— More Than Sports —

Building a Stronger Community Together

Kick Start Foundation, along with our community partners, is working together to create a welcoming place for the entire community—children, teens, young adults, parents, grandparents, seniors, veterans, foster youth and foster families, and individuals on the spectrum or with special needs—where everyone can learn, grow, stay active, build relationships, and discover new opportunities. Our vision started with sports, but we quickly realized that building a stronger community means offering much more. Not everyone wants to be an athlete, but everyone deserves an opportunity to find something they enjoy, discover their abilities, and have a place where they feel included and belong.

Through our sports programs, participants will have the opportunity to learn the basic fundamentals of a variety of sports before committing to a particular one. We also want to introduce them to what happens behind the scenes in athletics, including statistics, film, scorekeeping, scouting, coaching, officiating, sports management, health and safety, and other areas that can lead to future opportunities. We will also provide volunteer training for individuals interested in becoming coaches, officials, mentors, and community leaders.

But Kick Start Foundation is about more than sports. With the help of our partners, we plan to provide programs in culinary arts, sewing and fashion, academics, art, podcasting, gaming and STEM, gardening, dance and tumbling, health and wellness, and mental health education and awareness. Field trips and hands-on experiences will give participants opportunities to learn outside of the traditional classroom and experience things they may not otherwise have the chance to explore.

Our vision includes the entire community. While many programs will serve children and teens, we also want to create daytime activities and opportunities for adults, parents, grandparents, veterans, and seniors. Seniors and veterans can stay active, socialize, learn new skills, participate in activities, and share their own knowledge and life experiences with younger generations. Adults and parents can volunteer, mentor, coach, officiate, teach, or simply participate in programs themselves. We also want to provide welcoming opportunities for foster families and individuals on the spectrum or with special needs to participate, learn, socialize, and become part of our growing community.

We believe some of the greatest resources already exist within our own neighborhoods—the people who live there. Teachers, coaches, artists, cooks, business owners, healthcare professionals, veterans, retirees, parents, grandparents, students, and volunteers all have knowledge that can be shared. By bringing those people together with Kick Start Foundation and our community partners, we can create an environment where one generation helps the next.

Our goal is not simply to run programs. Our goal is to open doors. A young person may walk through our doors wanting to play basketball and discover a passion for filmmaking. Someone interested in gaming may discover STEM and technology. A participant taking a cooking class may discover a future career in culinary arts. A senior or veteran may discover a new social community, while a parent, grandparent, or volunteer may discover that they have the ability to become a great coach, official, teacher, or mentor.

Kick Start Foundation and our partners are working together to give everyone in our community a place to try something new, discover hidden talents, develop skills, build relationships, and create new possibilities—because sometimes all someone needs is a chance to get started.

KICK START FOUNDATION

More Than Sports. More Opportunities. One Community.