Seventh annual giveSPORTS Equipment Drive set for Sept. 8

The seventh annual giveSPORTS Equipment Drive will be held at Pepsi Center on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 9-11:30 a.m. in the Rav4 Parking Lot. Event co-founders, Kroenke Sports Charities and A Precious Child, invite the public to support underprivileged children in their desire to participate in sports by dropping off new and gently-used sports equipment and monetary donations at this event.

Local representatives from the Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Mammoth, Colorado Rapids and Denver Nuggets will be in attendance to help thank the community for their contribution to the cause.
The giveSPORTS program provides new and gently-used sports equipment to disadvantaged and displaced children by giving them the opportunity to get involved in organized sports. Brannan Sand and Gravel is once again providing $5,000 in matching funds to support scholarships, which cover the costs of registration and other sports-related fees.

Low-income children 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 own life, this young man 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 that had interned for Altitude Sports & Entertainment, had a similar dream to provide children who were victims of the Colorado wildfires with equipment that they lost. Unfortunately, Jessica 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 a kid in the game. Since its inception, the giveSPORTS Equipment Drive has collected over 126,000 pieces of sports equipment and more than $66,000 in sports scholarships to benefit more than 12,000 local kids in need and counting.
Last year's event brought in 26,137 pieces of the equipment--the most in the drive's history--and a total of $16,200 in monetary donations.
A Precious Child also invites companies, sports teams and community groups to join their
giveSPORTS Equipment Drive Challenge from Aug. 28 through Sept. 7 to collect funds as well as new and gently-used sports equipment.
There will be first and second-place prizes to the top groups, courtesy of Kroenke Sports Charities. For more information, please visit
APreciousChild.com
.

New or lightly used sports equipment requested includes (both children and adult sizes):
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
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. More info at www.PepsiCenter.com.
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. 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 holiday gifts. 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 182,000 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 Counties. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 303.466.4272, or visit
APreciousChild.com
.