept in how the player in your life can get more playing time, more snaps, more at-bats and more time on the pitch. I think what I am about to divulge to you is not a secret, and virtually all coaches will agree with it.

What is it?

Trust.

A coach is more likely to put in a player he or she trusts to do what needs to be done than someone they don’t.

That may seem obvious, and it may sound overly simplistic, but it’s not.

The next question becomes “How does the player get that trust?”

Also simple: they have to earn it.

Now, every player on every team in every sport plays for a different coach and there are different roles to fill on each of those teams. But let me give you the most basic and general tips I can ever give you to help you understand.

Every coach in every sport asks something of every player on their roster. It might be a tangible or intangible thing. It might be a big thing that every fan will see or a little thing that no one will ever see.

But the coach will say “I need you to do (insert job here)”.

Do that.

Do it.

Prove to the coach that you can handle that thing, and then do it again and again, and the coach will almost assuredly add a new responsibility to their duties.
The perfect example of this is Kyle Mangas.

When Mangas was a freshman, he was a starter on the JV basketball team at Warsaw. The varsity team was fully stocked with guards, so the JV was a good fit for him to start his high school career.

Three games into the season, you could tell that Mangas was the best player on that team. After six games, Mangas started looking like a kid who might be able to help the varsity team.

Everything Coach Doug Ogle gave him to do, he did it. He proved he could handle it. Then he handled the next thing, and the next and the next and so on.

The turning point was the night in early January when he scored 20 points in the JV game. After that, he became a full-time member of the varsity team.

Now, he didn’t really play a huge role for the varsity the rest of that season. He didn’t even play in every game the rest of that season.

But he never said a word. His parents, to my knowledge, didn’t ask for a meeting with the coach or the athletic director. He did what he was asked to do and became one of the all-time greatest Tigers because of it.

And it’s important to note here that I’m not just talking about handling stuff in-game action — quite the opposite.

Most of what you see happen in games is the product of what coaches see every day in practice. It’s why you hear me ask coaches a lot about how they feel practices have been—that’s where the ingredients get mixed together to make the next meal.

Encourage your player to earn the trust of your coaches and you will see them grow.
By the way, that same formula works with parents and kids of all ages, too.

* * * 

Roger Grossman has been covering local sports in Kosciusko County for more than 30 years and is employed with News Now Warsaw. You can reach him at  rgrossman@kensington.media.

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