Background Facts

The S'port for Kids Foundation is a national charity, dedicated to promoting the wholeness of youth through sport. The Foundation was created to give children and youth a healthy, active childhood and opportunities to build good basic values the "Canadian way". It relies exclusively on special events and charitable contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations to support organized sport. It allocates 100% of its net proceeds to deserving youth. · Of the 950,000 children living in the GTA, countless number of youth would like to participate in organize sport… but can't. They lack the funds for equipment, for team fees and safe facilities to play games. Joining a community sports team becomes even more critical in communities where youth violence and gang membership are on the rise. · The National Council on Welfare tabled a report in December 2000 stating that one in five children (in Canada) live in poverty. · A Toronto Star article in March 2001 cites that Toronto maintains the highest child poverty rate in the country, primarily because the city is an entry point for immigrants. · The SFK Foundation S'port Grants assist organizations such as the Yonge Street Mission and Toronto City Mission that are a primary resource for new Canadians living in the inner city. · There are numerous studies that clearly indicate children living in poverty, who lack the access to sports and recreational activities, are at greater risk of becoming involved in criminal and anti-social behavior, such as drug abuse and street gangs.

2001 S'port Grant Recipients

Toronto City Mission
The Toronto City Mission organizes sports activities in the Kids Club and Day Camps at three sites: St. James Town in downtown Toronto, the most densely populated community in Canada; Willowtree, a public housing community in Willowdale; and Malvern, a community in northeast Scarborough.

Throughout the school year, there are about 100 elementary school children involved in after-school activities at community centres, two days a week. The day camps are a safe harbor for 200 children for one week during March Break and for six weeks during the summer. It costs approximately $100 per week, per child for this program. Their S'port Grants will be used to purchase equipment, support after school soccer, floor hockey and softball and Day Camp activities including Dodge ball, gymnastics, basketball, swimming, playground activities and table tennis.

Yonge Street Mission
The Yonge Street Mission (YSM) reaches out to about 7,000 children and youth each year, organizing after-school clubs for boys and girls, breakfast clubs and leadership programs. It has a long history of fielding championship sports teams and encourages the development of leadership, team building and cooperation skills through active involvement in sports.

The Mission organizes March Break camps, July day camps and overnight camps for inner city kids, giving them an appreciation of the outdoors and a chance to experience life away from the city environment.

The S'port Grant will be used to support increased enrollment in their team sports - especially basketball, hockey, volleyball, soccer and football and to purchase equipment. The grant will also support the YSM summer camping program for children and youth.

Children's Aid Foundation PLAY-FUND
The Children's Aid serves on average 4,500 children each day in its foster care system, but funding is not available for sports and recreational activities. The organization created the PLAY fund to give at-risk children the chance to develop through participating in sports and enriching extra-curricular activities. All children enrolled in the PLAY program are screened to ensure they will benefit from the activities and that positive short and long term effects support the need.

Their S'port Grant will support sport and recreational activities that are geared to each child's abilities and interests. It will contribute to the overall welfare of at-risk children living below the poverty line and many who suffer from a broken home and physical and emotional abuse. To date, there are a number of reported stories where children have developed talent and interest in their chosen activity and as a result have developed self esteem, interest in learning and excelling in a new challenge. more...

The Canadian Chinese Youth Athletic Association ( CCYAA)
The CCYAA has provided community sports activities for more than 20 years for youth up to 18 years of age. The S'port Grant will supplement the Association's fund raising initiatives and help an increasing number of Chinese youth and new Canadians to develop basketball proficiency skills through participation in championships tournaments. Two of the women's basketball lead players are NBA, two-ball championship winners. The men's team currently holds the Canadian National Basketball Championship title.

Other SFK S'port Grant recipients:
· Academy of Sports and Fitness Gymnastics Club, Richmond Hill
· Anduhyan Children's Program
· Regent Park Community Centre, Toronto
· Toronto Police Association "Keep the Peace and Stay in School" Basketball Program

For information contact:
Alex Yuan, Chairman & Founder - SFK - (905) 886-4392
Lynne Beckett, Becklyn Communications - (416) 781-8301