The Finish Line Youth Foundation today announced the award of $101,435 to grant recipients in the first quarter of 2013. The 18 grants went to organizations that place an importance on youth development and an active lifestyle in 13 states, including a Legacy Grant of $22,860 to the Child Crisis Center in Mesa, Ariz.
“The Child Crisis Center is truly dedicated to ensuring the children in its care are well taken care of,” said Marty Posch, the foundation’s executive director. “This grant, along with the 17 others, exemplify our mission of making a positive impact on the lives of kids across the country.”
The Finish Line Youth Foundation supports qualified, non-profit organizations that provide community-based access to athletics for children, as well as camps that provide services to those who are disadvantaged or disabled.
LEGACY GRANT
Child Crisis Center (Mesa, Ariz.) - $22,860 to fund the repair and rebuilding of the center’s outdoor play area and purchase new sports equipment. The Child Crisis Center serves as a foster care home for children from infancy to 11 years old who have been semi-permanently or permanently placed into a home and later removed because of abuse or neglect. On average, the center helps 12,000 children per year.
CAMPS
Camp Kesem Davis (Davis, Calif.) - $5,000 for its college student-run summer camp for kids with a parent who has or has had cancer.
Central Ohio Diabetes Association (Columbus, Ohio) - $5,000 for a camp for children with diabetes.
Envision Foundation (Wichita, Kan.) - $5,000 for the foundation’s outdoor adventure camp for kids who are blind or visually impaired.
Kids and Pros, Inc. (Buford, Ga.) - $5,000 for football and basketball camp scholarships for disadvantaged youth.
Moorestown Visiting Nurse Association (Moorestown, N.J.) - $3,500 to help fund a bereavement camp for children who have lost a parent, sibling or loved one.
Muscular Dystrophy Association (Nashville, Tenn.) - $4,800 for a camp for children with muscular dystrophy.
Outside the Box (Indianapolis, Ind.) - $5,000 for a camp for children with intellectual disabilities.
The Boggy Creek Gang (Eustis, Fla.) - $5,000 to help fund a summer camp for children with cancer.
Therapeutic Horsemanship (Wentzville, Mo.) - $3,200 for its equine-assisted therapy program for children with disabilities.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLES
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint (Flint, Mich.) - $5,000 for summer sports, fitness and recreation programming for youth in the area.
Cancer Support Community of Central Indiana (Indianapolis, Ind.) - $3,000 for its Kids in the Kitchen cooking class for families dealing with cancer.
EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program (Virginia Beach, Va.) - $5,000 to fund a therapeutic horseback riding program for children with special needs.
Girls on the Run of Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.) - $4,075 for an after school running program for at-risk girls.
KidWorks Community Development Corporation (Santa Ana, Calif.) - $5,000 for the FitWorks fitness and nutrition program for at-risk youth and families.
Maxwell Activities Association (Greensburg, Pa.) - $5,000 to help repair a youth baseball and softball field.
Variety of Colorado (Louisville, Colo.) - $5,000 to fund the Kids on the GO bicycle program for disadvantaged third-, fourth- and fifth-grade children.
Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation (Phoenix, Ariz.) - $5,000 to help fund active, healthy summers for special kids.
About The Finish Line Youth Foundation
The Finish Line Youth Foundation strives to make a difference in the lives of youth in the communities where employees and customers live, work and play. The Youth Foundation funds non-profit organizations that provide opportunities for kids to participate in community-based youth athletic programs and camps that emphasize sports and active lifestyles, especially programs that serve disadvantaged and special needs kids. In partnership with The Finish Line, Inc., the Youth Foundation has pledged multi-year support of Special Olympics as a part of its ongoing mission to celebrate the everyday achievements of athletes everywhere. For more information about the Youth Foundation, please visit www.finishline.com/youthfoundation. Follow the Youth Foundation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/finishlineyf or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/finishlineyouthfoundation.
<div class="copyright"> Copyright Business Wire 2013 </div>