Agencies can take advantage of grant opportunities to enhance leisure activities.
According to the American Heart Association Web site, physical activity has many benefits, including helping lower the risk for heart disease. In addition, physical activity can curtail diabetes and obesity. People can engage in physical activity through sports and recreation. Agencies develop or fund sports and recreational programs throughout the United States through grants.
After School Archery Program
A partnership between the National Recreation and Park Association and the National Alliance for the Development of Archery provides funding for the After School Archery Program grant. The two agencies award grants to park and recreation organizations as well as community agencies to teach youths, ages 5 to 18, the basics of archery. In 2010, the agencies distributed 100 $500 grants to recipients that could be used to buy archery equipment or for training of staff, volunteers or archery instructors.
National Recreation and Park Association
22377 Belmont Ridge Road
Ashburn, Va 20148-4501
1 (800) 626-6772
http://www.nrpa.org/archery
Head Start Body Start Play Space Grant
Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play, an alliance between the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, offers grants to enhance outdoor play areas. The Head Start Body Start Play Space Grant provides grants up to $5,000 to Head Start centers across the United States to upgrade play areas. The agency will award more than 380 grants annually through 2012.
Head Start Body Start
National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play
1900 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191-1598
1 (800) 213-7193
http://www.aahperd.org/headstartbodystart
GoGirlGo! Grants
The Women's Sports Foundation, founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, awards GoGirlGo! Grants to organizations that offer diverse, underserved girls between the ages of 8 to 18 an opportunity to become active in sports and physical activity. The Women's Sports Foundation awards grants to agencies across the country, but special emphasis is placed on organizations in the areas of Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and San Antonio.
Women's Sports Foundation
1899 Hempstead Turnpike, Suite 400
East Meadow, NY 11554
1 (800) 227-3988
http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org
Hook A Kid On Golf
The National Alliance for Youth Sports, a proponent for positive and safe sports and other pursuits for children, offers Hook a Kid on Golf grants. Hook a Kid on Golf is a program that removes barriers that may hinder youths from enjoying golf. Funding lets kids learn about the sport while gaining an understanding of the history of the game and golf etiquette. Financial assistance is also used to provide kids with a starter set of golf clubs and other golf equipment.
National Alliance For Youth Sports
National Headquarters
2050 Vista Parkway
West Palm Beach, Florida 33411
(561) 684-1141
http://www.nays.org
Tags: Head Start, Body Start, Head Start Body, physical activity, Start Body
