Good Sports, Inc. and the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation (AFYF) have awarded $46,000 worth of athletic equipment to 17 community organizations working to improve youth fitness, reduce childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles for Georgia's youth.
During their three-year partnership, Good Sports, Inc. and AFYF have donated nearly $300,000 worth of fitness and sports equipment across Georgia.
Good Sports partners with AFYF to provide equipment donations that increase opportunities for low-income youth to participate in regular physical activity. The application process is open to programs across the state. Good Sports and AFYF will accept applications for a new round of donations this fall.
Community organizations interested in applying can fill out an application on the Good Sports website, www.goodsports.org. All applications must be submitted by December 1, 2012.
"Thanks to generous partners like the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation, we are able to provide a greater number of girls and boys with opportunities to participate in all kinds of physical activities—a critical component of supporting healthy, active lifestyles for young people," Melissa Harper, CEO of Good Sports, said. "This is especially important in counties of Georgia where a lack of equipment closes off opportunities to many kids."
Good Sports is a nonprofit organization that works with sporting goods manufacturers to distribute equipment, apparel, and footwear to youth programs serving underprivileged children. Since 2003, Good Sports has distributed $6 million worth of equipment to over 400,000 kids.
"From Dalton to Albany, it is exciting to see so many communities stepping up to remove barriers to participation in physical activities," John Bare, vice president of AFYF, said. "With hula hoops, Wiffle Ball bats, volleyballs and additional equipment, more kids will get more opportunities to be active for 60 minutes every day."
Since Arthur Blank acquired the Atlanta Falcons in 2002, AFYF has grown to be the largest owner-funded foundation in the National Football League, providing more than $18 million in grants to nonprofit organizations across the state of Georgia to improve youth fitness and reduce childhood obesity. Working together, Good Sports and the AFYF will provide Georgia youth organizations with the equipment necessary to level the playing field for disadvantaged youth participating in physical activity.
Recipients from this equipment grant cycle include:
Organization: After-School All Stars (Atlanta)
Donated Equipment: Hula Hoops, Playground Balls, Frisbees, Basketballs, Jump Ropes, Double Dutch Ropes
Organization: Arthur Blank Family Youth YMCA (Atlanta)
Donated Equipment: Volleyballs, Volleyball Poles, Volleyball Nets
Organization: Atlanta Ballet (Atlanta)
Donated Equipment: Floor mats
Organization: Atlanta Youth Tennis & Education Foundation (Atlanta)
Donated Equipment: Tennis nets, Tennis racquets
Organization: Boys & Girls Club of Gordon, Murray, & Whitfield Counties (Dalton)
Donated Equipment: Jump Ropes, Soccer balls, Playground Balls, Throwdown Baseball Bases, Wiffle Baseball, Wiffle Ball Bat, Footballs, Frisbees, Basketballs, Playground Balls, Volleyballs, Hula Hoops
Organization: Buena Vista Recreation Department (Buena Vista)
Donated Equipment: Soccer Balls, Soccer Goals, Soccer Socks, Soccer Goalie Gloves, Shorts
Organization: Decatur Army Youth Athletics (Decatur)
Donated Equipment: Football Jerseys, Flag Football Belts
Organization: DeKalb Yellow Jackets Youth Football Association, Inc. (Lithonia)
Donated Equipment: Football Helmets
Organization: Johnson County Recreation Department (Wrightsville)
Donated Equipment: Softballs, Baseballs, Catcher's Equipment, Batting Helmets
Organization: M. Agnes Jones School (Atlanta)
Donated Equipment: Yoga Mats, Soccer Balls, Miniature Goals, Water Coolers, Miniature Footballs
Organization: Macon County Parks & Recreation (Montezuma)
Donated Equipment: Football Helmets, Football Cleats, Water Coolers
Organization: Peach County Youth Association (Fort Valley)
Donated Equipment: Football Helmets, Football Shoulder Pads
Organization: Pickens County Middle School (Jasper)
Donated Equipment: Track Singlets, Track Shorts
Organization: Scottdale Youth Athletic Organization (Stone Mountain)
Donated Equipment: Football Jerseys
Organization: South Georgia Pop Warner (Albany)
Donated Equipment: Football Helmets, Shoulder Pads
Organization: South Hall Middle School (Flowery Branch)
Donated Equipment: Football Helmets, Football Shoulder Pads
Organization: Whitesburg Elementary School (Whitesburg)
Donated Equipment: Volleyball Poles, Tennis Nets, Tennis Racquets, Volleyballs
