The Step Back Foundation

Step Back Foundation

Mission Statment

-To motivate & inspire kids at an early age to be apart of something special (whether that may be a sports team, club, or organization) by building self-love, poise & confidence.

Step Back Shirts Available

Shirts Available

Check out or new Shopify online store to purchase Step Back gear! Click the link below:

https://the-step-back-foundation.myshopify.com

Teachable Tuesday with Olympian Priscilla

Introducing Teachable Tuesday with Olympian Priscilla! If you didn’t already know, we live on the same island as an Olympian (still amazes me). Priscilla Loomis was a 2016 Olympian and is training to go to the Olympics again this summer! Priscilla has inspired me in many ways with not only her athletic abilities but her positivity, light, and kindness. I asked @priscilla_frederick (her Instagram username) to share what keeps her going and to offer any words of motivation. Thank you for being such a good example and inspiration for others.

Stay tuned for more of Priscilla!

Step Back & Stockton WBB Donations Books to New York Ave School in Atlantic City, NJ

The Step Back Foundation and Stockton WBB's teamed up to donate children's books to a local elementary school, New York Avenue, in Atlantic City, NJ.

Stockton's Kadinah Harris is a New York Ave alumn, so thought it would be cool for her to interact with her old school!

2020-21 5th & 6th North Wildwood Shark's Team

Shark's Team Selfie

Funny team pic!

Shark's team pic in their new sweatshirts!

Shark's sweatshirts were sponsored by the Step Back Foundation.

Step Back Making It's Way to Florida beaches!

Kelly Palmer

John Fetsick

Christmas for the Kids

Upcoming Events

3v3 Basketball Tournament

On July 10th & 11th (2021), the Step Back Foundation will hold our 3rd annual 3v3 basketball tournament at Allen Park, in North Wildwood.

Pricing:

3-4 players: $75 per team
4+ players: $85 per team

(Each team needs at least 3 players to participate).

Game Rules are TBD.
Coed

Age Groups Include:

5th & 6th grade
7th & 8th grade
9th-12th grade
Adults (18+)

Online Registration:

2021 Island 3 on 3 Tournament Registration

Paper registration (drop off to the North Wildwood Rec. Department):

2021 Step Back 3v3 Basketball Tournament (Paper Registration Form)

"Live Like Bolle" 5K Run & 1-Mile Walk

On Saturday, August 7th, 2021, the Step Back Foundation will host our 3rd annual "Live Like Bolle" 5K run and 1-mile walk, on the beach in North Wildwood. This is where Mr. Bill Bolle spent most of his summer days. Mr. Bolle represented kindness, positivity, and light.

Pricing:

Run: $25 per person
Walk: $20 per person

Online Registration Through Eventbrite:

2021 "Live Like Bolle" 5K Registration

2021 "Live Like Bolle" 1-Mile Walk Registration

Paper Registration (drop off to the North Wildwood Rec. Department):

2021 "Live Like Bolle" 5K & 1-Mile Walk (Paper Registration Form)

Previous Events & More

2021 Step Back Foundation Easter Egg Hunt

Step Back Egg Hunt

On Saturday, April 3rd, 2021, the Step Back Foundation hosted an Easter egg hunt at Allen Park in North Wildwood.

Thank you to everyone who came out, had fun, and supported our cause. We were so excited to see everyone and celebrate the holiday together for the kids.

Step Back Fall Auction- 11/13/20

We cannot thank everyone enough for your help and support at our Fall Auction. All proceeds are going to our local student-athletes. Stay tuned to see how we put our proceeds to use!

A special thanks to our donors below:

Sand Jamm

Wild Ocean

Spill the Wine

Dolce

Guppi

Keenan’s

North Shore

Christie’s Nails

Lobster House

Lunch With Lynch Foundation

Rick’s Seafood

Coastal Prime

Harbor Movie Theater

Shampoo Bar

Douglass Candies

Warehouse Wicker

Joe Canal’s

Rybandz

East Coast Jewels

Chrissy Marie Designs

Pure Juice & Kitchen

Back To Health Family Chiropractic

Wildwood Middle School PTC

Crest Memorial PTC

Rodney Strong

Exit 6

Olympic Flame

Stone Harbor Yoga

Gerry D’Alesio

Dennis Dool

Jane Ginley

Joe & Kelly Franco

Joe Ebert

Denise Nuccio

Little Cafe

Crab House

April Frank

Colleen Ferraro

Richie Ziegler

Sandy Duda

Christina Adams Photography

J. Byrne Insurance

North Wildwood Shirt Shop

Cork & Bottle

The Palmer Family

Fall Agenda

Donated Recess Equipment to Cape Trinity Catholic...

We were given the most adorable "Thank You" cards!

Getting Involved in all of Cape May County's schools...We donated 10 schoolbags to Middle Township High School

Coaching the 5th & 6th Grade North Wildwood Sharks Basketball Team...got us team bracelets!

Go Sharks! (:

Donated 25 pumpkins to Margaret Mace Elementary School's Kindergarten Class

Thanksgiving Teacher Appreciation

To show our appreciation for Thanksgiving, we donated pretzels to our awesome Wildwood High School teachers. Cannot stress enough how much these people do for their students and the community!

For Thanksgiving, we donated pretzels to Wildwood High School, Wildwood Middle School, and Glenwood Elementary School.

Here are the pretzels that we donated to Glenwood Elementary School for Thanksgiving. The amount of support and help the Step Back receives from this school is truly awesome. Thanks for all you do for your students and the community!

Keenan's Virtual Palooza

Palooza Donations

Over last year's Easter weekend (April 11th & 12th, 2020), Keenan's Irish Pub hosted over 15 virtual performances, taking in donations. Throughout the weekend, Keenan's and these bands raised over $8,000 for the Step Back Foundation. The money raised has been going towards purchasing and delivering Acme gift cards to Wildwood families.

We cannot thank Keenan's & all of their performances enough. Stay tuned to Keenan's and their opening for the summer.

STEP BACK PHOTO GALLERY

Me, Maddie McCracken, and Addison Troiano

Basketballs were donated to the Step Back Foundation for our first 3v3 Tournament (2019). Macie McCracken, Maddie McCracken (me), Dennis Dool, and Sophia Wilbur are featured in this picture.

WHS Staff rocking their Step Back shirts in June of 2019. Standing up is me, Maddie McCracken. We are also giving the thumbs up because #thumbsupforkindness

Clarke kids at my WHS graduation in 2019.

Poster for our 1st annual "Do It For Bill" 5K in 2019.

DeGroff family photo at the first Step Back 5K!

Brynn Caraballo, Maddie McCracken (me), and Audrey Rankin, at our first 5K

Mack McCracken, Caitlin McMullen, Maddie McCracken (me)

Ellie, Ella, and Ivy Bolle (race in memory of her dad, Mr. Bill Bolle)

Nolan and the Troiano's killing it at our first 3v3 Tournament last year in July of 2019!

One of my very first friends, Mo, volunteering at the 2019 3v3 tourney!

Tyler Tomlin and I at the first 3v3 Tournament in July of 2019.

Jim Clarke, a WHS teacher, and girls basketball coach, and a loyal Step Back volunteer, Maddie McCracken (me), and Teresa Cunniff, WHS teacher and head girls basketball coach.

Pat Vodges, Eric Sorenson, James Grauel, Bill Bolle, and Camilo Jaras

Bolle Family Group Shot during our first "Like Like Bolle" 5K in 2019!

Christian and Cameron Caraballo looking adorable in their Step Back tees!

The Bolles & Friends at our first "Like Like Bolle" 5K!

The Step Back Foundation donated a beach wheelchair to Mohamed Fahti, one of my first and best friends!

Mack McCracken (not pictured) drew some of Mo's favorite things on the back of Mo's beach wheelchair. Pictured in this, is Mo Fahti.

New Chapter! I transferred to Stockton University, where I am on the women's basketball team.

Tommy and Ivy Bolle, Michael Sharkey, Mack McCracken, and Maddie McCracken (me) picking our 2019-2020 "Live Like Bolle" scholarship winners!

Me (Maddie McCracken) and Omarian McNeal delivering over 65 $50 Acme gift cards to local families on Easter!

Our post Acme gift card delivery bikeride!

After working unti 4AM, Keenan's Irish Pub employees still made their way out to support the Step Back Foundation at our second annual 3v3 Tournament!

Andrew Zielinski (current Marine!) and me (Maddie McCracken)

Mack McCracken, Maddie McCracken (me), & Ally Kuvik

Caitlin McMullen & Maddie McCracken (me)

Ally Kuvik, me, Mack McCracken, and Caitlin McMullen

Mia Cripps at Spill the Wine in Wildwood, picking up her Step Back tank!

Me and Mack McCracken getting ready for the race (8/7/20)

Mack McCracken and I, not being able to contain our excitement for the 5K Race (2020)

8/8/20: pre-5K run with Maddie and Mack McCracken

Mack and Maddie McCracken setting up for 5K (2020)

Maddie & Macie McCracken pre-race (2020)

Audrey Rankin, Maddie McCracken, Brynn Caraballo

Danielle DeRitis singing the National Anthem

Quick Info

2020-2021 "Live Like Bolle" Scholarship Application

"Live Like Bolle" Scholarship Fund

Our scholarship committee is pictured in this photo: Tommy Bolle, Ivy Bolle, Michael Sharkey, Mack McCracken, & Maddie McCracken

This scholarship is in honor of Mr. Bill Bolle, who unfortunately passed away in October of 2017. Mr. Bolle loved and promoted high school athletics. High school sports change the lives of many high school students by improving their work ethic, staying active, building memories, and of course, forming relationships that will last a long time. But most importantly, Mr. Bolle valued his family more than anything. All Cape May County 8th graders and high school seniors are eligible for this scholarship (two separate scholarship applications that are attached to the right).

A huge thank you to everyone who applied for our 2019-2020 "Live Like Bolle" scholarship. Thanks to generous donations (including leftover money from Keenan's Irish Pub Virtual Palooza) and endless support over the past year, we were able to give out 20 scholarships. Our winners this past year were:

Lance Lillo, Liz Mendel, Emily Mendel, Ella McCabe, Caley Israel, Ava Vodges, Buddy Morey, Blake Rosenello, Madison Barber, Jaxon Grauel, Monica Kobierowski, Sienna Sawyer, Dani Shaw, Hadden Miller, Jaxon Tomlin, Luz Ferrer, Gabby Keoughan, Winter Favre, Mateo Perez, and Sophia Wilber.

CMC 8th Grade Scholarship Application

CMC Senior Scholarship Application

Reach Out

If you know of a resident of Wildwood who has financial athletic needs (basketball shoes, help to pay off registration fees, cleats, help grocery shopping, could use a winter coat, etc) do not hesitate to reach out. The Step Back Foundation is more than happy to help within means.

Mental Health

Mental Health Matters

Throughout most of my life, I have struggled with my mental health: anxiety, depression, OCD. Even though I am extremely blessed, these illnesses still get the best of me. The Step Back Foundation is willing to talk to anyone who may be experiencing similar things. All you have to do is contact us and we are here to help.

Changing Your Perspective

Mental Health Matters

I had a long and eye opening conversation the other day with my sister on mental health and perspective. Just a little over a year ago I was struggling with the worst anxiety and depression I’ve ever had. I was so sad and nothing made me feel excited or alive. I couldn’t appreciate or realize all the beautiful things life has to offer. I would constantly tell myself I couldn’t be happy until I finished or accomplished something. Over time, I’ve learned to recognize those beautiful things and it’s truly made my life better and more fulfilled. Simple conversations. Forming relationships with people. Doing things that make me happy. These things have improved the quality of my life more than I could have ever imagined. I’m much happier and much more fulfilled than I’ve ever been. Don’t wish your life away and put dates on when you can be happy again. Be where your two feet are and enjoy where you are now! If you need someone to talk to or just an ear to listen, feel free to contact us (at the bottom of the website, through email, or through our social media pages). You’re not alone and you will get through any struggle! #mentalhealthmatters

Let's end the mental health stigma!

Positive Affirmations

What It Is:

When life gets tough, there's always something you positive to look at. When I am having a rough day, I think of some positive affirmations that always make me feel better!