The chance to play

Last week while attending a networking event in downtown Vancouver I began chatting with a few people about non-profit organizations and charities that they support. One man said that the chance to play hockey basically changed his life and has made him forever grateful. He said he would have only had that experience if not for Kidsport™ [1].

"KidSport™ provides support to children in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sport."

There are 173 Provincial and local chapters [2] of KidSport across Canada and they supply grants up to $300 so that children can afford to buy equipment and join teams. They provide the opportunity to children to not only play on a team, but also gain valuable lessons and mentorship from the experience and the coaches. Last year over 49,000 kids are given the chance to play sports, from soccer to hockey, in their towns. It's such a trusted program that the Government of Canada has also invested funds in Kidsport™, committing to a three-year support plan.

Participating in community activities (offline, or online with Hockeystars [3]) not only gets children involved in their sport and gives them a sense of belonging with a team, it keeps them active. You can find out more, donate, or locate your local chapter on the Kidsport™ [4] website.