Eighth annual giveSPORTS Equipment Drive set for Sept. 7

The eighth annual giveSPORTS Equipment Drive will be held at Pepsi Center on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Rav4 Parking Lot (located between 9th and 11th streets and between Chopper Circle and Auraria Parkway).
Event co-founders Kroenke Sports Charities and A Precious Child invite the public to support local disadvantaged and displaced children in their desire to participate in sports by dropping off new and gently-used sports equipment and monetary donations at the event.

A Precious Child's giveSPORTS program provides new and gently-used gear and participation fee scholarships to children in need by giving them the opportunity to get involved in organized sports. Additionally, Brannan Sand and Gravel will provide $5,000 in matching funds to support five giveSPORTS scholarships that help cover registration costs and other sports-related fees. Representatives from the Avalanche, Nuggets, Mammoth and Rapids will be in attendance to interact with donors and thank the community for their contributions.

Because of the lack of funds, children living in low-income families are among the least likely to participate in organized sports. Participation in extracurricular sports significantly impacts short and long-term educational, emotional, behavioral and physical outcomes for disadvantaged, poverty-stricken youth.
A Precious Child's giveSPORTS program was started by 12-year-old Dustin Martin in 2011. Knowing the powerful impact sports had on his life, Martin sought to ensure all children regardless of circumstance had the opportunity to play sports. Another exceptional young person, Jessica Redfield Ghawi, an aspiring sports journalist for Altitude Sports & Entertainment had a similar dream to provide children who were victims of the Colorado wildfires with equipment that they lost. Unfortunately, Ghawi lost her life in the Aurora Theater tragedy.
Together, Kroenke Sports Charities and A Precious Child have combined efforts to fulfill both Jessica and Dustin's dreams in a community-wide equipment drive to help put kids in the game. Since its inception in 2012, the giveSPORTS Equipment Drive has collected over 177,000 pieces of sports equipment and more than $75,000 in sports scholarships to benefit 22,000-plus kids in need living in the Denver metro area.
"There are thousands of Colorado children living in poverty today who want nothing more than to participate in sports, alongside their peers," said CEO and Founder of A Precious Child Carina Martin. "We are looking to the community to donate sports equipment and funds to help us put all kids in the game regardless of their circumstances."
A Precious Child invites companies, sports teams/leagues and community groups to join the giveSPORTS Equipment Drive Challenge from Aug. 26-Sept. 7. Challenge participants are encouraged to collect funds, as well as new and gently-used sports equipment. The group that is the first to collect the most combined funds in each group category will receive a prize on behalf of Kroenke Sports Charities. For more information please visit:
www.apreciouschild.org/givesports/
.
This initiative is also part of NHL Green, which "is committed to protecting the places we play hockey for future generations." Recycling gently-used equipment prevents unnecessary build up of waste and saves the energy required to manufacture new goods.
New or lightly-used sports equipment for all sports are requested, including the following in both children and adult sizes:
NEW THIS YEAR - Bicycles, in any condition
Baseball and Softball - Balls, Gloves, Catcher's Gear, Bats, Batting Gloves
Basketball - Balls, Nets, Shoes
Bikes - Bicycles, Helmets
Boxing - Gloves, Head Gear
Football - Balls, Pads, Helmets, Cleats
Golf - Clubs, Shoes, Bags
Hockey - Pucks, Skates, Pads, Goalie Gear, Helmets, Sticks
Lacrosse - Balls, Sticks, Pads, Helmets
Roller Hockey - Skates, Helmets, Pads, Sticks, Balls
Roller Skating/Blading- Skates, Helmets, Pads
Ski/Snowboard - Skis, Snowboards, Poles, Helmets, Gloves, Jackets
Soccer - Balls, Cleats, Shin Guards
Tennis - Balls, Rackets, Shoes
Volleyball - Balls, Nets, Pads
Other - Scooters, Skateboards, Sports Jerseys, Athletic Cups (New Only), Mouthguards (New Only)
No clothing donations.
About Kroenke Sports Charities - Kroenke Sports Charities is committed to improving lives through the spirit and power of sports. We strive to serve our community through education, health and fitness initiatives, athletic programs and direct aid, with the particular purpose of helping families, children, veterans and the disabled. Kroenke Sports Charities provides relevant programs and support, directly and with other nonprofit organizations, to ultimately assist, encourage and enrich the lives of those in need. To learn more, visit
www.pepsicenter.com/arena-information/kroenke-sports-charities
.
About A Precious Child, Inc. - A Precious Child is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides children in need with opportunities and resources to empower them to achieve their full potential. In 2018 alone, A Precious Child served nearly 49,000 disadvantaged and displaced children. A Precious Child provides impoverished Colorado children and families with basic essentials such as clothing, shoes, baby formula, diapers, coats, backpacks and school supplies, sports equipment, and gifts for the holidays. We work to assist children and families facing difficult life challenges such as abuse, neglect, crisis situations and poverty. Our core initiatives help build the whole child, in addition to providing basic essentials, we help children and their families navigate community resources, working with schools to strengthen attendance initiatives, and providing services and resources to agency partners to strengthen their impact.
Since 2008, A Precious Child has provided opportunities and resources to more than 240,000 children and their caregivers. A Precious Child serves eight counties surrounding the Denver Metro area, including Arapahoe, Adams, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson and Weld. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 303.466.4272, or visit
APreciousChild.org
.