Sport Manitoba – Nov. 28, 2019 – WINNIPEG, MB – KidSport™ launched their eighth annual Give the Gift of Sport fundraising campaign on Nov.18, 2019, calling on Canadians to donate online at KidSport.ca/GiftofSport. Over 30 per cent of Canadian youth under the age of 18 cannot afford to play organized sport. With the help of Canadians across the country, KidSport’s annual campaign—running until January 6, 2020—aims to get more kids off the sidelines, into the game, and experience the gift of sport. In 2018, KidSport Manitoba provided over $377,000 in funding to more than 1,800 kids for 40 different sports across five regions.
“Organized sport provides our children with so many benefits. We know it can help them be healthier, but it can also help them with things like their education and social development,” says Jamie Ferguson, Chair of KidSport. “In essence, sport can provide our children with a head start on life. At KidSport, we believe every child deserves that chance. Please give to our Give the Gift of Sport campaign and help make more head starts happen.”
According to the 2014 CIBC KidSport Report, 82 per cent of Canadians know a child who cannot participate in organized sport due to financial barriers. KidSport wants to change these statistics by providing grants to the growing volume of applications received each year, and continue to fund sport registration fees for more than 100 different sports across Canada.
Since its creation in 1993, KidSport has disbursed $75M and helped over 825,000 kids from coast to coast receive grants and sport introduction programming, thanks to the support from the Government of Canada, national corporate partners like Saputo, the Jays Care Foundation, and the generosity of Canadian donors. There is new demand each year, however, and KidSport can make a bigger impact with donations to the Give the Gift of Sport campaign.
“I was a KidSport Kid growing up, they literally helped pay for my registration to keep me on the field when I was younger, so they’re definitely a part of my story,” says two-time Olympian, professional Soccer player, and past KidSport grant recipient Desiree Scott. “KidSport is there to kind of remove that barrier financially and allow people just to enjoy the sport and get on the field and do what they love. Sport changes lives, it absolutely does, it’s changed mine, kept me out of trouble, keeps me fit, learning life skills, motivation, leadership skills, all of that good stuff. So staying in sport is so important and I’m happy I can call it my job and hopefully inspire people to stick with sport.”
Every donation counts and will contribute to making a difference in a child’s life. An average donation of $250 can provide one child a full season of sport—the type of gift that will last well beyond the holidays. Manitobans can make their contribution today to Give the Gift of Sport at KidSport.ca/GiftofSport, where personal, corporate or tribute donations can be directed to any of KidSport’s 178 community chapters.
Learn more about KidSport and join the holiday conversation on Twitter @KidSport and #GiftofSport, on Facebook.com/KidSportCanada, or online at KidSport.ca/GiftofSport.
About
KidSport is a national charity administered in Manitoba by Sport Manitoba which provides support to children in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sport. KidSport believes that no kid should be left on the sidelines and all should be given the opportunity to experience the positive benefits of organized sports.
Sport Manitoba is a not-for-profit organization and the lead planning, programming and funding agency for the development of amateur sport in Manitoba. Located at 145 Pacific Avenue, Sport Manitoba partners with over 100 organizations to deliver sport in the province and is responsible for programs including the Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro, Sport Manitoba Coaching, Team Manitoba, Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, Fit Kids Healthy Kids, and KidSport. Services provided include the Sport Manitoba Clinic, Sport Manitoba Performance, Sport Manitoba Fitness Centre and the Paul Robson Resource Centre for Leadership and Coaching.
For more information, please contact:
Janelle Bohunicky
KidSport Manitoba
Sport Manitoba
Janelle.Bohunicky@sportmanitoba.ca
204.925.5911