DENVER — The Denver Broncos Foundation has continued to show its support for youth sports in the state of Colorado, and Wednesday marked another important milestone with the inaugural Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day.
Launched by Aspen Institute's Project Play and the Daniels Fund, Sept. 4 was the first day of a month-long campaign to raise essential funds to help more kids participate in sports across the state.
On Wednesday, nonprofit representatives, sponsors, youth athletes and special guests gathered at Ball Arena to kick off the campaign.
"[It's an] incredible day to kick off Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day," said Hanna Skandera, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund. "The research is clear. Organized youth sports play a critical role in the physical, emotional and social development of our young people. … Every young person deserves a fair shot at playing sports."
The Denver Broncos Foundation is playing a key role in providing that opportunity. Serving as a funder for the campaign, the foundation is helping to contribute a dollar-for-dollar match of more than $1 million for all online donations throughout the month.
"We are deeply grateful to our sponsors who have stepped up in a big way contributing more than $1 million in matching funds," Skandera said. "… Your support reflects a shared commitment to the health and well-being of Colorado's young people."
The Denver Broncos Foundation is providing $25,000 in matching funds to amplify donations made to youth football organizations throughout the campaign.
"The Denver Broncos Foundation is excited to support this initiative to increase sports participation opportunities for Colorado youth," said Denver Broncos Foundation Executive Director and Vice President of Community Impact Allie Engelken. "We know that involvement in sports can have positive impacts on youth development, including but not limited to higher academic outcomes, higher levels of college enrollment and better mental wellness. Through financial and in-kind contributions, the Denver Broncos Foundation will continue to invest in opportunities for youth to access both flag and tackle football, working to remove barriers such as registration fees and equipment costs."
Campaign funds will be put toward expenses such as uniforms, equipment, coaching and facility rentals, which will allow a larger population of youth to participate and have access to these transformative experiences.
The celebration event featured several guest speakers who spoke to the value of those experiences, including Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, four-time Olympic javelin athlete Kara Winger and Super Bowl 50 champion Ryan Harris.
Johnston, Winger and Harris discussed the positive impact of youth sports on their development as athletes and individuals, and they encouraged attendees to support the campaign in an effort to provide these same opportunities for future generations.
"We must work and contribute so that our youth can have not only the experiences we did, but better ones with more opportunity and more encouragement," Harris said.
Added Winger: "Looking back, I realize how vital youth sports were in empowering me to believe in my abilities and pursue my dreams. … I'm very passionate about ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to participate in sports."
The Denver Broncos Foundation will continue to provide financial support throughout the campaign to ensure that more children across the state have the opportunity to participate in youth sports.
