Our Mission:

716 Squash empowers youth in Buffalo through education, mentoring, health, and wellness to build transformational relationships within our community.

Hear our story.

Check out our new video to hear about what we’ve been up to over the last 5 years.

Team

Executive Director:

Hope Blinkoff Lynch is a native Buffalonian who learned how to play squash in high school at Nichols. Hope attended Vassar College (2010, BA Sociology) where she played four years of varsity squash and was co-captain her senior year. After graduation, she joined AmeriCorps’ Public Allies program in Baltimore in which she participated in weekly full-day training at the University of Maryland School of Social Work on non-profits, asset-based community development, diversity, and leadership. She also completed 1,500 hours of service at Baltimore SquashWise, Baltimore’s urban squash program, where she served as squash coordinator. Hope was drawn to the organization’s mission and model, and was hired full-time at SquashWise where she worked for seven years in many different capacities. Hope transitioned from squash coach, to overseeing the high school academic program, to running the College Access and Alumni Support Program, to deputy director. Hope also participated in NUSEA’s Leadership Fellows Program in 2015-2016, a 10-month professional development program focused on supporting and providing training for new and future urban squash executive directors. When the opportunity to launch a program in Buffalo was presented, Hope was eager to bring this model to her hometown, relocated, and began working full-time for 716 Squash in September 2017.

Head Squash Coach:

Felipe De La Cruz joined 716 Squash in June 2026. Originally from San Diego, CA, Felipe is an alumnus of Access Youth Academy, a sister program to 716 Squash under the Squash and Education Alliance. Felipe attended Trinity College, where he graduated cum laude in 2023 with a double major in American Studies and Political Science. He was named the American Studies Presidential Fellow, an academic honor recognizing one outstanding senior from each major for their contributions to the department. At Trinity, Felipe also competed on the Men’s Varsity Squash Team.

Director of Education:

Sarah Linneman joined 716 Squash in June 2021. An accomplished and dynamic educator, Sarah brings six years of experience creating and implementing educational curriculum and social advocacy opportunities for 6-8th grades from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds along with three years of experience in hiring, training, and managing teachers and volunteers in common core and cultural programming. Previously, Sarah taught ELA at KIPP New Orleans and was Dean of Curriculum and Culture at ReNew Charter Schools. Sarah lives on a farm where she raises chickens and is a beekeeper.

High School, College, & Career Coordinator:

Jaylah Florence-Reed joined 716 Squash in September of 2024. With a deep passion for reading and a commitment to helping youth, Jaylah has dedicated her career to fostering a love for learning in high school students. A graduate of Buffalo State and a native Western New York, she combines her love for her community with her professional expertise to make a meaningful impact.Outside of her professional life, Jaylah enjoys traveling and exploring new places, always with a good book in hand. Her enthusiasm for reading is not just a personal hobby but a cornerstone of her mission to inspire and support young readers.