CHAMPS Grant Recipients Named
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Sports Corp. has announced sixteen organizations throughout the state that will receive Susan Williams CHAMPS Grants this year. The recipients, which provide youth-serving programs in 50 counties, will share in proceeds from the upcoming Youthlinks Charity Golf Tournament, as well as contributions from the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation and Samerian Foundation.
Indiana Sports Corp. says the organizations receiving support have an impact on more than 8,300 youths. President Ryan Vaughn says "we are honored to have the opportunity to give back to youth-serving organizations throughout the state with this grant program. One of the keys of our mission is to encourage opportunities for young people throughout the community. What these programs do for youth every day is life changing and we are proud to be able to make a difference."
The 30th Annual Youthlinks Charity Golf Tournament is set for June 26 at the Sagamore Golf Club of Noblesville. The organization says more than $2.1 million in CHAMPS grants have gone to youth-serving organizations through the Youthlinks event since 1988.
2017 Susan Williams CHAMPS Grant recipients are:
Agape Therapeutic Riding Resources, Inc. – Equine Summer Adventures
- Students of Agape Therapeutic Riding Resources are able to attain physical, mental, and emotional benefits through equine assisted activities and therapies. The Agape Summer Program at Bradford Woods will impact 620 youth: Stirrup Success, Agape Adventures and Special Olympics of Hamilton County.
Camptown – Camptown CRUX
- Camptown exists to help students during the crux of their lives by building skills and confidence that will make their transition from childhood to adulthood easier. The CRUX is a 2,000 square foot indoor climbing and activity space that is designed to provide a variety of challenges. It helps students learn goal setting, planning, and perseverance. Camptown Crux will impact over 300 students from four counties in Indiana.
CHAMP Camp, Inc.
- CHAMP Camp is a week-long overnight camping experience for kids and adolescents with tracheostomies and those who require other forms of respiratory assistance. It provides these kids with a once in a lifetime opportunity to swim, climb, fish, boat and horseback ride. More than 30 kids from nine counties in Indiana will be impacted from this program.
Concord Neighborhood Center – Youth Yoga Program
- Concord Neighborhood Center has been a cornerstone of the southside community for more than 130 years. This year they are adding a new biweekly yoga program to their summer day camps that will then continue in the 2017-2018 school year. This program will impact over 380 youth from Marion County.
Damar Services, Inc. – Damar Services Recreation Program
- Damar’s Recreation Program enables children and youth to develop the social skills, confidence and appropriate behaviors necessary for independent living in the community through recreation, sports and fitness offerings on its campus. This year they will be adding field hockey to their list of sports offered at camp. The program serves 160 youth from Marion County.
Early Learning Indiana – Summer Health and Water Safety program
- Early Learning Indiana has a summer health and water safety program for underprivileged children where they will be introduced to water safety and swim lessons. They will also learn about healthy physical and eating activities. More than 300 children ages 3-6 will participate.
Eastwood Middle School – Fitness For Life
- Fitness For Life programs’ overall goal is to get their students more invested in their physical fitness and health as well as making them lifelong fitness learners. There are greater than 800 children who attend Eastwood Middle School from Marion County that will benefit from the grant money. They are a first time Susan Williams CHAMPS Grant recipient.
Eskenazi Health Foundation – Girls on the Run of Marion County
- Girls on the Run Marion County program includes 24 structured lessons that combine physical activities with experiential learning activities, including team building, being supportive and learning to listen. At the end of the 24 lessons, the girls, ages 8 to 13, participate in a 3.1-mile running event as a group. The program will serve 420 youth.
Girls Scouts of Central Indiana – Camp Sporting Supplies
- Girl Scouts of Central Indiana is expanding and enhancing their sports programs at all four of its summer camps, including Camp Gallahue in Brown County, Camp Dellwood in Indianapolis, Camp Sycamore Valley in Lafayette, and Camp NaWaKwa near Terre Haute. They hope to add archery, climbing and more watersports. More than 3500 girls take part in these summer camp activities that will benefit from new programs and equipment.
Happy Hollow Children’s Camp – Equestrian Program
- Happy Hollow Children’s Camp serves economically disadvantaged and special needs children in 90 minute sessions. These campers get the chance to participate in an equestrian program that will introduce the children to horseback riding and all the life skills that it can teach. Happy Hollow serves more than 600 children ages 7-14 each year.
Horizons at St. Richard’s Episcopal School – Summer Program
- Horizons Summer program offers academic, enrichment, and wellness programming to low-income students from Pre-K to 8th grade. They strongly believe in getting youth involved in activities such as soccer, basketball, lacrosse, football and watersports to decrease childhood obesity. This program will impact 160 kids from Marion County.
Indianapolis Parks Foundation – Everyone Swims
- Swim Indy teaches youth from low-income neighborhoods how to swim for lifelong health and safety. Youth participants at Indy Parks’ six-week summer programs will learn how to swim, to increase their knowledge of water safety and complete different levels of swimming. Participants will include children ages 5-12 who are attending a summer day camp program through Indy Parks or another non-profit youth organization. About 600 children will be enrolled.
Jameson Camp – Outdoor adventure backpacking
- Jameson Camp enriches the lives of Indiana youth from diverse backgrounds by providing them with leadership and character development programs. As a part of leadership development, the backpacking trip allows the teens to practice skills and develop a sense of independence. About 50 youth will participate.
Nine13 Sports – Kids Riding Bikes
- Kids Riding Bikes program educates young kids on physical fitness, bicycle safety and bicycle use. They also provide bicycle simulators that are used to analyze the kid’s performance. In addition to individual betterment of health and fitness, their programs promote community, teamwork and mutual respect for one another designed to foster a lasting impact. This program will impact over 460 kids.
Salvation Army – Sports Camp
- Hidden Falls Camp is a 706 acre Salvation Army camp located near Bedford, Ind. that keeps kids active throughout the summer. This camp offers services to underprivileged Indiana youth through multiple weeklong summer sessions of overnight camping with a focus on basketball, soccer, track, softball, volleyball and watersports. More than 120 kids will be impacted by this camp. Salvation Army is a first time Susan Williams CHAMPS Grant recipient.
YMCA of Southwestern Indiana – Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities
- The YMCA of Southwestern Indiana strives to revive baseball and softball in inner cities through a youth baseball and softball league to help underserved youth become exposed to the game at an early age. The program features educational and life skills to help prepare youth to play the game but also assist with building the skills of self-confidence, healthy competition, teamwork and good sportsmanship. The program will enroll 150 youth.