Close to 100 guests enjoyed fine wines and gourmet food at the Manursing Island Club in Rye, New York for the annual Sips for Sports event. The event raises funds for PlaySmart’s New York and New Jersey programs and outreach. This year, board member Kevin Kavanagh made the big annoucment that PlaySmart will be bringing our Academy program to the area over the summer.  Kevin also recgonzied Liz Delizia as the new PlaySmart NY Regional Manager.  The event provided a fantastic atmosphere to celebrate PlaySmart’s work and to excite guests with plans for the future. Thank you to all our donors and to Kevin and Amanda Kavanagh who are the annual hosts.

The Academy is our premiere program for middle school age youth.  We will host Academies in six different cities this summer!  Registration is now open!  See the dates, locations and applications below.  Click here to learn more about the PlaySmart Academy.

Omaha, NE:  June 3-7 @ Mt. Michael Benedictine School in Elkhorn – Application

Denver, CO:  June 3 – 7, 10 – 14 @ St. Charles Recreation Center

Oklahoma City, OK:  June 17-21 @ University of Central Oklahoma – Application (English), Application (Spanish)

Tampa, FL: June 24-28 @ Blake High School – Application

St. Petersburg, FL: July 22 – 26 @ USF St. Petersburg Campus

Rye, NY:  July 29 – Aug 2 @ Rye Country Day School – Application (English), Application (Spanish)

At a banquet at the Lids’ headquarters in Indianapolis, PlaySmart was selected as a runner-up for the top prize and was awarded a $10,000 grant.  Grant funds will be used to support programming and outreach in Omaha.  Thank you very much to the Lids Foundation for recognizing PlaySmart as a top organization!

Special thank you to the Rays and Ryde for Life and many, many more sponsors for all of their support!  Funds raised will support programs in Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Proceeds from the event will benefit PlaySmart’s youth Academy and our other programs in Oklahoma City.  Special thanks to the OKC Regional Advisory Board for all of their help!

From Omaha where we support the Jr. Mavs and Jr. Pride organizations to Oklahoma City where we assist kids who play in Edmond All Sports to supporting kids playing soccer in Rye, NY we are helping to provide access and opportunity to many kids who would not otherwise have the means to play.   We are also proud the many of the kids we sponsor are also Academy graduates and we look to them to provide great examples on and off the field.

From corporate supporters like the Tampa Bay Rays to individual  donors, it really does take a team to fuel PlaySmart’s mission. Through the years, we have been afforded such great financial support around the country.  However, like the need in the communities that we reach and the kids that we strive to help, the need for your financial support is greater than ever.

Join the likes of Love’s Travel Stops in Oklahoma City or the Werner Family Foundation in Omaha or the countless individual donors who supported our summer Academies in ensuring that PlaySmart is as strong and viable as ever.  Your investment in PlaySmart programs allow kids around the country to garner the skills and experiences needed for academic and life success.

Make a donation today!

The students ate lunch on campus, went on a tour, took pictures, listened to the band and then stayed for the football game. The Tiger’s raced back in the 4th quarter for a dramatic win over Harvard! It was a great day for all!