Sidelined Chicago

According to a new 2016 study, “The Odds of Success,” the probability of a high school basketball player in the United States becoming a professional basketball player is 1 in 11,771. It takes an extraordinary amount of courage and determination--qualities that are mathematically incalculable--to pursue and achieve such a dream, especially against odds like that. Generally speaking, the world recognizes the hard work and drive of professional athletes and lauds them accordingly.

But much more rarely does the world recognize the sheer bravery it takes to pursue a new dream, such as when an aspiring athlete gets injured and is unable to play anymore. For most people, this seems like a door to a dream slammed firmly shut. With the notable exception of events like the Paralympic Games, the world might hardly take a moment to mourn the ‘career that could have been’ before moving on, leaving those athletes and their dreams forgotten on the sidelines.

15 year old Chicago resident Cade Pinalto, a driven and passionate basketball player, could have easily been one of those lamented athletes-to-be in the byline of a local paper’s sports section after he was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2012 that meant he could not play basketball anymore.

“My world was shaken up,” says Cade. “I could no longer play basketball, and worse, that decision was being made for me.”

After a few difficult years trying to disconnect from the sport he loved but felt he could no longer participate in, Cade met Varsity basketball coach and English teacher Nicholas LoGalbo at Lane Tech High School. LoGalbo took the young athlete under his wing and showed him that he could still be involved in his favorite sport—as a coach. Cade learned that there are other ways for athletes to continue to pursue their passions that are just as necessary and rewarding as being a player and he began to build a new dream around his love of basketball.

In April of 2016, Cade got the idea to start Sidelined Chicago, a non-profit organization to help those athletes who are permanently unable to participate in their sport due to a career ending injury or other health condition. The aim of the organization is to plug athletes back into their sport through other avenues such as mentoring, coaching, sports photography, and sports journalism. Sidelined plans to connect each athlete with professionals in the field they have chosen and support that athlete throughout their new journey by helping them build and maintain relationships in the industry.

Through his mother, Christine Pinalto (co-founder of Sidelined Chicago), Cade met Jimmy Lee, the president of Good City Chicago and learned about their Business Incubator program. Cade ended up taking the StartingUp Now class, sponsored by Good City at the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, facilitated by Angela Jackson.

"Cade is a prime example of turning a life disappointment into an opportunity.” Jackson praised the young entrepreneur. “Though he loved playing basketball, he saw that he was probably not the only athlete that had been sidelined yet still wanted to be involved with his sport. So his new business, Sidelined, will help other former athletes like himself stay involved in the sports world in a helpful and professional way. It's exciting to see youth like Cade decide to help others and fill the gap. I hope to see more high school students like himself overcome the obstacles in their lives by creating entrepreneurship opportunities!"

The Starting Up Now program provided Cade with a roadmap for success, helping him evaluate the current status of his organization and plan out how to successfully launch his business. His Facilitator was there every step of the way to answer questions and provide helpful advice, such as how to succinctly share his vision with the quintessential “Elevator Speech”--a thirty second sales pitch meant to share a product or service in an attention-grabbing presentation.

Due to Cade’s hard work, dedication, optimism, and his love of sports, Sidelined Chicago plans to officially launch in January 2017 with a $6000 fundraising goal. They are currently putting together a Board of Directors and an Advisory Board, working on sponsorships and grants, and planning fundraising events for the fall of 2016 so they can reach their goal.

Cade is encouraged to see how his business has grown since its inception and by how many people are on board with his idea and vision. For the future, Cade is excited to expand his business by building relationships with professional sports teams and companies so he can make a difference in the lives of sidelined athletes everywhere, and show them they can make a difference too.

“I wanted to create Sidelined Chicago because I don’t want any other athletes to feel like being sidelined has to be the end; in fact, it may just be the beginning.” -Cade Pinalto, co-founder of Sidelined Chicago.

You can follow Sidelined Chicago on their Facebook page to keep up with their progress and learn about future events and opportunities.