Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS) launched a Sports Matter green shoelace movement as part of its fight against the youth sports funding crisis.
Billions of dollars have been cut from youth sports funding in recent years, and 27 percent of U.S. public high schools may not have any sports programs by 2020, according to Up2Us Sports. Dick’s and The Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation have pledged more than $50 million to support teams and raise awareness of this issue since 2014, and to date have helped nearly 2,000 youth sports teams.
Those wishing to help save youth sports can purchase Sports Matter green shoelaces at any Dick’s store nationwide or on dicks.com. Dick’s will donate $2 from every shoelace sale to The Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation’s Sports Matter program, which is dedicated to helping save underfunded youth sports programs. Laces are available in oval and flat varieties and in various lengths.
Customers can show their support socially as well, by taking a picture of their casual or athletic shoes or cleats laced up with green shoelaces and use #SaveYouthSports.
“At Dick’s, we know the holiday season is a special time of year where people are inspired to make a difference,” said Lauren Hobart, EVP and CMO, Dick’s Sporting Goods and president of The Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation. “This holiday, we want to give our customers a meaningful way to feel like they’re part of something bigger – part of the movement that we’re leading to fight the youth sports funding crisis in our country.”
In addition to purchasing green laces, customers can also donate to The Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation when checking out in-store during the holiday season through January 8. All money donated will help to raise awareness for and support underfunded youth sports programs. For more information, visit sportsmatter.org.
To highlight the benefits of youth sports for kids across the country, Dick’s has profiled the Fifth Ward Saints football organization, located in the Fifth Ward outside of Houston, TX, in a short film. The film shows the importance of football in the lives of generations of Houston-area kids. The film ends with the foundation donating a $100,000 grant, including new equipment, to ensure the program is able to operate through the year 2020. To view the film, visit sportsmatter.com/greenlaces.
Dick’s Community program is also partnering with 10 youth organizations this holiday season. Young athletes from these organizations will get to shop with local sports heroes and receive the Sports Matter shoelaces to join the green shoelace movement.
