Kansas City Organizations Rewarded for Healthy Influence
The Women's Sports Foundation® grants $130,000 to girl-serving organizations throughout Kansas City
East Meadow, May 3,2007- As part of the Women's Sports Foundation's GoGirlGo! initiative and in partnership with WIN for KC, nine girl-serving organizations in the Kansas City area received a total of $130,000 in funds because of their efforts to implement a healthy and physically active lifestyle through the GoGirlGo! program. The GoGirlGo! program was established to educate girls about health risks and influence girls to become physically active as well as lead a healthy lifestyle.
“The Women's Sports Foundation actively supports and congratulates the winners of the GoGirlGo! grants in Kansas City,” stated Aimee Mullins, Women's Sports Foundation President. “Their hard work and exceptional accomplishments showcase what the Women's Sports Foundation strives for, especially through its GoGirlGo! program. I am thrilled that these outstanding girl-serving organizations will influence the community by using physical activity as the foundation for building happy and healthy lives.”
“WIN for KC applauds these organizations for supporting young girls and offering them the opportunity to learn life skills critical to their long term success,” said Patti Phillips, Director, WIN for KC. “As the local partner of the Women's Sports Foundation, we are excited to recognize organizations who embody our mission and are working to provide girls with the athletic opportunities they deserve.”
To qualify for a GoGirlGo! grant, Kansas City programs had to combine athletic instruction with the GoGirlGo! curriculum, which focuses on issues such as self-esteem, body image, bullying, diversity, smoking, stress and drugs for girls ages 8-13 residing in Johnson and/or Wyandotte counties. GoGirlGo! grants will provide funds to support sports and/or physical activity programs seeking to add new or expanded program participation opportunities for an under-served population of girls, particularly girls from populations with high incidences of health-risk behaviors. Funds will be used for athletic equipment, supplies, facility rental, tournament fees, travel, coaching and scholarships. The following girl-serving organizations exemplify each of the elements that the GoGirlGo! program entails and represents and received a portion of the $130,000 awarded throughout the Kansas City, Kan. area.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City- Kansas City, Mo. - $5,000
Kansas City Starlings Volleyball Club- Bonner Springs, Kan. - $5,000
Young Women on the Move- Lenexa, Kan. - $5,000
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City- Kansas City, Mo. - $10,000
Education First Athletics, Second Coalition- Kansas City, Mo. - $10,000
Girls on the Run of Johnson County- Overland Park, Kan. - $20,000
Girl Scouts of Mid-Continent Council- Kansas City, Mo. - $25,000
YMCA of Greater Kansas City- Kansas City, Mo. - $25,000
YWCA of Greater Kansas City- Kansas City, Kan. - $25,000
These grants are made possible by Grant No. 2006-JL-FX-0092 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs and the U.S. Department of Justice.
To learn more about the Women's Sports Foundation, please visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org or www.GoGirlGo.com.
About the Women's Sports Foundation
Founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization seeking to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. The Foundation's Participation, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership Programs are made possible by gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call the Foundation at (800) 227-3988. You can also visit our Web site at www.WomensSportsFoundation.org