The Mount Vernon Board of Education cut $2.4 million from its budget Wednesday night, eliminating sports funding in the process.More than 100 jobs and all sports were eliminated during the meeting, which came after the budget was voted down twice earlier this year. Officials say the cuts are necessary to save the district's pre-K program. They add that they can't put athletics ahead of academics.

Mayor Clinton Young, flanked by Mount Vernon native and Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon, announced the creation of the city's Save Our Sports fundraiser Thursday. They argue sports are critical to keeping kids off the streets and out of trouble.

"If I wanted to play the sport I loved, I knew I would have to meet a certain academic standard," says Gordon, who flew in for the announcement.

Kevin Jones, a member of Mount Vernon High School's championship winning varsity basketball team, also spoke about the importance of sports. He's headed to West Virginia on a scholarship in the fall."There's no way no how that our children will not have sports in the city of Mount Vernon," Clinton says.

SOS is looking for corporate sponsors and other professional athletes to help raise funds.

For Young's news conference, go to Channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.