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(Alliance News Service) —
San Antonio Spurs Score
for Kids at The Children’s Shelter
Strong relationship with NBA team provides
vital grants
Kids can take a tumble and still bounce back at a new playground constructed with an assist by the San Antonio Spurs Foundation at The Children’s Shelter in San Antonio, Texas.
The Spurs Foundation, founded in 1988 as part of the San Antonio Spurs NBA team, donated $135,000 to construct the playground for children at The Children’s Shelter Woodlawn Campus. The Children’s Shelter is a member of the Alliance for Children and Families.
A relationship between the Spurs Foundation and the shelter began in the mid-1990s when The Children’s Shelter board members invited foundation representatives to tour the shelter. The Children’s Shelter subsequently was invited to apply to the foundation for grants, and has done so successfully since 1996.
“We keep in constant contact with the Spurs Foundation, sending them newsletters and other correspondence, inviting them to our events,” says Jack Downey, president/CEO for The Children’s Shelter.
The Spurs Foundation supports physically, emotionally, and economically underserved youth. Since its formation, the foundation has donated more than $11 million in cash and in-kind donations to San Antonio-area youth organizations.
When applying for grants from the foundation, The Children’s Shelter endeavors to make sure their requests fit the needs of the foundation, says Downey. In addition to funding for the playground, the Spurs Foundation provided funds for sports equipment for the Woodlawn Campus, as well as for “hope packages” for children when they leave the shelter. The packages consist of new shoes and new clothing, a duffle bag, socks and underwear, toiletries, new books, and new toys.
The Children’s Shelter also enjoys a beneficial relationship with Golf San Antonio, the organization that runs the Valero Texas Open Golf Tournament, as well as with the event’s sponsor, Valero Energy Corporation.
The Children’s Shelter participates in a “Birdies for Charity” fundraiser through Golf San Antonio, asking donors to support the shelter by pledging an amount per birdie made during the tournament.
”More than 100 nonprofits participate in the ‘Birdies for Charity’ program. We are always in the top five pledge-raisers for this event,” says Downey. “We put time and effort into this fundraiser because it shows Golf San Antonio that we appreciate their support.”
As is the case with the Spurs Foundation, Golf San Antonio is performance-driven, explains Downey. A top pledge-raiser, The Children’s Shelter applies for additional grants from the tournament foundation, and they were awarded a $100,000 grant in 2006.
Founded in 1901, The Children’s Shelter was the first nationally accredited children’s agency in South Texas. It is a multi-purpose child service agency with the mission of strengthening the community by providing safety, well-being, and lasting families for children.
The Children’s Shelter offers emergency shelter for children up to 14 years of age, residential treatment care for children with extreme emotional problems, foster care, adoption, abuse prevention, teen parenting programs, and Girls Incorporated curricula and activities.
Tips for Teaming Up With Sports Organizations
Additionally, Downey recommends working with the sports organization to provide them with opportunities to showcase their players in settings that reflect their interests outside of the world of sports. In the case of The Children’s Shelter and Spurs Foundation, this tactic resulted in special activities for Spurs players, including David Robinson playing the piano and singing with children at Christmas, Avery Johnson baking biscuits in the shelter’s kitchen, Brent Barry reading with children, Brent and his wife Erin taking a lead role in a community-wide child abuse prevention task force, and Devon Brown and the Spurs Coyote playing with children in the backyard of the shelter. |
Sports organizations are performance-focused and outcome-driven; quality and performance matter to them; 11700 West Lake Park Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53224-3099
Phone: (800) 221-3726
Fax: (414) 359-1074
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