The fifth annual giveSPORTS Equipment Drive, presented by KeyBank, will be held at Pepsi Center on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Rav 4 Parking Lot. Event co-founders, Kroenke Sports Charities and A Precious Child, invite the public to support underprivileged children in their desire to participate in sports by donating new and gently-used sports equipment and monetary donations to benefit A Precious Child’s giveSPORTS program.
The giveSPORTS program provides new and gently-used sports equipment to disadvantaged and displaced children, allowing them the opportunity to get involved in organized sports. Additionally, giveSPORTS provides scholarships to cover the costs of registration and other sports-related fees. Nearly 75 percent of children in low-income families rarely have the opportunity to participate in organized sports. Statistically, participation in extra-curricular sports significantly impacts short and long-term educational, emotional, behavioral and physical outcomes for disadvantaged, poverty-stricken youth.
The initial event was held in the summer of 2012 after Jessica (Redfield) Ghawi, a former broadcast journalism intern with Altitude Sports & Entertainment, lost her life in the Aurora Theater tragedy. Prior to her death, Jessica had expressed a desire to host a sports equipment drive for the children and families that had lost everything to the devastating Colorado wildfires. The giveSPORTS equipment drive was created by Kroenke Sports Charities and A Precious Child in partnership with Jessica’s family to help realize her dream and provide underprivileged children with the opportunity to play sports through the giveSPORTS program. Last year alone, the event brought in over 20,000 pieces of sports equipment and more than $14,000 in sports scholarships for local kids in need.
The event is a celebration of Jessica’s life, and many representatives from the local sports teams will be in attendance to help thank the individuals and families donating equipment and funds to the cause.
Nuggets players, coaches, dancers and SuperMascot Rocky will be assisting with the event.
Community members are also encouraged to be a part of the Corporate and Team Challenge taking place from Aug. 8-19, where teams have the opportunity to compete against each other to see who can raise the most equipment and/or funds to benefit giveSPORTS and are eligible to win great prizes. More information on the Corporate and Team Challenge can be found at www.APreciousChild.org/programs/givesports.
All donations are tax deductible. More information can be found at APreciousChild.org.
All involved parties look forward to another successful year of helping to “Put A Kid In The Game!”
About Kroenke Sports Charities
Kroenke Sports Charities is committed to improving lives through the spirit and power of sports. We strive to serve our community through education, health and fitness initiatives, athletic programs and direct aid, with the particular purpose of helping families, children, veterans and the disabled. Kroenke Sports Charities provides relevant programs and support, directly and with other nonprofit organizations, to ultimately assist, encourage and enrich the lives of those in need.
About A Precious Child, Inc.
A Precious Child is a 501c3 nonprofit organization devoted to making a positive impact in the lives of disadvantaged and displaced children and families in Colorado by improving their quality of life. Programs include Precious Essentials, Precious Boutiques, Basics 4 Babies, giveSPORTS, Fill A Backpack, Precious Gift, Truancy Intervention and The Learning Center.
A Precious Child provides impoverished Colorado children and families with basic essentials such as clothing, shoes, baby food, diapers, coats, backpacks and school supplies, sports equipment, holiday gifts and more. Over the last six years, A Precious Child has provided clothing and essentials valued at over $4.25 million to more than 114,900 children and their caregivers who are struggling during these difficult economic times in eight counties surrounding the Denver Metro area, including: Arapahoe, Adams, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson and Weld Counties. For more information, call the Resource Center at 303.466.4272 or visit APreciousChild.org.