By Nora Heston Tarte
In 2004, Andy Su moved to Mountain House, a “bedroom community” at the edge of San Joaquin County. As a full-time emergency physician at Sutter Tracy Community Hospital and board member for the Tracy Hospital Foundation, the father of three keeps busy. But despite his packed schedule, his involvement in the burgeoning community he calls home has always been a priority.
Andy’s biggest community contribution to date came in the form of a youth sports league. After a local little league launched in 2008, Andy was approached to begin a flag football league. “I was reluctant at first knowing how much time it would take,” he says. Regardless of concerns, in March 2009, Mountain House Flag Football, Inc. was formed and in June of that year it received 501(c)3 status.
In addition to successfully creating activities for local youth, the nonprofit aims to keep activities affordable so more kids can participate. Prices have never been raised.
Andy attributes this low-cost approach (and a continued effort to improve overall experience) for some of the rapid growth the league has experienced. “We have been able to grow the youth flag football league from 80 kids in 2009 to 400 last year,” he says.
Still, it wasn’t enough. The lack of organized activities for kids and adults in Mountain House was becoming a notable dilemma.
[We] quickly realized there was need for so much more in Mountain House so we changed our mission,” he says.Today, Mountain House Flag Football, Inc. offers adult basketball, adult and youth flag football, youth cheer, a tennis club for kids and adults, and a golf club. The organization also took over the fun run put on by the Mountain House Community Services District Board (on which Andy has served since 2008) and the MH Halloween Parade.
“One of the ways we keep our fees low… is that we are constantly raising funds and soliciting sponsors,” says Andy. The fun run mentioned above and another community event—A Royal Affair (where young girls experience a day of princess-fueled activities)—funnel money into youth flag football and cheer, while also creating more opportunities for local outings.
Humbly, Andy won’t take all the credit. “While I volunteer hundreds of hours a year running this nonprofit, our organization could not have been as successful without the hundreds of volunteers who donate thousands of hours of their time,” he says.
For More Information:
MhFlagFootball.com