The Finish Line Youth Foundation announced the award of $121,200 to grant recipients in the fourth quarter of 2012. The 24 grants went to organizations that place an importance on youth development and an active lifestyle in 20 states. In 2012, the Youth Foundation donated $626,863 to kids groups around the country.
“2012 was a milestone year for the Finish Line Youth Foundation,” said Marty Posch, the foundations executive director. “Altogether, we funded 97 children’s organization in addition to Special Olympics programs in every state, and we are looking forward to making an even bigger impact in the lives of kids in 2013.”
The Finish Line Youth Foundation supports qualified, non-profit organizations that provide community-based access to athletics for kids, as well as camps that provide services to those who are disadvantaged or disabled.
LEGACY GRANT
Maryhurst (Louisville, Ky.) – $10,000 for a new basketball court. Maryhurst provides services to more than 400 children annually who have been severely traumatized by abuse and neglect. The organizations services include long-term residential treatment, community-based group homes and psychiatric residential treatment facilities.
CAMPS
Brookes Place for Grieving Young People (Indianapolis, Ind.) – $5,000 for its annual camp for children who have lost a parent or loved one.
Camp Angels (Waterford, Maine) – $5,000 for its summer camp for children dealing with diabetes.
Camp Kesem (Ann Arbor, Mich.) – $5,000 for its college student-run summer camp for kids with a parent who has or has had cancer.
Camp Odayin (Stillwater, Minn.) – $5,000 to fund a camp for children with congenital heart disease.
Centro Nueva Creacion (Philadelphia, Penn.) – $3,500 for the organizations summer camp, which promotes healthy lifestyle opportunities and choices.
Girls in the Game (Chicago, Ill.) – $5,000 for a sports and leadership camp for at-risk girls.
Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation (Bronxville, N.Y.) – $5,000 for an on-the-move performing and creative arts based camping program that delivers a week of recreational and performing arts camp to children living in isolating circumstances.
Nevada Diabetes Association (Reno, Nev.) – $5,000 to fund a camp for children with diabetes.
Opportunity House (Reading, Penn.) – $4,800 to fund a camp for homeless children.
Phoenix Childrens Hospital Foundation (Phoenix, Ariz.) – $5,000 for the hospitals Camp Rainbow, a camp for children who have or have had cancer or a chronic blood disorder.
Safe Crossings Foundation (Seattle, Wash.) – $5,000 to help fund a camp for grieving children.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLES
Boys & Girls Club of Benton County (Bentonville, Ark.) – $4,500 to fund an athletic scholarship for underserved youth.
Boys & Girls Club of Janesville (Janesville, Wis.) – $5,000 for the organizations Triple Play youth fitness program.
Capitol Hill Little League (Washington, D.C.) – $5,000 to contribute to the little leagues scholarship fund for underserved youth.
Chicago Run (Chicago, Ill.) – $5,000 for the organizations daily running program for elementary school students.
Dallas Jr. Wheelchair Mavericks (Dallas, Texas) – $5,000 to fund a wheelchair basketball league for kids.
Edgewood Center for Children and Families (San Francisco, Calif.) – $5,000 for a sports and recreation program for kids who have experienced trauma.
Eskenazi Health Foundation (Indianapolis, Ind.) – $5,000 to fund the foundations support of Girls on the Run of Marion County.
Girls on the Run of Palm Beach (West Palm Beach, Fla.) – $6,000 to support GOTRs mission of inspiring girls to be healthy and confident while training for a 5K run.
Kennedy Krieger Institute (Baltimore, Md.) – $5,000 for the institutes aerobic exercise program for children with autism.
Kids TRI for Kids (Indianapolis, IN) – $5,000 to support the Kids TRI triathlon program for youth that offers safe races where kids learn the value of fun competition.
Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding (Lenoir City, Tenn.)-$2,400 in scholarships for underserved participants in the academys therapeutic horseback riding program.
YMCA of the Sandhills (Fayetteville, N.C.) – $5,000 for the YMCAs support of the Girls on the Run of Coastal Carolinas.
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.
