MEDIA RELEASES
December 10th, 2008
Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place For Immediate Release, December 5th, 2008 Angie McCaughan, Chair of the Winnipeg Region KidSport Committee, faces a hard reality – “We’re broke.”
KidSport™ is a children’s charity that provides support to children in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sport. In 2008, KidSport allocated $330,000 to kids around Manitoba to assist with the cost of sport registration fees, but the traditional fundraising, both provincially and regionally, has not been able to keep pace with the demands on the KidSport program.
“We’re stuck between a rock and a hard place,” said McCaughan. “ We’re finally reaching the kids who could use it the most, but now we don’t have the money.”
McCaughan said that they’ve been successful at growing the program, especially in the inner city areas, due to an awareness program, Sport Expo, and their involvement with the Boys and Girls club, but now they face a new challenge – turning kids away. For many KidSport families, the support has meant more than just sport.
“I was newly on my own and would’ve had to tell my two boys - no sports - if it hadn’t been for KidSport,” said a mother who preferred to remain anonymous. “But because of KidSport they could play. It gave them confidence and changed everything they did. In fact they were so appreciative that they donated half their birthday money, about $110, to KidSport.”
KidSport Regional chapters throughout Manitoba are getting requests for assistance from more kids and families than ever before. KidSport Eastman and Central Regions both had to pro-rate their assistance grants with the hope that the reduced amounts would still allow the child to play.
“In the past 3 years the requests for assistance with sport registration fees has doubled!” said Jeff Palamar, Provincial KidSport Chair. “More kids want to play, more families are aware that KidSport can help, but we now need the support of Manitobans and Manitoba companies to ensure these kids get a chance to enjoy all of the benefits that sport can bring into their lives. As little as $100 can put one more child into a season of sport, but every donation makes a difference.”
Donations to KidSport Manitoba can be made online by clicking here. Every dollar raised by KidSport goes directly to assisting Manitoba children as the administrative costs of the program are borne by Sport Manitoba and its corporate partner Great-West Life.
Since 1993, KidSport Manitoba has raised over $1,900,000 and tons of equipment, providing over 14,000 Manitoba kids with the opportunity to participate in sport.
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For further information please contact:
Kim Browning
Director of Marketing, Sport Manitoba
925-5606
browning@sport.mb.ca
