inspiring the next generation through sports backers’ youth programs

Sports Backers’ mission to inspire active living in the Richmond region includes inspiring the region’s next generation – our youth. We do this by offering opportunities for youth to get moving with our Kids On The Move clubs and empowering high school student-athletes through our Active Living Leadership ALL Stars program.

Kids On The Move
Kids On The Move serves as a constructive way for local youth to channel their energy while harnessing
togetherness and engaging with their peers. The program offers fun ways for youth to exercise and
allows them to experience the enhanced quality of life that comes along with an active lifestyle. One
student from Obama Elementary School explained, “It gave me an opportunity to be outside. I also want
to be healthy and work towards a healthy weight.”.

The Kids On The Move reach has grown significantly over the years, reaching over 3,300 kids at 65
different schools and youth organizations last school year. Beyond the participants, the program creates
opportunities for active members of the community to step up and lead fitness programming for youth
at their schools. While our focus is on impacting youth, Kids On The Move Coaches also seem to get a
lot out of the coaching experience.

“What I love most about coaching a run club is witnessing personal transformations, whether it’s a runner hitting a new personal best, watching students create new friendships, or seeing them grow emotionally,” said Old Hundred Elementary’s head coach.

To learn more about what the kids and coaches had to say, check out the 2024-2025 Kids On The Move Program Evaluation.

The ALL Stars Program
This year, we awarded $73,000 in scholarship funding to the 20 ALL Star student-athletes who
completed the program. The program gives local student-athletes the opportunity to directly impact
their community and diversify their experiences before graduating high school. Through their volunteer experiences and the completion of capstone projects, the students enhance their community outreach
while building leadership skills that they will carry through life.

“The ALL Stars program opened my eyes up to so many different issues and inequities within the active living community. It taught me many different ways I can help and also educate others on how to promote safe and healthy activities/spaces for everyone,” said one ALL Star.

Another proclaimed, “I was able to make a direct impact on active living opportunities in our community through volunteerism and completion of a capstone project.”

The impact of the ALL Stars is most directly felt by the 20 students who participated, but the influence
spreads across the community as they put what they’ve learned to use. You can learn more about the
ALL Stars program by checking out our 2024-2025 Program Evaluation Report.

Growing the Community
With both of the youth programs, Sports Backers provides the platform, training, and resources but it’s
the volunteer coaches and ALL Star students that are stepping up to improve our community. Sports
Backers’ mission has always been rooted in serving the Richmond region, and with programs that
empower youth, our community will continue to grow together through active living.

You can support Sports Backers Youth Programs by:

• Applying to serve as a volunteer coach. We are recruiting volunteers to be coaches at our Kids
  On The Move running & fitness clubs. The commitment is typically one hour per week for 10
  weeks in the fall and/or spring. Click here to learn more and complete your application by 9/1.
  
• Making a donation. Sports Backers is a non-profit and we rely on generous supporters to help
  make the Richmond region a more active place. Make a donation to Sports Backers Youth
  Programs and help provide active living opportunities to the next generation.