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July 19, 2024
The state of New York has announced $4.2 million in grants to provide youth team sports programming, sports education and athletic equipment upgrades. Around $2.3 million has already been distributed and $1.9 million is supporting 41 community-based organizations this summer. The effort is part of the statewide ‘Get Offline, Get Outside’ campaign that encourages kids to put down their phones and enjoy outdoor activities.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard made the announcement. In their remarks, the trio expressed the effectiveness of sports power in engaging young people in positive social activities that enhance growth and development.
“Sports are more than just a fun activity; they provide a safe space for our young people during the summer days to learn about teamwork, collaboration and leadership,” said Adams. The effort is also part of Adams’ ‘Summer of Possibility’, a celebration of NYC’s summer offerings.
Hochul launched ‘Get Offline, Get Outside” to promote physical and mental health by helping New York’s kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings. The state kicked this off by waiving swimming pool entry fees in NY Parks this summer and launching a $1.5 million grant program to help with transportation to swimming lessons. Furthermore, the Governor secured $150 million to expand access to safe swimming opportunities as part of the ‘NY SWIMS’ initiative.
The $4.2 million funding is part of a larger $15 million investment in youth sports programming statewide. In NYC, the grants will create opportunities for young people under 18 in historically under-resourced communities, neighborhoods that experience higher rates of crime and violence and low-performing schools and communities with high rates of public housing and family homelessness. Additionally, the funding will go to marginalized communities or groups with higher barriers to sports participation, including youth with disabilities, girls and LGBTQ+ identifying youth. The team sports and activities include volleyball, breakdancing, football, cheerleading, swimming, lacrosse, skateboarding, pickleball, basketball, baseball, soccer, cricket, figure skating, golf, wrestling, jiu-jitsu and bowling.
This funding is vital for sport community-based organizations (CBOs) serving youth. “I was fortunate to have the support of the City Council via the discretionary funding initiative, which was essential to the survival and success of my organization. This support enabled me to serve over 2,600 young people during my tenure as CEO of The United States Wallball Association,” said Jasmine Ray, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sports, Wellness and Recreation.
“Plainly speaking, when we invest in play, we shape our future. Sports serve as a crime prevention tool and foster community and teamwork. We all know the benefits, and it is time we allocated more resources to that effect. This investment by Mayor Adams, Governor Hochul, and DYCD underscores our administration’s commitment to keeping young people — especially those in high-risk communities — active, healthy, and positively engaged during a critical period in their lives.”
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