At Fully Managed we consider ourselves very lucky! Every day we get to meet and work with so many interesting customers, from organizations of all shapes and sizes. And while we value all of our customers, there are a few that we hold a little extra near and dear to our hearts. It is always a unique privilege to support the staff and the technology of many not-for profit and charity organizations across North America. One of those customers, KidSport Calgary, is an organization dedicated to supporting families who typically cannot afford funding for their children to participate in organized sport. The organization plays a pivotal role in providing youth with the means to join a team, gain social skills, develop a healthy active lifestyle and sometimes, stay out of trouble.
As you can imagine, the effects of the global pandemic on not-for-profit businesses (and many others) has been devastating. With organized sport essentially being shut down everywhere in March 2020, organizations such as KidSport were at a loss for how they could continue with their mission to help. We recently connected with Kevin Webster, CEO of KidSport and wanted to share some of the amazing things the organization has accomplished.
Since 2015, through active donations and sourced funding through events and fundraisers, KidSport has been able to provide over 24,000 kids access to sport and distributed over $7.55 million to help the Calgary community. In 2019, the organization supported 5,717 kids and were set to support an estimated 6,000 kids in 2020. Enter the pandemic and most organized activities were suspended, derailing KidSport’s efforts to promote sport and extra-curricular activities that can be a lifeline for so many children needing extra social support. With many people working from home and limiting social interaction beyond trips to the grocery store, communities everywhere are also seeing increases in burnout, declining mental health and an overall lack of routine and stability for everyone.
So as we head into the holiday season, Fully Managed & KidSport Calgary want to remind families to find the joy, get outside and enjoy the fresh air as much as possible. It does kids of all ages good to find some fun in the great outdoors. Olaf said it best…“Do you want to build a snowman?”
Despite the challenges they face, KidSport says they are still doing all they can for the community.
“We have shifted our focus for now as we push to just get kids outside and active as sport is paused again. We know the need for KidSport and our Calgary Flames Sports Bank will be essential for the families we assist when sport is ready to return safely for their kids. Sport is going to play a critical role in building back our community and once again empowering the kids we are fortunate to serve,” says Webster.
“If you are looking for ways to help. You can donate gently used kids’ skates, snowshoes, snowboards, toboggans, skis and helmets and we will get them to kids in need (at no cost) so they can get outside and play this winter. Or you can head on over to our Give the Gift of Sport page and support some of our great local partners like Friday Sock Co, Local Laundry, Hero Eleven Soccer and the KidSport Recycling Program as they all do their part in helping us make it So ALL Kids Can Play”.
Ever the generous soul, Webster also gave us the best holiday gift we could ask for by mentioning to us that we are the best managed services provider ever. (Thanks Kevin!) In the spirit of giving, we'd like to encourage everyone to consider a donation to an organization in your community that could use a little boost right now. For more information on how you can support KidSport, check out their website.