Fight For Children sponsored its Second Annual Youth Sports Day this past Saturday at the fields at RFK Campus in Northeast, D.C., and it proved to be a big hit.
Youth Sports Day is a free, fun-filled, community event that showcases sports-based youth development organizations and informs families about affordable, after-school programs that focus on mental and physical health, educational achievements, and mentoring.
It is sponsored by Fight For Children, an organization founded in 1990 by the late Joseph E. Robert with a mission of improving the lives of underserved children in the nation’s capital.
Organizers were hopeful that 1,500 would participate, a significant increase from the 300 who attended last year’s event. Much to their delight, the event exceeded their expectations.
“Today’s been a great day already. We have close to 2,000 family members coming through,” said Fight For Children President and Chief Program Officer Dr. James Kallusky.
Being able to equip so many families with resources is significant to Kallusky for a number of reasons.
“There’s two main purposes to the day. One is let’s get kids ready to get back to school on Monday. So we have free haircuts, free wellness checks, physicals, eye exams, we have backpacks from Under Armour, we have school supply kits from the Commanders so families can leave here knowing that their kids are ready walking in the door Monday morning. But at the same time, we have nearly 40 nonprofit organizations that are super high-quality using sports to help kids get better at life.”
For Kallusky, the event goes beyond sports, or the first day of school; it’s about connecting families with tools and programming to tap into yearlong.
“The idea is, let’s get kids ready for school but at the same time, let’s make sure that they are ready for the school year and families can engage and enroll in these nonprofit organizations,” he said.
Participants got a chance to visit 40 various booths and learn about specific sports. There were also instructions and tutorials for sports, including football, baseball, soccer and rowing.
Both parents and children were able to learn a lot during the day.
Kallusky said that the two most asked questions from parents are about where programs are located and how they are able to circumvent the high costs associated with enrolling children in sports.
He also said Fight for Children is pitching in to help children get back and forth from the programming.
“One of the major challenges that we face in getting kids enrolled in quality after-school programs, such as those that are out here today, is transportation. So, at Fight For Children, we’re also tackling transportation. We’re starting a new program that focuses on actually moving kids from the school environment to the after-school program so that those parents don’t have to worry about that part of getting their kids educated,” Kallusky told The Informer.
For some of the organizations that serve the youth, the event gave them visibility and an opportunity to educate about the services that they provide.
“This is a great opportunity for the Youth Baseball Academy,” noted Devin Hurtado of Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. “We got a chance to sign up kids, 5-12 years old who are trying to get interested in baseball and softball. “We target Wards 7 and 8 and try to create a safe space for the kids. We definitely benefit from this event.”
One of the event attendees was Dione Hamlett, a father of six.
“We found out about it and decided to come check it out,” said Hamlett, who lives in Northeast, D.C. “This was more than expected. From what I see, it has something for everyone. The kids get exposed to different sports and can choose one that they might be interested in. Then for parents with large families like mine, it helps us financially because the free school backpacks and supplies are one less expense for them as they prepare for school.”
Some children were even able to don fresh looks for the first day of school, thanks to the event.
“They even had free haircuts,” Hamlett said.
Mahdi Beale, 10, who was attending the event for the first time, enjoyed participating in all the activities.
“You see a bunch of sports that you don’t know about,” observed Mahdi, who lives in Ward 7. “It is like a good family event where you can meet friends. I just saw one of my friends here. And then there are the food trucks. I’m glad I came.”
Students like Mahdi not only had a good time, but were exposed to new sports and paths, which is a key aspect of the event and the programs involved.
“Really the focus of a lot of these nonprofit organizations is increasing equity and access to sports programs,” Kallusky told The Informer.
At-Large City Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie (I) has long been a proponent of youth sports in the city and ensuring all children have access to athletic programming. For his commitment, he received the Fight For Children Inaugural Legislative Leader of the Year award.
“I am truly honored to receive this award from the Fight For Children organization,” said McDuffie. “This award aligns perfectly with my mission to transform the future of youth sports in D.C., ensuring that every child has the resources and opportunities to play sports.”