2002 S'port Grant Recipients Detailed Fact Sheet

Yonge Street Mission

The Yonge Street Mission and S'port for Kids Foundation will partner to create a new, after-school "Sports and Homework Club" that will run three to four days a week from 3 to 7 p.m.

The 2002 S'port Grant will allow an estimated 500 children in the densely populated areas of St. James Town, Cabbagetown and Regent Park to participate in gymnastics, soccer, floor hockey and karate, as well as gymnastics and Tae Kwon Do, that otherwise would not be available to them. The sports program is expected to attract children, many who are new Canadians, to the community centre where they will be encouraged to ask tutors for help in completing their homework. The Mission received a S'port Grant in 2001 to purchase sporting equipment for use in after-school activities and summer camp programs.

Toronto City Mission

The Toronto City Mission is creating a new after-school basketball program in the Malvern community in Scarborough, an area where there is one of the highest percentages of single mothers living under the poverty line in Canada. Children have little or no opportunity to participate in sporting activities. The sports program will provide a positive alternative to being left at home alone or on the streets with the negative influences of gangs, crime and drugs. The Foundation awarded the Mission a S'port Grant in 2001 to create new, after-school sports programs in Soccer, Floor Hockey and Softball for 100 children at the St. James Town Community Centre.

Regent Park Community Centre

The Regent Park Community Centre has experienced great success in developing a championship hockey program, in which 150 children participate in three age categories. Due to severe financial constraints, the program has depended on recycled equipment and some children have had to play without safety equipment, such as neck guards.

The S'port for Kids Foundation will adopt and expand the hockey program through the creation of a formal hockey committee that will be responsible for organizing all aspects of the program, including coaching, managing equipment needs, training and team management. The 2002 S'port Grant will ensure successful expansion of the program and provide an opportunity for top players to participate at higher levels and benefit from sports experience beyond the community in which they reside.

Stay in School and Keep the Peace Basketball

This program is the inspiration of Sgt. Chris Wilson of the Toronto Police Service. The organization teaches children fundamental life skills through learning a sport, with an emphasis on attitude, sportsmanship, leadership and team building. The ultimate goal is to see students receive College Diplomas and University Degrees.

The 2002 Sport Grant will support the expansion of three different basketball programs. The Stay in School Tournament Program will expand from 49 teams to a 75-team tournament involving more than 1000 youth. The Toronto Five-O Program will take on two additional teams of skilled competitors. Many of the talented players are from financially strapped families and would not be able to join teams or pursue university sports scholarship opportunities without the assistance of the Five-O program. US scouts have already approached a number of top team players with scholarship proposals.The Raptorball House League was launched last September and offers 500 children under the age of 16 an opportunity to participate in a basketball program on Saturday.

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History of Grant Recipients