The Sports Fund exists to help ensure that children across the Middle Tennessee community can become part of a team – rather than rather than part of a gang; that children can have their lives enhanced by a caring but disciplined coach who demands their best rather than their worst; that the afternoon hours, when most teen pregnancies occur, are filled with other pursuits; and that “couch potatoes
” become the exception rather than the expectation. When many of us reflect on the people who had a positive impact on our lives, we think of family, teachers, coaches, clergy or some combination thereof. We think of teammates to whom we felt a sense of personal responsibility and with whom we felt a kindred spirit. The truth is that every boy and every girl yearns to belong …. The Sports Fund works to make sure they have the opportunity to belong to a team and have access to transformative opportunities. Sports and team membership provide: a sense of belonging; self-esteem, discipline, hope and the inspiration of coaches; a source of activity particularly in critical after-school hours; and a “hook” to attract kids to nonprofit programs also offering tutoring. The Sports Fund, a component charitable fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, is a long-term solution that works to prevent a range of issues facing our children rather than treating the aftermath: childhood obesity, gang membership, teen pregnancy, high school dropout rates, crime, early onset diabetes, and most chillingly, a lack of hope. The Sports Fund is working to nurture children’s ability to reach farther and dream bigger than they’d ever thought possible. To help give more kids in our community a chance to compete in life, we need you to join our team – The Sports Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. For more information, or to donate, visit our website or call us at 615-321-4939.
