Party Like a Good Sport: Good Sports Launches Special Fundraising Platform to Help Kids Get Each Other in the Game
Quincy, MA (PRWEB) September 26, 2013 -- Good Sports has created a complete online toolkit for kids who want to throw a party for a good cause. Now, generous children can use the monetary gifts they receive for birthdays, bar/bat mitzvahs and other special life events to get another child in the game.
The national nonprofit, which provides athletic gear to disadvantaged kids nationwide, is offering a “Party Playbook” for kids and families, complete with easy-to-create flyers and party invitations, which include the Good Sports logo and fact sheet. Invitations can be customized by color or by favorite sport, including baseball, softball, football, lacrosse, soccer and basketball. A related Pinterest page provides fun and creative party ideas.
Families can direct guests to mail donations directly to Good Sports, or create personalized online party fundraising pages via Fundraise.com. All contributions will support the Good Sports equipment grant program, which provides disadvantaged youth around the country with much-needed equipment to participate in sports and fitness programs.
“Public-spirited kids are increasingly donating the gifts they receive for special milestones to charity. This is such a positive trend, and we’re excited to offer a way for these generous young people to help their less- privileged peers play sports,” Good Sports CEO Melissa Harper said. “We know they’ll enjoy creating their personalized fundraising campaign via our user-friendly website. And they can take great pride in knowing their gifts helped buy uniforms, equipment and shoes for young athletes in need.”
Good Sports’ equipment donations benefit sports programs for disadvantaged kids by lowering costs, keeping fees affordable and making scholarships available. Through this support, programs are able to enhance the quality of their activities, introduce new sports and give more kids the chance to play.
Every $20 donated through the Good Sports party program will benefit another child. Fundraising kids who raise $250 or more (Bronze level) will receive a Good Sports water bottle and those who raise $500 or more (Silver level) will receive the water bottle, plus a Good Sports drawstring bag. Kids who raise $1,000 or more (Gold level) will receive a Good Sports backpack and the opportunity to match their donation to an organization in their own community.
Parents whose children have directed gifts towards Good Sports say their kids enjoyed both the process of raising money for charity, and the good feeling that comes from helping others. “Good Sports was an amazing resource for our son’s Mitzvah,” said parent Kirsten Hano, of Wellesley, Mass. “They made it completely turnkey and helped our fundraising go even farther than if we had done all the work ourselves. My son loved tracking his fundraising, and in the end raised well over his goal. He knows that he was able to make a huge, positive impact on the lives of hundreds of kids.”
This year, Good Sports achieved an important milestone, with more than 700,000 kids helped. But the organization estimates at least five million young American athletes still need equipment to fully participate in sports or fitness activities. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished through our many partnerships with generous manufacturers and sports figures, but we aim to do so much more,” Harper said. “Our throw-a-party program is another way to get more kids on the field and court, and we’re grateful so many kids and families are willing to share their gifts with the children we serve.”
ABOUT GOOD SPORTS:
Good Sports helps 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 gets crucial equipment to kids who need it most, getting them in the game. Since 2003, Good Sports has provided more than $10 million worth of equipment to 1,000 youth programs, impacting more than 700,000 kids.
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Amanda Brennan, Elevate Communications, +1 (617) 686-0510, [email protected]
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