Back to school has officially begun and not only are my kids excited to get back to school, they are excited to get back to sports!
For the past 5 years my girls have been involved in extracurricular athletic activities; one in basketball, one in soccer.
I know whenever I’ve bumped into other parents, we always joked about the fact that we were thankful our kids weren’t successful in hockey. Apparently, as kids move up levels in hockey the money required grows astronomically as well, versus other sports, so I’ve heard.
That’s not to say that basketball and soccer are inexpensive! Uniforms, tournaments and subsequent fees, out-of-town trips and even the gas to drive back and forth to multiple practices during the week all add up.
We were fortunate enough to be able to afford our daughters’ organized sports experiences in the early years. Don’t get me wrong though, the past 2 years we’ve had to cut back, especially now that we have a toddler. I’m not even sure the girls will get the chance to play at the level they’ve played in previous years, it can get very pricey!
Did you know that 1 in 3 Canadian families cannot afford to enrol their kids in organized sports or physical activities?
Thankfully there’s a program geared towards assisting families who would like their children to get involved in sports and other physical activities.
Canadian Tire Jumpstart is a nationally registered charity dedicated to removing financial barriers so kids across Canada have the opportunity to get off the sidelines and into the game.
Canadian Tire Jumpstart is funded through donations and/or sponsorship from a wide variety of sources. 100% of customer donations go directly to help kids in financial need participate in organized sports and physical activity. The Canadian Tire Corporation funds all of the overhead expenses and delivers the program nationally.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Kids from financially disadvantaged families, ranging in age from 4 to 18.
WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE INCLUDED?
Children select their own activities reflecting their individual interests and physical needs. Some of the sports that have been supported by the program are: hockey, swimming, soccer, basketball, dance, yoga, climbing and martial arts.
WHEN ARE THE DATES TO APPLY?
Applications for assistance can typically be submitted from January 15 to November 1, (varies by Chapter) with the goal to be equitably distributed over Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter activities.
WHERE or HOW TO APPLY?
Please call 1-877-616-6600 and a call centre representative will help you to connect with a representative for your local Jumpstart Chapter who will guide you through the application process. All information received is kept confidential.
WHY APPLY?
In Manitoba, from 2005-2013, the Jumpstart program has helped over 20,500 children and disbursed over $2.1 million dollars!
Would you like to help? Make a donation today and/or participate in the annual PEDALS FOR KIDS CAMPAIGN! It starts within a couple of weeks and consists of a 5 day, 500km ride from Ottawa to Quebec City!
I’m actually virtually participating with a few other Canadian bloggers too, and guess what? You can win one of 10 Schwinn mountain bikes valued at $599 each, or win one of 10 Schwinn accessory packs valued at $100 each!
What do you have to do to win? Well enter the JumpStart Pedals for Kids contest and vote! Watch my lil bike ride across the country just like the many employees and supporters of Canadian Tire will be! Enter daily and good luck to you all!