Sports are a powerful influence on kids. They teach valuable lessons like teamwork, perseverance and offer immeasurable personal benefits like self-esteem and confidence. But across California and the nation, girls and boys living in low-income communities do not have access to high-quality sports activities. While parents in more affluent neighborhoods shuttle their kids to soccer and basketball practice, kids in low-income communities struggle to even find a safe place to play, let alone a trained and caring coach.
We work to eliminate that disparity so that all kids, regardless of where they live, have access to quality after-school sports opportunities and all the life-changing benefits they provide.
Coaching Corps encourages motivated college students to serve as volunteer coaches, mentors and role models in after-school sports programs serving girls and boys who live in some of our most under-served communities. These coaches not only teach kids sports skills, but also how to transfer those sports skills off of the field and into life.
To date, we have recruited, trained and placed more than 1,600 volunteers and served 19,000 kids.
Additionally, we offer our after-school partners a range of crucial support, including training and consulting.
We also strive to build a community of advocates. Through our research and special initiatives, we raise awareness of the disparity in opportunity for populations most in need such as girls in low-income communities. And we educate policymakers and opinion leaders on the importance of ensuring that all kids have a chance to play – and experience the life-changing benefits of sports.
Our Next Play:
We have embarked on an ambitious expansion plan to raise $25 million so that we can provide 500,000 kids across the nation with a trained coach as a teacher and a role model. Find out more about our recent victories – and our expansion plan.
