Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day September 4, 2024
Youth Sports Giving Day:
Help Kids Play Sports
What is Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day?
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. Each year, we’ll ask Coloradans to give generously online via the Colorado Gives website to ensure all children in our state can enjoy the many benefits of athletics.
Sept. 4, 2024, is the inaugural Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day, a collaborative effort between the Aspen Institute Project Play, Daniels Fund and hundreds of nonprofit organizations supporting youth sports throughout the state. Although the campaign kicks off on Sept. 4, donations can be made throughout the month of September. Through this campaign, organizations can raise essential funds to get more kids playing sports.
Led by the Daniels Fund, The Weld Trust, Denver Broncos Foundation, Alpine Bank, Rose Community Foundation, Strohm Link Family Foundation, Anschutz Foundation and other sponsors, the giving campaign includes a dollar-for-dollar match of more than $1,000,000 for all online donations made starting Sept. 4, 2024. Donations will be matched until matching funds are utilized.
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 for a variety of nonprofit sports providers statewide and by elevating every kid’s ability to play and have a high-quality (and fun!) sports experience.
All children deserve to enjoy the lifetime benefits of being physically active and playing sports.
Youth sports participation is lower than it should be, especially for kids in low-income families and communities of color. Youth Sports Giving Day is a way for Coloradans to come together and strike out inequality.
Playing sports can give every kid a winning chance at life. Donate and help level the playing field.
Research shows positive sports experiences as a young person can develop the whole child and contribute to success as an adult.
By giving today, we can help all Colorado youth experience the joys and benefits of playing sports.
Every kid in Colorado deserves a shot at success. Playing sports with trained coaches who are focused on the right goals sets kids up to not only beat the odds, but also to change the odds for others.