Sports Gift Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Sports Gift's mission?
Sports Gift is focused on providing sports to impoverished and disadvantaged children throughout the world and promoting sports related community service. Sports provide children a means to strengthen their minds and bodies and a safe environment to develop character. Unfortunately, many children living in poverty will never have the opportunity to enjoy sports without the assistance of Sports Gift. We offer students and adults a variety of community service programs as a practical way to serve others through the collection and donation of sports equipment.
- What does Sports Gift do?
Sports Gift collects gently used and new sports equipment on a donation basis which we refurbish and distribute to underprivileged children throughout the world. Sports Gift also offers community service opportunities to individuals and groups to get involved in sports related community service. We work with youth leagues, clubs, schools and other organizations as well as sponsoring sporting goods retailers and manufacturers. Sports Gift has distributed thousands of sports equipment items throughout the world including communities in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Pacific, Eastern and Central Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
- What Sports Does Sports Gift Collect?
Sports Gift collects sports equipment for soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, flag football and running as well as general playground equipment such as balls, jump ropes, Frisbees, hacky sacks, etc. We encourage you to contact Sports Gift or check the website for specifics because the exact list of items we accept varies by sport.
- Describe the Sports Gift Community Service Opportunities?
Sports Gift offers its Collection Leader program for individuals who would like to organize a collection of sports equipment through their school, team, club, league or other community source. The Sports Gift Club offers groups a unique community service program to do sports related community service on an ongoing basis and is perfect for high school students or other student groups. Sports Gift is also looking for volunteer help in many other areas, so you can contact Sports Gift if you have an idea of how you would like to participate with Sports Gift. We are also seeking adult volunteers to serve as Sports Gift Ambassadors to help spread the word about sports gift in their communities.
- Where does the sports equipment go?
Sports Gift refurbishes the sports equipment donated and then distributes it to underprivileged children and organizations that serve these children. Sports Gift has collected over 250,000 items of sports equipment for distribution to deserving children all over the world including communities in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Pacific, Eastern and Central Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. A typical donation location is an orphanage in a third world country such as Uganda where the children have never owned a sports ball or uniform.
- Does Sports Gift charge the parties they give the equipment to?
No, all of the equipment is donated to youth programs that serve impoverished and disadvantaged children to help them play sports. We do in some instances charge a fee to cover shipping and handling costs.
- Are donations to Sports Gift tax deductible?
Sports Gift is qualified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, and all donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
- Does Sports Gift accept cash donations?
Yes, Sports Gift is very appreciative of any cash donations. They are used to cover costs of refurbishing sports equipment and shipping and related costs of getting the sports equipment into the hands of underprivileged children. Checks should be made payable to "Sports Gift Inc." and sent to our main offices.
- How long has Sports Gift been in operation?
We have been in operation since 2002.
- How can I contact Sports Gift to get more information?
You can info@sportsgift.org or call (949) 388-2359. Also you can visit our website at www.sportsgift.org, or our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/sportsgift.
