ESPN & Good Sports Team Up to Increase Access to Sports for Kids in Need

Source: Good Sports

Tuesday, March 15, 2016 — ESPN and Good Sports, a national nonprofit dedicated to enabling children to participate in youth sports, are teaming up to provide new sports equipment, apparel and footwear to kids in need. The collaboration includes a $100,000 investment from ESPN to support Good Sports’ expansion into the New York market. Additionally, Good Sports will help coordinate equipment donations to local nonprofit organizations within communities during five ESPN College Football bowl games (the games and markets to be determined). 

“At ESPN, we want to make access to sports a reality for youth across the country,” said Kevin Martinez, ESPN’s Vice President of Corporate Citizenship. “We’re proud to team up with Good Sports to ensure kids can get the equipment they need to play on a team, thereby building skills to be successful on and off the field. This effort is part of our larger strategy of using the power of sports to ENSPIRE social change.”

ESPN and Good Sports are collaborating in an effort to get all kids involved in sports and physical activity programs by removing the high cost of equipment, a barrier that currently limits participation rates across the country. Research indicates that a consistent level of engagement in sports and fitness activities plays a key role in a child’s physical, academic, social and emotional development.

Good Sports’ CEO, Melissa Harper, stated: “We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with ESPN to provide kids in need a chance to play sports. Both ESPN and Good Sports recognize the important role sports play in a child’s life. Kids who are active on a daily basis, do better in the classroom, on the field and in life. By working with ESPN, we will be able to provide these benefits to even more kids, especially in the greater New York City area.”

Schools and community organizations interested in receiving an equipment donation from Good Sports can submit an application by visiting the organization’s website at www.goodsports.org and completing the online application. Approved applicants are able to receive up to six donations over a two-year period. Any questions regarding the application can be directed to the Good Sports Community Team at community@goodsports.org.

About Good Sports

Good Sports gives all kids the lifelong benefits of sport and physical activity by providing equipment, apparel and footwear to those most in need. Since 2003, Good Sports has provided more than $16 million worth of equipment to more than 2,700 youth programs, impacting nearly THREE MILLION kids. Good Sports has also been awarded a coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest charity evaluator, for sound fiscal management, transparency and accountability; is a Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance accredited charity; and is listed on Social Impact Exchange’s S&I 100, an index of top American nonprofits creating meaningful social impact. For more information on how you can support Good Sports, please visit www.goodsports.org

About ESPN Corporate Citizenship

ESPN believes that, at its very best, sports uplifts the human spirit. Its corporate citizenship programs use power of sport to positively address society’s needs through strategic community investments, cause marketing programs, collaboration with sports organizations and employee volunteerism, while also utilizing its diverse media assets. For more information go to www.espn.com/citizenship