"Double Dutchers jump back: Financial woes threaten Brooklyn's legendary Jammin' Jumpers team,"
BY Jake Pearson - New York Daily News

Adams IV for NewsRuth Payne (c.), coach of the Jammin’ Jumpers, with her Double Dutch team. Related NewsSchools looking to make Double Dutch into a varsity sportThe Jammin' Jumpers are in a real jam.

The world-famous Bedford-Stuyvesant Double Dutch team is flat broke, scrambling to raise money for its 10th annual Celebrate Jump Rope competition in March.

"We're hurting big time," said Ruth Payne, 65, executive director of United Families, and coach of the Jammin' Jumpers. "I have to turn kids away because...I don't have the staff. It doesn't feel good."

Almost every year, the Jammin' Jumpers make it to the world championship Double Dutch competition in Sumter, S.C. Last year, the fourth-grade team placed fifth and the seventh-grade team took second place overall.

"We get to go to worlds every year, but people can't volunteer like they used to," said Payne, who is known boroughwide as the Joe Torre of jump-rope coaching. "Someone who gave six hours a week, now I'm lucky if they give six a month."

The Celebrate Jump Rope competition in March brings about 200 youngsters from across the borough - and even from other parts of the country - to participate.

"Every team from all over comes out to this," said Kyaisha Murray, 25, a former Jammin' Jumper who now volunteers one day a week coaching the team.

"The Jazzie Jumpers [from North Carolina] and Stan's Pepper Steppers [from Rockaway.] They all know about the competition."

Last March, Celebrate Jump Rope was held in Von King Park in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Payne received enough donations to pay judges, provide lunches and give trophies to the winners. "Ruth always tries to make it possible for the kids to get medals," said Murray. "She doesn't want any kid to walk away with nothing."

Families United operates out of the gym at St. Peter Claver Church on Claver Place and Jefferson Ave. They are four months behind on rent, and though never flush, Payne said the group can usually scrape together enough private and government grants to stage the event.

But so far this year, they haven't been able to raise much.

"We're in debt, and we don't have a budget," said Payne, who persuaded St. Francis College to donate gym space for this year's competition. She said she hopes to raise about $10,000 - enough to fund the competition and pay the rent owed.

"We're doing fund-raisers and sending out letters. Somehow we'll get by," she said.

United Families coaches 400 children annually from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, who participate in its jump rope, basketball and art programs.

Donations may be sent to Families United, 175 Adelphi St., Brooklyn, N.Y., 11205.