Organized sports play a vital role in shaping the lives of kids, and Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day is an opportunity for all Coloradans to help our youth thrive. You can give online via the Colorado Gives website to ensure all children in our state can enjoy the many benefits of athletics.
Local news outlets such as Denver7, 9News, and CBS have provided incredible campaign coverage.
UPSWING Foundation is part of the month-long campaign to Support our State of Play! The inaugural Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day is a collaborative effort between the Aspen Institute Project Play, Daniels Fund, Colorado Gives Foundation and hundreds of nonprofit organizations (including UPSWING!) supporting youth sports throughout the state. Through this campaign, we can raise essential funds to get more kids playing sports.
The Daniels Fund will generously match donations made during the campaign (Sept. 4th-30th) up to $500,000.
The launch event on September 4th was held at Ball Arena in Denver, where many sponsors, representatives, youth, and local mascots showed up to celebrate.
Why it Matters:
- Research shows that kids who consistently engage in sports enjoy enhanced academic and career achievement; higher self-esteem; better mental, behavioral and physical health outcomes; greater life skill and leadership capacity; and larger earnings later in life.
- Youth sports participation is in decline because many families – especially those in low-income communities and communities of color – are unable to afford the cost of participation.
- The average age when kids drop out of sports is 11, and younger still for girls and families struggling financially. Youth Sports Giving Day aims to level the playing field by raising money to elevate every kid’s ability to play and have a high-quality (and fun!) sports experience.
Why UPSWING?
When you donate to UPSWING Foundation, you are directly helping underserved youth athletes and providing equal access to world-class training and facilities that catapult their dreams.
If you have new or gently used sports equipment you don’t want, head back to Ball Arena on September 21st from 9-11 AM for the giveSPORTS equipment drive to give your items to youth sports. The Daniels Fund will match any financial donations made before September 30th to continue letting kids grow through sports where they can make friends they will never forget.
Support our State of Play. Give generously at the following link:
