named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Mini Maniac Youth Triathlon
Annual youth triathlon event hosting over 180 participants; serves as a major team competition and community engagement initiative
Sparks
Developmental program for youth ages 7–13 focusing on fun, safety, and foundational triathlon skills through team practices and local events
Storm
Elite training program for ages 13–19 requiring evaluation; focuses on draft-legal competition with individualized coaching via TrainingPeaks
Thunder
Competitive program for ages 7–18 emphasizing skill development, fitness, and participation in local to national age-group events
activities · 4 groups
What they do
-
Coached Athletic Training Programs 2 activities
- Support for high-performance youth triathletesCoaches elite youth athletes who have achieved All-American status, national rankings, world championships, and college scholarships. Includes coaching athletes like Matteo Somma, who won a Gold medal and recorded the fastest time in his age group at the 2024 World Triathlon Age-Group Championships.
- Youth triathlon coaching and training programsProvides free coaching, structured swim/bike/run practices, and custom workouts via TrainingPeaks for youth triathletes aged 7–19, organized across development, competitive, and elite teams based on skill level and age. Offers sports-specific education and a holistic approach to athlete development.
-
-
Youth Sports Access and Equipment Support 1 activity
- Equipment and membership support for youth athletesProvides free USA Triathlon memberships and equipment assistance—including bikes, helmets, and running shoes—to participants in need, enabling access to training and competition.
-
-
Fitness Training and Group Exercise Programs 1 activity
- Virtual training and engagementHosts virtual bike workouts on weekends via Zoom to support remote training and athlete engagement.
-
-
Organized Running and Triathlon Events 1 activity
- Youth triathlon competition and event hostingOrganizes and hosts youth triathlon events including the Mini Maniac Youth Triathlon, East Coast Triathlon Fest, and Youth and Junior Nationals, with participation tracked in the USA Triathlon Race Series for competitive rankings. The 2024 Mini Maniac event included 181 participants, making it the largest youth triathlon in the Northeast.
-
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$74K
Contributions & grants$24K33%
Program service revenue$49K67%
Investment income$4491%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$61K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$79K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$79K
2 years on record · 2024–2025 · YoY revenue +2.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 4
- Gerry Barrasso — Board Member
- Jaclyn Dagnal — Board Member
- John Graziano — Board Member
- Tom Stridiron — Board Member
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- Bethpage Lake State Park Partner — Location for bike practices
- Cedar Beach Partner — Main location for open water swim practices
- Ironman 70.3 New York Partner — Collaborates to provide volunteer opportunities for Lightning Warriors members at the Ironman 70.3 New York event.
- Long Island Network — Geographic base for team operations and community engagement
- Nassau Aquatics Center Partner — Primary location for pool swim practices
- Old Westbury University Partner — Location for bike practices
- Patchogue YMCA Partner — Primary location for pool swim practices
- Stony Brook University Partner — Location for bike and run practices
- Swim Outlet Partner — Provides swim aids through a dedicated storefront with proceeds supporting Lightning Warriors.
- Tobay Beach Partner — Main location for open water swim and bike practices
- TrainingPeaks Partner — Provides platform and customized workout evaluation for elite team members.
- USA Triathlon Network — Team members must hold a USA Triathlon Annual Membership in good standing.
- USA Triathlon Partner — Collaborates with USA Triathlon to participate in the Youth Race Series and submit official race points.
- USA Triathlon Partner — Participates in the USA Triathlon Race Series to provide competitive opportunities for youth athletes.
- West Meadow Beach Partner — Main location for open water swim practices
- XCEED Store Partner — Hosts the Lightning Warriors Squad Locker Store for branded apparel sales.
- lightingwarrorstriteam@gmail.com Partner — Contact point for sponsorship inquiries and partnership coordination.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Barrier Removal for Equitable Accessmethodology: barrier-removal-modelBy removing financial and logistical barriers to triathlon participation, we enable diverse youth to engage in endurance sports because access to equipment, training, and events is foundational to inclusion and long-term involvement.
- Individualized Athlete Developmentmethodology: individualized-athlete-developmentBy recognizing each athlete’s unique potential and tailoring development across athletic and leadership domains, we foster long-term growth because personalized support increases engagement, performance, and transferable life skills.
- Youth Development Through Sportmethodology: youth-development-through-sportBy engaging youth in triathlon training and competition, we build confidence, goal-setting skills, and lifelong personal development because structured multisport participation fosters holistic growth and resilience.