Dr Pepper Snapple Group has committed $2 million to non-profit Good Sports over two years to support the organization’s efforts to provide athletic equipment to youth-serving organizations nationwide.
The contribution, through DPS’s Let’s Play initiative, extends the company’s partnership with Good Sports through the end of 2016 and will provide balls, bats, pads, helmets, uniforms and other gear that helps keep 2 million kids across the country in the game. Last year, DPS provided more than $1 million to Good Sports, funding nearly 700 grants to community organizations and sports leagues.
“Active play is a vital part of all children’s well-being, no matter what age. But unfortunately, many kids aren’t given enough opportunities to burn the calories they consume through daily physical activity,” said Vicki Draughn, vice president of corporate affairs at DPS. “We’re pleased to provide those opportunities through Let’s Play and continue our great partnership with Good Sports to help get even more kids active over the next couple of years.”
DPS launched Let’s Play in 2011 to provide the tools, places and inspiration to make play a daily priority for kids and families. In addition to its partnership with Good Sports, DPS has worked with non-profit KaBOOM! to build or fix up more than 2,100 playgrounds across North America over the past four years. By 2017, DPS’s Let’s Play initiative will have invested $28 million to provide nearly 10 million kids with more opportunities to play, with new or improved playgrounds or sports equipment.
“We are thrilled to continue to work with DPS as a partner in its Let’s Play initiative and look forward to serving even more school-aged children who often lack resources for their favorite type of play organized sports,” said Melissa Harper, CEO of Good Sports. “Kids of all ages deserve the tools and places they need to get active whether that’s a safe playground for younger kids or new soccer goals, baseball bats and football pads for older kids. Let’s Play helps make this possible.”
In addition to the tools and places to play provided through DPS’s partnerships with KaBOOM! and Good Sports, Let’s Play is also serving up inspiration to help make active play a daily priority at LetsPlay.com. Families can log on to find fun play ideas and tips, as well as more information about DPS’s Let’s Play sports equipment and playground grants and how deserving organizations can apply.
To learn more about Dr Pepper Snapple’s Let’s Play partnership with Good Sports, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQMy6wb_j_Q.
