Source: Good Sports
SILVER SPRING, MD - June 13, 2012 -- The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) is pleased to announce its partnership with Good Sports, a non-profit group that helps to lay the foundation for healthy, active lifestyles. The two groups will be working together to provide sporting goods equipment, athletic footwear, and sports apparel to disadvantaged youth nationwide. As part of the partnership, SGMA will help connect its member companies with Good Sports, a solution provider for many sporting goods companies looking to donate inventory for operational, marketing or charitable reasons. Interested companies will have the ability to directly reach Good Sports through the SGMA website.
Source: Good Sports
SILVER SPRING, MD - June 13, 2012 -- The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) is pleased to announce its partnership with Good Sports, a non-profit group that helps to lay the foundation for healthy, active lifestyles. The two groups will be working together to provide sporting goods equipment, athletic footwear, and sports apparel to disadvantaged youth nationwide. As part of the partnership, SGMA will help connect its member companies with Good Sports, a solution provider for many sporting goods companies looking to donate inventory for operational, marketing or charitable reasons. Interested companies will have the ability to directly reach Good Sports through the SGMA website.
"Having access to a turn-key outlet for donating excess product is another perk of being a member of SGMA," said SGMA President/CEO Tom Cove. "When SGMA member companies donate product to Good Sports, our members will know that the product will be distributed to people around the country who will truly appreciate the donation."
"Good Sports is excited to announce this partnership with SGMA," said Christy Keswick, Chief Operating Officer of Good Sports. "We believe our ability to provide a service to SGMA members and our aligned strategies of promoting sports and fitness participation make for a natural partnership opportunity."
"The primary goal of our partnership with Goods Sports-through which we'll donate equipment from our Easton, Bell, Riddell, Giro and Blackburn brands-is to help kids in need participate in sports and fitness activities. Helping Good Sports reach more youth athletes and decrease costs to their families is reason enough to team up with them," said Donna Flood, Chief Operations Officer of Easton-Bell Sports and a member of the Good Sports Advisory Council. "When you consider the added benefits offered by a cause marketing relationship and the opportunity for our employees to participate in donation events first-hand, it's a win-win for both organizations."
"With our national reach and operational capabilities, we streamline donations for our sporting goods donors helping to limit internal resources while maximizing the community impact," says Keswick. "Our donors fall along a spectrum-some are just looking to make a one-time donation and others a more comprehensive partnership. Most importantly, we want to develop a mutually beneficial relationship and we know that can vary from company to company."
"Aligning with Good Sports is a win-win on so many levels. First, donating some of our excess inventory makes sense because we believe in doing the right thing and helping underserved communities and children. At the same time, it is a great business solution because we are able to donate good, quality yet unused inventory," said Brian Anderson, President of EB Sport Group and SGMA Board Member. "We have seen firsthand through a follow-up impact report we received that this is a great tool for us to share with our customers, suppliers, employees, and our board of directors -- to show them what we are in doing in the community. Working with Good Sports allowed us to move excess inventory, receive a tax deduction for the donation, and, most importantly, make a tangible contribution to the community. All stake holders benefitted."
Good Sports helps to lay the foundation for healthy, active lifestyles by providing athletic equipment, footwear, and apparel to disadvantaged young people nationwide. By partnering with sporting goods manufacturers, Good Sports is able to get the necessary equipment into the hands of the kids that need it most, giving them a chance to get in the game. Since 2003, Good Sports has provided over $6 million worth of equipment to nearly 750 youth programs, impacting more than 350,000 kids. For more information on how you can help support Good Sports, please visit www.goodsports.org.
The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products industry. SGMA helps lead the sports and fitness industries by fostering participation through research, thought leadership, product promotion, and public policy. More information about SGMA membership, SGMA Research, and SGMA's National Health Through Fitness Day can be found at www.SGMA.com.
