- Participation in team sports has been in steady decline for decades.1
- Urban youth are much less likely to participate in sports and fitness programs than suburban youth. Over 60% of suburban youth participate in sports leagues compared to 20% of urban youth.2
- Kids who play sports are 57% less likely to drop out of school, 49% less likely to take drugs, and 37% less likely to become teen parents.3
- Childhood obesity more than tripled from 1975-2004, from just more than 5% to a projected 16.7%.4
Good Sports mission is to increase youth participation in sports, fitness, and recreational programs by targeting one of major obstacles limiting participation-access to sports equipment. Good Sports distributes sports equipment, footwear, and apparel to community organizations offering programs to disadvantaged youth helping to lay the foundation for healthy, active lifestyles. To accomplish this, Good Sports partners with sporting goods manufacturers to ensure that disadvantaged youth are getting the equipment they need to participate.
- Impacted over 50,000 young people through grants of equipment, footwear, and apparel.
- Secured over $1.2 million worth of equipment for young people.
- Delivered a strong return on investment to its supporters: nearly $2 worth of equipment for every $1 invested in Good Sports.
"One of our players was 'sitting out' part of practice last Saturday. Why? Because he didn't have a glove, and was sharing one with a friend. We took him aside and gave him one of your donated gloves, this child is a four year veteran player, and did not have his own glove! He had outgrown a used one we gave him two years ago. Your investment will provide a safe, fun, baseball league for the children of the South Lawrence East neighborhood."
Vice President, South Lawrence East Little League, Lawrence, MA
"Juan5 is 13 years old, a good student and a well behaved club member. Historically, Juan has shied away from group activities in general and athletics in particular. This spring, several of Juan's friends signed up for our basketball league and tried to convince him to join but he was not interested. A few practices into the season, the game jerseys donated by Good Sports arrived and Juan's eyes lit up. He saw his friends strutting around in brand new jerseys that declared them part of the team. Needless to say, Juan did join the team and participated in every practice and game for the remainder of the season. It his love of the jersey that got him involved, but it is his newly discovered love of the game that keeps him here."
Director, Colonel Daniel Marr Boys and Girls Club, Dorchester, MA
- Improved program quality for 99% of our recipients enabling them to retain more young people.
- Decreased the costs for families in 77% of our programs.
- Enabled 70% of our recipients to expand their programs to serve more youth.
- Supported 67% of our recipients in starting new programs for young people.
Good Sports
Bayside Office Center
150 Mount Vernon Street,
Suite 2
Boston, MA 02125
Phone: 617-282-6125
Fax: 617-249-0618
E-Mail: info@goodsports.org
From the South
Use Exit 14 from I-93, the Southeast Expressway. Stay in the right hand lane and follow Morrissey Boulevard. At your 3rd set of lights take a right onto Mount Vernon Street. Take your 1st left into the Bayside Office Center/Doubletree Hotel lot. The Bayside Office Center is your first left after that. Good Sports is located on the 1st floor in Suite 2, just past the security desk on the left.
From the North and the West
From points North and/or West take the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate-90 east to Interstate 93 South. Take Exit 15 (Columbia Road) off of Interstate 93. Stay in the left-hand lane and take a left off of the ramp. Go 1/2 way around the Rotary and take your second right onto Day Blvd. Proceed past the Mass State Police Barracks and take your first right into the Bayside Expo North Entrance. Once inside, follow the signs to the Bayside Office Center. Good Sports is located on the 1st floor in Suite 2, just past the security desk on the left.
Public Transportation
Take the T (or a bus) to the JFK/UMASS MBTA stop on the Red Line. When you exit the station, walk across the pedestrian bridge toward all the bus stops. Continue walking straight ahead, under the highway overpass. Directly ahead of you are two office buildings - the Sovereign Bank building will be on your right, and the Bayside Office Center (Corcoran Jennison Building/Bank of America) will be on your left. Good Sports is located on the first floor of the Bayside Office Center, adjacent to the Doubletree Hotel