Project 1: Creating Extracurricular Opportunities

The opportunity gap for children growing up in poverty is widening and one of the most dramatic examples of this is the limited access to extracurricular activities in which increasing costs continue to play a factor. This project aims to narrow that gap by providing both financial resources, in-kind donations of supplies ranging from art supplies to musical instruments to athletic shoes. 

Specific sports include: Baseball, soccer and basketball at Grant Beach; tennis at Lafayette Park; Heart Academy of Music at Tom Watkins.

Help Needed

Funding for program scholarships; instruments, supplies, uniforms; incentive prizes, coaches, referees; end-of-season party organizations and supplies.

Facilities: need additional baseball practice field for Grant Beach; extensive work needed at Nichols Park and help with clearing the baseball field at Doling. 

General supplies needed include: Athletic shoes, supplies to make musical instruments and donated musical instruments.

Find your Wings Art and Music program needs: (Currently at Tom Watkins and would like to expand to LaFayette and Grant Beach Parks); Staff - $540.00 for planning, onsite supervision, promotion; Springfield Regional Arts Council- $400 (flat rate covers supplies and instructor; Facility Rental- $300 ($10 per hour -building was used 30 hours); Total cost of running the programs: $1,240.00.

Steve Pokin’s Run for Fun Club: Printing costs for promotional fliers; T-Shirts; Supplies; End-of the session party: $300.

• Status: In Progress
• Timeframe: Year-round
• Scope: Zone 1
• Cost: Varied costs for different programs
• Want to help? Sign up here.

Project 2: Wellness Passport Program

A program to bring together and promote wellness activities offered in Zone 1. Residents who collect a certain number of “stamps” receive an incentive.

Help Needed

Volunteers; promotion; incentives; printing of material.

• Status: In Progress
• Timeframe: TBD
• Scope: Zone 1
• Cost: TBD
• Want to help? Sign up here.