All Kids Play
Focused on providing early, positive youth sport experiences for children aged kindergarten through 8th grade. Kidsports welcomes any child who is able to participate regardless of race, religion, creed, sex, ability, or financial status.
A community that plays together stays together and is a healthier one by doing so.
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Bev Smith
Executive Director, Kidsports
"An incredible, powerful, and impactful meaning is wrapped up in the Justin Herbert Invitational Golf tournament that will benefit KIDSPORTS. Justin’s story is truly a grass roots, organic journey of a kid playing, developing, and having fun through the multi-sport opportunities offered by Kidsports and then going on to be an outstanding student athlete at Sheldon High School and the University of Oregon.
Then the draft of a dream came true to play quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers and a story book finish to the year when he was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. It was during an interview this year that Justin captured the essence of KIDSPORTS; he recalled that the valuable lessons he learned as a young kid playing on a Kidsports team actually help to prepare him for the rough and tumble days of a professional career.
Justin’s awareness and acknowledgement of KIDSPORTS being not just a youth sports program but also a place for kids to grow and learn valuable life lessons of teamwork and sportsmanship is a testament to the organizations sixty – six year old mission of “all kids play.” Justin’s generous efforts to raise both awareness and funds through the Justin Herbert Invitational Golf tournament will help to continue this legacy of giving “all kids” a chance to become not only all-star athletes, but as importantly, all-star students, people, and community members."
The Challenge
According to the Aspen Institute’s 2015 National Youth Sport Project “Sport For All –Play For Life,” the biggest barrier to children’s participation in sports is the ability to pay.
In partnership with the community school districts, Kidsports is able to positively impact the lower economic areas of our community with youth sport experience opportunities.
Studies have shown that since the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020, 65% of children report symptoms of anxiety. Physical activity is down 50 percent with schools closed. The adverse effects on children’s social, emotional, and mental well being have been enormous.
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Funds raised through the Justin Herbert Invitational will benefit the Emerald KS Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarship assistance to nearly 4,000 children per year. Without this assistance, most of these children would not otherwise have the opportunity play, develop, and have fun.
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