North America

United States

Sports Gift has distributed thousands of items of sports equipment to youth programs in the United States serving disadvantaged children. There are millions of children in America living in poverty with many families homeless. Below are some of the stories from America during 2010 and 2009:

2010

Arizona Navajo Indian Reservation

Partner Organization: Saddleback Church
Items Donated: 503
Children Impacted: 100+
This gift of sports equipment included basketballs, shorts, jerseys, running shoes, t-shirts and other sports equipment. The area in which this equipment was used is along the Arizona/New Mexico border, on the Navajo Indian Reservation. This area is lower income families with a high unemployment. There are those who still follow the old traditional ways of life. When there is an event that takes place anywhere on the reservation, it normally becomes a family event. This program's event targeted the children and also the rest of the family who come and spend the day watching. The program members were there to lead, serve, coach and teach boys, girls, men and women.

Beaumont

Partner Organization: San Gorgonio Middle School
Items Donated: 82
Children Impacted: 100+
This gift of tennis equipment included tennis balls, racquets and related tennis supplies. Beaumont is in a low socio-economic area. The population of San Gorgonio Middle School is 1,010 students, and 71% of the student body qualifies for free/reduced lunches. The goal of this program is to provide the best program, which allows for the social, mental and physical development of the whole person.

Camp Pendleton

Partner Organization: United States Marine Corps
Items Donated: 355
Children Impacted: 350+
This gift of sports equipment included new balls, mitts, clothing and other sports equipment as holiday gifts to children in military families with parents overseas serving our country. The program serves younger marines with families who make little money. Santa passed out gifts at a Christmas celebration for the kids.

Camp Pendleton

Partner Organization: United States Marine Corps
Items Donated: 166
Children Impacted: 200+
This gift of baseball equipment included baseballs, mitts, bats and related baseball supplies. The mission of this program is to provide support to all military families. It also provides school supplies, refurbished computers, Easter baskets, Christmas holiday toys and a whole lot more. The community where this sports equipment went to is a unit of Marines who are putting together a baseball team in order to improve the morale amongst their peers. These Marines are the ones who live in the barracks away from their normal home lifestyle.

Coachella Valley

Partner Organization: Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa
Items Donated: 330
Children Impacted: 200+
This gift of sports equipment included soccer balls, baseballs, basketballs, t-shirts and other sports equipment was given to support the outreaches of this church. The trip to the Coachella Valley is designed to serve and reach out to the poorest of the poor in California—primarily migrant workers. One of the outreaches was in an area called Las Chiquinitas, a trailer park with up to 10,000 people. The federal government has listed it as an area of extreme poverty. The program also worked in other parts of Palm Desert/Indio, including a juvenile hall outreach, etc.

Long Beach

Partner Organization: SSS Good Samaritan Association
Items Donated: 141
Children Impacted: 100+
This gift of sports equipment included baseballs, mitts, tabs, cleats, batting helmets, catchers gear and other equipment. This community deals with the tough problems facing Pacific Islander families, especially problems that diminish their chances for a rewarding future.  Families often cannot afford sports equipment to allow their children to play organized sports.

Los Angeles

Partner Organization: United States Tennis Association
Items Donated: 337
Children Impacted: 200+
This gift of tennis equipment included tennis racquets, tennis balls, tennis clothing and related tennis supplies. This equipment is being used by the United States Tennis Association to operate tennis programs throughout southern California in public parks ranging from basic instruction to competitive tournament events. Communities benefiting from this gift include Compton, Crenshaw and Watts.

Los Angeles

Partner Organization: Jordan High School
Items Donated: 164
Children Impacted: 50+
This gift of tennis equipment included tennis racquets, tennis balls, tennis clothing and related tennis supplies. This school is in a very poor community of east Los Angeles. The high school is surrounded by three projects and gang violence is a typical part of their day. Many students are tempted to join gangs, so this after school tennis program offers these students a better way of life. The tennis equipment was provided to volunteer teachers organizing a tennis program for the children.

Los Angeles

Partner Organization: LAPD Southeast – Police Activities League
Items Donated: 1,194
Children Impacted: 500+
This gift of sports equipment included basketballs, baseballs, soccer balls, uniforms and other sports equipment was given to a community-based crime prevention program. This community is located in the South Central area of Los Angeles, which is a very poor community within the city of LA. Through interaction with police officers in recreational, educational, athletic and fine arts activities, young people are given the opportunity to form healthy, positive attitudes toward the police, the society and the laws they represent. Sports can keep the children occupied and keep them from getting lured into the gang/drugs lifestyle.

Los Angeles

Partner Organization: Fred Jordan Mission
Items Donated: 1,071
Children Impacted: 1,000+
This gift of new sports equipment including sportswear, soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, baseball equipment and playground items was given to a homeless shelter in Los Angeles. The program is located in the center of Los Angeles Skid Row and serves to provide shelter and meals to the homeless. The program benefits children of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

Riverside

Partner Organization: Harvest Ministries
Items Donated: 338
Children Impacted: 300+
This gift of new sports equipment including sportswear, soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, baseball equipment and playground items was given to children and families to share God's love during the holidays.

San Diego

Partner Organization: Border View Family YMCA
Items Donated: 118
Children Impacted: 100+
This gift of sports equipment included soccer balls, softballs, catcher gears and other sports equipment was given to youth sports programs. They are dedicated to serving youth and their families by providing affordable sports programs in a non-threatening environment, improving children's athletic skills while emphasizing fun, sportsmanship, teamwork, and the development of positive self-esteem. This community includes the border crossing to Mexico, and there is a great amount of crime, gang, and drug related violence. The teenage pregnancy rate is also one of the highest in San Diego County. The impact of sports for girls is significant in this community. By participating sports, girls gain life skills such as commitment, teamwork, and dedication.

Santa Ana

Partner Organization: First Serve
Items Donated: 278
Children Impacted: 250+
This gift of tennis equipment included racquets, balls, clothing and other related tennis supplies. The goal of this program is to establish Santa Ana as a tennis playing community, and to make kids confident through tennis. This community is 95% Latino with 75% students on free or reduced lunch program. The focus population is grades 1 – 5 in the existing district after school program. There are around 250 kids at two school sites presently.

Tarzana

Partner Organization: The Work of Angels Group, Inc.
Items Donated: 138
Children Impacted: 125+
This gift of basketball equipment included basketballs, jerseys, shorts and related basketball supplies. This organization hosts a drop in center for transitional aged foster youth in the San Fernando Valley. Most of the young people have spent the majority of their lives in the state of California foster care system, and they have not learned (or been taught) basic life skills, so this program aims to provide a basic for such learning through sports as well as mentorship, career exploration and academic tutoring. The donated basketball equipment is used as an activity encouraging healthy group dynamics, interaction and learning of mature sportsmanship qualities.

Woodland Hills

Partner Organization: Junior League of Los Angeles
Items Donated: 85
Children Impacted: 70+
This gift of sports equipment included soccer balls, footballs, basketballs and playground balls was given to a program called Kids in the Kitchen (KITK) hosted by Junior League of Los Angeles (JLLA). This program focuses on educating children on the importance of good nutrition and exercise to prevent obesity and its associated health issues. KITK has partnered with Meet Each Need with Dignity (MEND), the largest poverty agency in the San Fernando Valley. With dignity and respect, MEND's mission is to break the bonds of poverty by providing basic human needs and a pathway to self-reliance. The program provided children, who come from highly impoverished families, with their own ball to inspire them to maintain healthy

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2009

Anaheim

Items Donated: 223
Children Impacted: 223+
This gift of sports equipment included new balls, mitts, clothing and other sports equipment as holiday gifts to disadvantaged children. This street program is run on the streets of Orange County inner-city, which is a small duplex community with mostly single mother families. There are Spanish-speaking families with a very low income who all come out Friday nights to pray, do homework and be fed by this program. The kids love sports, personal attention and are responsible and hard working.

Camp Pendleton

Items Donated: 616
Children Impacted:616+
This gift of sports equipment included new balls, mitts, clothing and other sports equipment as holiday gifts to children in military families with parents overseas serving our country. The program serves younger marines with families who make little money. Santa pass out gifts at a Christmas celebration for the kids.

Compton and Long Beach

Items Donated: 304
Children Impacted:100+
This gift of basketballs, volleyballs, tennis equipment and softball equipment was given to a program serving underprivileged children in Compton and the Long Beach communities. These are very poor communities with a large drug and gang influence, so giving the children healthy alternatives is very important.

Cypress

Items Donated: 77
Children Impacted:77+
This gift of sports equipment included new balls, mitts, clothing and other sports equipment as holiday gifts to disadvantaged children. This program focuses on children in crisis who are in situations out of their control. Their goal is to brighten up a Childs life. This program does this by donating boxes to domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, boys and girls clubs, at risk school programs and social services.

East Los Angeles

Items Donated: 149
Children Impacted:150+
This gift of sports equipment included softballs, mitts, clothing and other sports equipment to disadvantaged children. This program restores families by putting on events that involve the whole family. East Los Angeles is full of gangs, drugs, prostitution, and families that can’t afford to get their children involved in positive activities such as sports.

East Los Angeles

Items Donated: 663
Children Impacted:500+
This gift of tennis equipment included tennis racquets, tennis balls, tennis clothing and related tennis supplies. Communities benefiting from this gift include Compton, Crenshaw and Watts. Watts is part of Los Angeles and is famed for its participation in the riots of 1992 and 1968. It is a very poor community. The students receive free lunch. The high school is surrounded by three projects and gang violence is a typical part of their day. Many students are tempted to join gangs, so this after school tennis program offers these students a better way of life. The tennis equipment was provided to volunteer teachers organizing a tennis program for the children.

Huntington Beach

Items Donated: 78
Children Impacted:78+
This gift of sports equipment included new balls, mitts, clothing and other sports equipment as holiday gifts to disadvantaged children in Orange County. The goal of this program is to provide a safe home and nurturing environment for homeless women and children in which they can receive the supportive services needed to achieve self-sufficiency. All of the children in the program were homeless before entering. Many have experienced domestic violence and substance abuse.

Irvine

Items Donated: 185
Children Impacted:185+
This gift of sports equipment included new balls, mitts, clothing and other sports equipment as holiday gifts to disadvantaged children. The goal of this program is to assist families in financial crisis to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through housing, food, career coaching, counseling and other supportive services. The families served are all low-income and have minor aged children. Many of the children don’t have the opportunity to be involved in sports; the parents are barely making it day to day with the most basic necessities.

Los Angeles

Items Donated: 340
Children Impacted:250+
This gift of sports equipment included new and used balls, mitts, clothing and other sports equipment to provide sports programs for the children and to provide as holiday gifts to disadvantaged children. This program is an emergency shelter for adult and child victims of domestic violence and substance abuse. The shelter provides counseling, on-site substance abuse treatment counseling and education, peer support groups, case management, legal, healthcare and other services. They also offer a 24-hour hotline. Most of the children in the shelter have left all of their personal belongings behind. The shelter provides the basic necessities for families and the sports equipment will be used to help children feel stable and safe and enjoy themselves.

Los Angeles

Items Donated: 48
Children Impacted:400+
This gift of basketballs, footballs, baseball equipment and playground items was given to a homeless shelter in Los Angeles. The program is located in the center of Los Angeles Skid Row and serves to provide shelter and meals to the homeless. The program benefits children of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. For these homeless people some of the challenges they face include alcoholism, cocaine addiction and physical and emotional abuse. Sports Gift provides an alternative from these routes.

Los Angeles

Items Donated: 162
Children Impacted:80+
This gift of sports equipment included basketballs, uniforms and other supplies to disadvantaged children in Los Angeles. This program helps teens in inner city Los Angeles with job and life training and helps them obtain a high school degree in an area where that is rare. They are implementing a physical education course with the sports equipment to act as a distraction from the negative activities that can be tempting to these teens.

Orange

Items Donated: 116
Children Impacted:116+
This gift of sports equipment included new balls, mitts, clothing and other sports equipment as holiday gifts to disadvantaged children. This program attempts to provide homes, care, treatment, and supportive services for abused, neglected and emotionally troubled children and their families. Almost all of these families are low-income and the living conditions affect many aspects of the children with education, social behavior and health.

Orange County

Items Donated: 394
Children Impacted:400+
This gift of basketball equipment included basketballs and uniforms and was for underprivileged children in Santa Ana, California. This program aims to revitalize neglected neighborhoods. Along with placing a net on any hoop they see, the program educates disadvantaged youth about a multitude of health care professions, with an emphasis on physical therapy. They restore the recreation areas, then host clinics, tournaments, trainings and other events to spark new energy in the community.

Placentia

Items Donated: 51
Children Impacted:51+
This gift of sports equipment included new balls, mitts, clothing and other sports equipment as holiday gifts to disadvantaged children. This program assists homeless families, couples and individuals to regain self-sufficiency through housing, training, counseling and personal support. Some of the children have never had stability nor attended school. Students are tutored and provided with books and school supplies. The ultimate goal is to achieve self-sufficiency.

Santa Ana

Items Donated: 79
Children Impacted:79+
This gift of sports equipment included new balls, mitts, clothing and other sports equipment as holiday gifts to disadvantaged children. The goal of this program is to change the way America cares for the children and families by providing and promoting a continuum of care that strengthens mind, body and spirit. They provide help for families that are being torn apart by violence, drug abuse, behavioral conflicts and criminal acts. They focus on counseling for children both long and short term to provide them with a safe, healthy environment.

Tustin

Items Donated: 53
Children Impacted:53+
This gift of sports equipment included new balls, mitts, clothing and other sports equipment as holiday gifts to disadvantaged children. This organization provides poor, needy people with guidance, counseling, education, job training, shelter, food, clothing, health care and independent living communities. Children that come often lack basic necessities such as a home, food and clothes. The organization provides them with everything they need to be a part of a loving family and do well in school. Their parents are taught how to be good parents, how to handle family finances, how to successfully hold a job, and vocational skills that will help them support their family.

West Covina

Items Donated: 327
Children Impacted:327+
This gift of sports equipment included new balls, mitts, clothing and other sports equipment as holiday gifts to disadvantaged children in the Los Angeles area. This program is serves disadvantaged latino families in southern California. The program desires every child to have love and permanency in their family. Many children are unable to live with their parents due to parental abuse and neglect. Children are either reunited with their birth families and in other cases foster families can usually make the homes permanent through adoption.