thank you for giving every kid a chance to play.
KICKOFF
from
photo by – jennifer dobrowolski - kondrisack
a
note
When this game started nine years ago, Good Sports was the
underdog. We were the new, unknown team and were not expected
to win, and certainly not expected to make the playoffs. Much like
the low-income children we serve on a daily basis, we did not even
have the proper equipment necessary to get on the field. However,
thanks to generous, charitable individuals like you, we are now a
first place team, and are about to notch our 500,000th child served
on our scoreboard. But we certainly did not get here alone.
Our Advisory Board and Sporting Goods Advisory Board have
acted as our wise, experienced coaches from the opening whistle.
Our Board of Directors and staff have been all-star players,
overcoming adversity and a myriad of obstacles along the way.
Our donors and partners have been the greatest fans supporting
us and cheering louder than we ever imagined.
You have given more than $7 million in equipment to kids across the
country. You have delivered smiles, saved programs, and changed lives.
Because you chose to be a part of the Good Sports’ team, you gave
a child in need a chance to play. And for that, I thank you.
With Gratitude,
Melissa Tatro Harper
Chief Executive Officer
Good Sports
good sports
Love to see this! @RiddellSports: Donated 1,000 new Youth
#RevoSpeed helmets to youth leagues through @goodsportsinc
K e v i n B ra n t
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sizing up the opposition
mission
Good Sports helps to lay the foundation
for healthy, active lifestyles by providing
athletic equipment, footwear, and apparel
to disadvantaged young people nationwide.
need
:
01
1
03
03
There are a million reasons we started Good Sports. The smiles
on kids’ faces when they get a bat in their hand or slip on their
first jersey account for nearly all of them. But three in particular
stand out:
03
Urban youth are three
2
times less likely than
Obesity
rates
have
more than tripled in
3
Kids who play sports
are half as likely to
suburban youth to participate
the last 30 years. Between
drop out of school or take
in sports and fitness programs.
03-07, they’ve increased by
drugs, and much less likely
23% among low-income kids
to have a teen pregnancy.
in the U.S.
30-50%
of their budget on equipment.
That cost drives up participation fees, which in turn drives out kids
$
fees
from high poverty neighborhoods.
photo by - todd ashford
participation
challenge
Youth sports programs spend
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implementing the gameplan
@goodsportsinc thank you so much for being such
a generous partner to help reduce childhood obesity!
the
solution
Together Counts
Thanks to donors like you, Good Sports is able
to team up with sporting goods manufacturers
to provide equipment, apparel and footwear
for youth sports and fitness programs in need.
That means lower fees for participants, more
scholarships, and more opportunities for kids
to play. In some cases, it can start a whole
new program.
photo by - todd ashford
other
Asian
4%
caucasian
7%
35%
22%
African
American
have access to sports.
32%
hispanic
who we serve
17-18 yrs
10%
14-16 yrs
We won’t stop until all kids
In fact, every $20 puts
another disadvantaged kid
5-7 yrs
back in the game.
14%
21%
25%
8-10 yrs
30%
11-13 yrs
photo by - todd ashford
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scoring points
IT’S WORKING
What began as a simple donation of 500 basketballs has grown into
a national force, providing $7.3 million worth of sports equipment
to youth programs in 40 states.
96%
69%
68%
64%
enhanced their program’s experience
served more youth
Youth programs have benefitted from
your generosity in all kinds of ways.
decreased cost for families
started a brand new program
susan goldman photography
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sealing
victory
The donations from Good Sports have allowed us to offer an athletics program on par
with those of the best summer camps in existence. The kids that attend camp are from
the poorest neighborhoods in New York City and do not often enjoy the privilege of
impact
brand new sports equipment at their disposal. When the children realize that all of these
state of the art pieces of equipment are for them, they hear the message loud and clear,
We’re not done by any means, but we are proud
‘You are worth it.’
of how far we’ve come. You should be too. Just
listen to the impact we’ve made thus far in youth
sports and fitness programs all over the U.S.
Camp Director,
Camp Felix
These experiences are truly a blessing for
the young people in our community. Crime
and violence has been a difficult culture to
transcend but we are making a difference.
It is critical that programs like the Oak
Lane Youth Association continue to give
young people productive, meaningful
experiences for youth to participate.
None of this would be possible without
the generous support and contributions
from Good Sports. We thank you so much
for your support and commitment to the
young people in Philadelphia.
President,
Oak Lane Youth Association
susan goldman photography
susan goldman photography
The kids in our neighborhood do not usually
Y
play soccer. Signups were slow. By adding good
equipment, we were able to put on a demonstration
ou’ve helped make Good Sports
play. More kids are developing
what it is today. In our first year
a sense of teamwork and pride.
young lady, age 11, is overweight and usually does
we supported 2,000 children.
More kids are getting exercise
not participate in sports. She loved soccer and
Thanks to generous
and staying in
played her heart out. She lost about 25 pounds
contributions like
school. And we’ve
and has thus far kept it off.
yours, we have
only just begun.
that got kids excited and they signed up. One
served nearly half
Program Director,
West Broad Street YMCA
We can ’t b e g i n
counting.
to tell you what
this
I do not know what we would have done without
We’re making a
the donation from Good Sports. We have barely
managed to provide our little league baseball
program to the youth of the city and with the
struggling economy, this year has been even
worse. We provided a chance for some youth to
play this year at no cost and others at a reduced
rate. With the help we received from Good Sports
all the kids needed was a ride to the baseball field.
Thank you again for all your help!
photo by – todd ashford
Haverhill Little League
a million kids and
means
to
everyone involved
real impact. One that can
– from the staff to the program
be felt in smiling faces at
directors and coaches to the
practices and games around the
kids themselves. So let us say
country. More kids can afford to
this instead…
THANK YOU
special thanks: Full Contact - Design
1515 Hancock Street, Suite 301 • Quincy, MA 02169
goodsports.org