2024 Annual Report
Hi there —
As I've settled into my new role here at Athletics4Kids I've been amazed at a number of things about this organization — the generosity of you, the donor community, being at the top of the list!
For 23 years, donors like you have given generously, believing passionately that every child deserves the chance to play sports, regardless of financial circumstances.
As a result, you've torn down financial barriers to sport for children across BC. By the end of 2024, you helped distribute $3.1 million in funding through 14,500 Sport4Life Grants.
Because of you, thousands of children have been empowered by Athletics4Kids to get off the bench and into the game. They're building up their confidence, connecting with other kids, meeting new role models and are having new experiences.
As you read this Annual Report, I hope you smile as you see the difference you've made through your generosity.
With thanks,
Maggie
Maggie Larocque
Executive Director, Athletics4Kids
Our Team
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Maggie Larocque, Executive Director
Valerie Gosselin, Former Executive Director
Angel Lam, Program and Communications Coordinator
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Scott Trotter, President
Ross Forman, Vice President
Kelly Aslanowicz, Secretary
Paul Harman, Treasurer
Ryan Brown, Past President
Craig Knapton*, Co-Founder and Past President
Joe Germaine
Annette Johanson
Meghan Neufeld
Zahra Ramji
Ryan Russell
Lydia Vandenberg
“2024 saw a record amount of need from BC families for Athletics4Kids’ support, and I’m happy to report that with the help of our generous donor community, we met this need head-on. Together, we ensured that over 1,500 kids were able to participate in the sports they love — or try new ones!”
At Athletics4Kids, we believe that every child should have the chance to play.
All across BC, hundreds of children and youth are denied the opportunity to participate in amateur sports due to one simple fact: lack of funds. Through our Sport4Life Grant Program, we provide grants to families to cover sport registration fees for kids ages 5-18 years old in non-school-based amateur sports. The average grant we provide is $200 per sport.
In 2024, only 39% of children and youth across Canada met physical activity recommendations for their age group.
The opportunity to play sports is also often too far out of reach for families financially. One third of children across Canada are not able to participate in sports because of financial barriers.
We believe in the power of sport to transform a child's life. Whether it's for a single season or their entire childhood, we believe every kid in BC should have the chance to play.
“We are a family from Ukraine who escaped from the war. Wrestling club for them means sport, health, character, friends, English language. We started a new life in Canada, it’s difficult to pay for everything that we need yet.”
— Parent of two Sport4Life Grant recipients, 2024
Your impact at a glance in 2024
In 2024, $425,855 in funding was distributed to 1,356 children across BC.
In 2024, the top five sports we funded were: soccer, gymnastics, hockey, martial arts and swimming.
This past year, we served families in 38 regions across BC with our largest proportion of grants going to families in Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby and Coquitlam.
In 2024, 43.5% of our applications came from families that are brand new to Athletics4Kids.
Thanks to our incredible donor family, 2024 was our most successful year to date, reaching more kids and distributing more grant funding than ever before!
This year, 39.6% of our grants went to girls, 60.1% went to boys and 0.3% went to non-binary children.
In 2024, 53% of families that applied for A4K grants had an annual income of less than $30,000.
Number of Sport4Life Grants Provided
Growing to meet our community’s needs
This past year, you helped us distribute a record number of Sport4Life Grants — together we got more kids than ever before off the bench and into the game.
Value of Sport4Life Grants ($)
NEW: Summer Camp Grants
In 2024, we launched Sport4Life Grants for kids to go to sports-based summer camps! With your support, we issued $____ through ____ grants to ensure that kids had a great sport-filled summer.
“My son suffers from anxiety and self-esteem issues. He broke down yesterday telling me how much he misses ice hockey and that he was worried he would forget his skills. Hockey has improved his mental health so much. I started looking into summer camps for ice hockey to help him get through the summer until the hockey season starts, but when I looked into camps I realized I could not cover the cost. I started researching ways to cover the cost and found your information.”
Thank you for your generous support.
You are empowering kids to get off the bench and into the game!
Meet Tia and Logan
"You have made an incredible impact on our family."
That is what Tia — mom to three growing kids — told us recently.
Because of kind-hearted people like you, all three of Tia's kids received grants from Athletics4Kids to play the sports they love this fall.
These grants cover registration fees for community sports, removing financial barriers that often keep kids like hers on the bench.
"My income supports six people, and everything has been getting more expensive lately — not just sports, but also groceries and other essentials. Without you, none of my kids [would be in sports] or they'd have to take turns."
Every year, generous donors like you make it possible for hundreds of kids to sign up for sports. Kids like Tia's eldest son, Logan. Your generosity has meant that Logan can pursue his passion for fencing. You have ensured he can continue attending lessons as he dreams of representing Canada at the Olympics.
Thank you for supporting Logan to pursue his dreams, build his confidence and unlock all the possibilities playing sports has to offer for him now — and for his future.
“It’s been an incredible journey for him already and these grants from Athletics4Kids make a world of difference for us. Being able to participate in sport is extremely important for kids. It helps with their mental and physical development, providing them with the opportunity to stay active and healthy. It also has provided him with a deep sense of belonging and community. It’s been as much about the sport itself as it has been about the friendships and network of support he’s built through it.”
Pickleball Feature
RECAP OF PICKLEBALL.
CTA TO GET COMPANY INVOLVED
Financial Review
If you have any questions about our financials or about the difference you are making with your donation, please reach out to Maggie, our Executive Director, by clicking here.
Robert Craig Knapton
1952 - 2024
It is with deep sadness that we bid goodbye to Athletics4Kids Co-Founder and Past President, Craig Knapton, in August 2024. Craig passed unexpectedly and is survived by Becky, his highschool sweetheart and wife of over 50 years, as well as their two children and many grandchildren.
Craig founded Athletics4Kids 23 years ago with friends from North Vancouver. They were compelled to get kids from low-income families in their own community into sports. Inspired by the transformative power of sports, they each invested the money to start Athletics4Kids. Craig also sponsored a scholarship to support young athletes pursuing higher education who exemplified the qualities he held dear: teamwork, hard work, commitment to giving back to the community, and leadership.
Craig was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal in 2012 for his community service and remained on the Athletics4Kids Board of Directors until his last day.
Craig's legacy will live on through his family, friends and in Athletics4Kids where thousands of children have had access to sport because of Craig's dedication and passion.
“QUOTE FROM RYAN BROWN”
