Canadian Tire Jumpstart Logo (CNW Group/Canadian Tire Jumpstart)
The overwhelming response to the Jumpstart Sport Relief Fund last year demonstrated the significant and growing need for additional support.
That’s why the Canadian Tire Corporation is spending an additional $12 million this year to give kids facing barriers access to organized sports and recreational opportunities.
Marco Di Buono is the Associate Vice-President of Programs and Operations for Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.
Di Buono says, “We’ve since taken a survey to understand how they are doing and quite frankly it’s devastating to hear the overwhelming majority of communities or organizations that are closed right now and potentially indefinitely.”
He says the survey revealed the pandemic has not only impacted current access to sport and play but has real long-term effects as well.
“There are a large number that are looking at bankruptcy. Some that have already had to declare bankruptcy. So we’re worried particularly when kids are relying on the use of sport, physical activity, and play as a way to overcome the trauma that they’ve experienced through COVID.”
The survey found 81% of community sport organizations are worried about their ability to offer programming in 2021 and 52% are potentially facing permanent closure as a result of the pandemic.
Additionally, parents who say the pandemic has had strong impact on their kids’ participation in sport or recreational play are more likely to say their child is feeling lonely (78% vs. 64%) and finding it difficult to reduce stress and anxiety (68% vs. 53%), demonstrating a link between the loss of sport and mental and physical wellbeing.
Di Buono stresses, “We’re worried that there aren’t going to be a lot of comminutes or providers if we don’t intervene with this relief fund in 2021. So we’re very grateful that that $12 million has been made available to the charity.”
Canadian Tire is promising a total of $20 million this year to ensure communities and organizations have recreational and amateur sports.
Di Buono says they had 668 organizations that successfully received money from Jumpstart last year and they were able help some 70,000 kids as a result of $8 million in funding.
This year’s focus will be on:
-Create up to 150,000 square feet of new inclusive and accessible play spaces across Canada to provide more space for both organized sport and casual play
-Help kids overcome the financial barriers to play by disbursing Individual Child Grants
-Support launch of new Company volunteer program in response to direct feedback from community partner organizations experiencing a growing shortage of volunteer coaches, administrators and officials
-Expand Pay From Home resources, continuing to offer ways for kids to get active at home during the pandemic.
To apply for funding visit Canadian Tire Jumpstart
To hear more from Marco Di Buono, visit the Audio link below:
