PASSAIC (NJ) – In a day when community services occupy an exceptional amount of local government time and resources, the North Jersey Professionals (Pros) see a need in the community of Passaic by offering mentorship to the children in the city.

Last Saturday the Pros held a tryout in which basketball took a backseat to the mission of the organization.

“We are going to be involved with the community as much as possible, with the children of the schools here in Passaic,” Public Relations Specialist Elizabeth Santos Villar said. “We have a lot of things planned now and in the future in which we can use people that graduated from Passaic High School, and people that had mentors because that’s what we want to do with the team (mentor), that’s what we want to give back to the community.”

Santos Villar, a Passaic High School graduate, affects many children in the community working as a substitute teacher in the Passaic School District.

“I think this is the perfect opportunity for me to get involved within the community outside of the classroom,” Santos Villar added.

Dr. Alex D. Blanco, the Mayor of Passaic, who was on hand for the tryout, met the plan of the Pros with open arms.

“Since I got elected mayor last year, I have concentrated 100 percent of my time bringing pride back to Passaic, bringing Passaic up to standards, and making it a better place for our children,” Dr. Blanco said in his address to the team. “When Chris came to my office and we spoke about the team and the concept, I fell in love with it. It is not just the sports aspect, but what you guys are made of that will help the city of Passaic, especially the youth, by being role models.”

Along with his mother and sister, Dr. Blanco came to Passaic from the Dominican Republic at the age of 12, always remained rooted in Passaic.

“I always stayed rooted in Passaic," Dr. Blanco said. "When I finished my residency in 1984, I had offers from different sections of the United States and my wife and I sat down and decided to stay here in Passaic because I noticed as I grew up here the city lacked role models and people that really cared about the community.”

Being the mayor of a city, Dr. Blanco can take steps to make sure some fresh ideas gain introduction into the public forum. The plan of the Pros is different from many businesses that come

“Instead of just coming to Passaic, some businesses would come to the city make a profit and then leave, and then come back for the same thing while neglecting the youth and the elderly and that is something I wanted to change,” Dr. Blanco said.

Santos Villar, Pros Owner, Christian Villar, and star player Louis Martinez all grew up in Passaic, and noticed the lack of role models in the community. Martinez brings an impressive resume on the court, which should attract local fans.

“I’ve been playing in the Dominican Republic for three years, the league is competitive, with a lot of good Americans, it is good exposure,” Martinez said. “My first year I averaged about 24 points and led the league in scoring, this year I finished third, last year I finished second.”

Martinez is happy to bring his game back home, but there are other reasons for playing with the Pros.

“I like playing NBA rules, where the paint is more open. I want to play here to get the exposure and maybe go to the D-League,” Martinez said. “I received offers to play in the D-League, but I wasn’t ready because the money in the D-league wasn’t as much as I was making overseas so I’m trying to establish myself enough so that I can play a season in the D-League and we will see what happens after that. I know with the NBA comes a lot of work, I have to work out a lot, tune my game in a couple of areas and hopefully I get a chance to play there.”

It all starts at home and giving back for the Pros and Dr. Blanco pushed that point once again when he left this parting shot for the players at the tryout.

“You guys are key players in the future of our children, and I want you to realize it because once you step outside, you guys are seen like role models, someone the kids will look up to. It is an honor for me to have the North Jersey Pros here in the city of Passaic, not only because of the basketball portion of it, but because of the passion for the children and education and betterment of the community.”

The North Jersey Professionals begin play in the Eastern Basketball Alliance (EBA) in the 2010-2011 season, to find out more about the Pros visit their website by clicking this link.