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by Stacy Dunn Imagine that six-year-old Johnny is eager to join his friends at the local hockey club. Yet, his parents can't afford to pay the registration and equipment costs to allow Johnny to participate in his favourite sport. Hundreds of children such as Johnny and their families experience this problem every year on P.E.I. Due to a variety of financial difficulties, many families can't readily enroll their children in sports. The KidSport Fund is one program designed to assist with children's expenses in sports. Started by Sport B.C. in 1991 and adopted by Sport P.E.I. in 1997, KidSport pays for registration and/or equipment expenses of children, ages six to 16, in need. 'The program is basically designed for the grass roots level, to get kids involved,' says Sport P.E.I. marketing director Rob Newson. 'Our key role is participation. 'Sports can provide a lot kids with some good things, too, whether it's teamwork, sportsmanship, cooperation or dedication.' Since its inception two years ago, Newson says Kidsport has helped nearly 400 children and given out around $35,000 in grants to children for all kinds of sports. 'We are happy to say it's probably the most successful program we do have,' he says, noting a six- or seven-member panel reviews applications every six weeks. 'We run eight or nine programs here and it's probably our biggest, most popular one.' Not only does KidSport have an age-limit, he says, but also a grant limit of $200 per child and only one sport per child. 'A child is only allowed one per year,' Newson notes. 'They can't play hockey in the winter and baseball in the summer, they have to pick one.' He says the grant money primarily pays for registration fees, but if money is left over within the $200, the child's family is directed to a second-hand sports store to purchase equipment . KidSport has been fortunate, Newson says, to get equipment donated and have the Charlottetown Minor Hockey Association provide reduced registration rates. Newson stresses KidSport isn't a government welfare program. It has been successful in raising funds by having Sobeys and professional golfer, Lorie Kane, as sponsors. Events such as a golf tournament and a barbecue have greatly contributed to the program. 'We don't measure success on dollars and cents, on what we spend,' he says. 'We measure success on the impact we make.' KidSport is expanding its impact this fall with community groups. Newson is traveling to each region of the Island to recruit volunteer consultants for the program. 'This KidSport program has kind of taken a life of its own,' he says, noting he is responsible for eight or nine other Sport P.E.I. programs. 'So much time has gone into it.' Thus, Newson went for a proactive approach in gathering volunteers. Feeling the number of children helped would double in the next two years, he says the attitude was to further promote KidSport in the community. 'It's two-fold,' he says of the reasons for the community groups. 'One, they are helping us promote it to the families that could use it , and two, they are promoting it to the public, the benefits of the program. 'The more people we make aware of the program and what the benefit of it is, means the more support we'll have.' Fund-raising greatly supports KidSport, and Newson hopes the community groups may lead the program to potential fund-raising events, noting money raised in each community stays in that community. 'It is kind of the aspect that it is easier to sell someone on a donation if they know the money is going to the kid next door,' he says. 'Things like that make a difference.'
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