The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation grants LISC $1.5 million to renovate sports space for youth in under-resourced communities
NEW YORK, March 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation are collaborating on a new program to improve and expand sporting opportunities for youth in underserved communities across the United States
The DICK’S Foundation will help launch the LISC Game On community Places to Play initiative with a $1.5 million grant. The program will fund the renovation of existing indoor and outdoor sports facilities that serve more than 3,000 youth athletes.
“We believe sport has the power to transform lives and unite communities,” he said Aimee Watters, CEO of DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. “That’s why we’re very excited to partner with LISC on this initiative and help create quality sports spaces for youth athletes and organizations facing barriers in sports infrastructure.”
The Game On community Places to Play initiative awards scholarships between $50,000–$100,000 to nonprofit community-based organizations that lead renovation projects – including schools, local parks and recreation departments working with local nonprofits. Projects eligible for funding must be in resource-poor communities.
The grants will be used to meet a range of needs including new pitch surfaces, nets, tyres, lighting, stands, public address systems, fences, changing rooms, goal posts and scoreboards. In addition to administering the program, LISC will also provide technical support to grantees to help them advance projects.
“Sports programs and recreation spaces can be catalytic for young people,” he said Beverly Smith, LISC Vice President. “That’s why a program like this with a committed partner like the DICK’S Foundation is so valuable. It gives youth living in underserved areas a better chance to thrive and contributes to the overall health and vitality of the surrounding community. “
Over the past three decades, LISC has worked with philanthropists and investment partners to build or renovate 450 sports fields and recreation spaces for 750,000 children. The Game On community Places to Play initiative will add 12-16 sports fields to the portfolio of LISC.
With this partnership, the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation will continue to expand the relationship between the organizations. In 2020, DICK’S Sporting Goods invested in LISC’s Black Economic Development Fund to support minority-led lenders, anchor institutions and businesses as part of efforts to close the racial wealth gap.
To apply for grants from the Game On community Places to Play initiative, Visit the LISC website. Applications must be submitted by the LISC June 23, 2023.
About the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation
DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with a mission to inspire and enable participation in sport. It was established by DICK’S Sporting Goods as a private corporate foundation to support DICK’s charitable and philanthropic activities. Driven by their belief that sport has the power to transform lives, the DICK’S Foundation champions youth sports and provides grants and support to under-resourced teams and athletes through their Sports Matter program and other community-based initiatives. For more information about the DICK’S Foundation, visit sportsmatter.org and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About LISC
LISC is one of the nation’s largest community development organizations, helping to forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. We work with residents and partners to close systemic gaps in health, wealth and opportunity, and to advance racial justice so people and places can thrive. Since our inception in 1979, LISC has invested $26.7 billion create more than 463,000 affordable homes, develop 78.5 million square feet of retail, community and education space, and help tens of thousands of people find employment and improve their finances. Visit www.lisc.org for more information.
SOURCE Association for the Support of Local Initiatives (LISC)
