WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES JANUARY 16, 2020 21
EDUCATION
Encouraging youth sports and their benefi ts
Sports help shape kids’ lives, but
due to funding shortages, some
school sports programs are at
risk.
Most experts agree physical activity
is an essential aspect of youth
development that teaches teamwork,
builds confi dence and fuels academic
potential.
However, according to a survey of
middle school educators engaged with
DonorsChoose.org, 6 in 10 feel their
middle school athletic programs are
barely funded or underfunded.
In fact, a lack of funding accounts
for 47 percent of cuts to middle
school sports programs, the survey
revealed.
A multiyear program known as
“Mission Tiger,” launched by Kellogg,
is committed to helping save middle
school sports.
The initiative started with a $1 million
commitment to DonorsChoose.
org to fund projects big and small at
schools in need.
Professional athletes passionate
about youth sports, including Olympian
Julie Ertz, are teaming up with
the program to help underfunded
programs. The pro-soccer midfi elder
teamed up with Mission Tiger to help
a school inspire its students’ dreams
both on and off the fi eld by donating
new equipment, including soccer balls,
cleats, shin guards and more.
“Growing up, I learned numerous
skills from sports, skills that applied
not only to athletics but to my everyday
life,” Ertz said.
“This is one of the many reasons why
I joined the Mission Tiger team - we’re
not just giving kids the opportunity to
play sports, we’re giving kids the opportunity
to develop benefi cial skills
that can positively impact the future
of today’s youth.”
Consider these benefi ts of youth
sports:
TEAMWORK
Sports teach kids the advantages
of working together toward a common
goal. The ability to collaborate
with peers, including those outside a
child’s immediate circle of friends, is
a skill that provides benefi ts through
adulthood.
CHARACTER
Learning how to accept wins and
losses gracefully isn’t just good sportsmanship,
it’s a life lesson. A playing
fi eld puts these lessons to use so kids
can practice empathy and other social
interactions in a comfortable setting.
For every box of Frosted Flakes you
purchase, you can spark a $1 donation
to DonorsChoose.org by uploading
your receipt to Kellogg’s Family Rewards
within 30 days of purchase.
Kellogg is donating $1 per purchase
to DonorsChoose.org with Kellogg’s
Frosted Flakes receipt upload. Min.
donation $500,000 - Max. $1,000,000.
Go to missiontiger.com for instructions.
Applies to purchases between
Aug. 5, 2019, and Aug. 5, 2020; must
upload within 30 days of purchase.
— Courtesy of Family Features
, Jan 26 M
Glendale, NY 11385 sacredheartglendale.org
S
Sacred Heart
Catholic Academy
OF G L E N DALE
/DonorsChoose.org
/DonorsChoose.org
/DonorsChoose.org
/WWW.QNS.COM
/missiontiger.com
/sacredheartglendale.org
