Reducing Barriers. Increasing Impact.
Supporting Youth Sports for All.
The Seattle Sports Commission Foundation
Empowering Play For Kids
The charitable affiliate of the Seattle Sports Commission's charitable non-profit, the SSC Foundation empowers play by supporting and building capacity in programs dedicated to equitable access to youth sports in Washington State.
Areas of Focus:
Advise the SSC so bids include investment into impactful community projects, including serving as the funding mechanism if needed.
Work closely with regional community partners to identify needs and opportunities.
Build partnerships and funding in support of focused initiatives.
Recognize organizations or individuals that enhance equity, diversity and inclusion in youth sports.
Promoting awareness and facilitating conversations around sports equity and inclusion.
In partnership with the King County Play Equity Coalition, the Seattle Sports Commission Foundation will:
Support the Pro Sports Sampling Camp for youth
Recognize organizations that actively integrate equity and inclusion into sports programs with the Sports Equity & Inclusion Award at the annual Sports Star of the Year Awards Show
“Only 29 percent of sixth-grade youth in King County get the recommended level of physical activity.”
Reducing Barriers Means Addressing Cause
According to a 2015 study, one of the largest barriers to entry for youth sports was household income, with gender, race, access to public transportation and free parks and sport courts major contributing factors.
Seattle Sports Commission Foundation
Board of Directors
Beth Knox, SSC President
April Kyrkos, Chair
Karen Thomas, Immediate Past Chair
Jesse Uman, Chair Elect Secretary/Treasurer
Cathy Cooper, Vice President
Jordan Babineaux, Director
Bryan Maggio, Director
Joli Mosier, Director
Grant Degginger, Advisor
Serving as a champion for Sports Equity
Past Recipients of the Sports Equity & Inclusion Award
Pictured: Outdoors for All participant Chris Hays and Executive Director Ed Bronsdon receiving the Sports Equity and Inclusion Award presented by WAFd Bank.
Baseball Beyond Borders strives to teach youth of color critical life skills while using sports as a framework. It combines baseball with a curriculum that helps student-athletes and their families with the college access process and navigating adulthood. The program has served more than 2,000 student-athletes in the Greater Seattle region and boasts a 98% on-time graduation rate.
Outdoors for All Executive Director, Ed Bronsdon during the 88th Annual Sports Star of the Year Awards Show presented by Microsoft.
Baseball Beyond Borders founder, Bookie Gates, receives the Sports Equity and Inclusion Award on stage at the 87th Annual Sports Star of the Year Awards Show. Award Presenters were UW football alum and current Seawolves rugby player, Taniela Tupou, and FOX 13 sports reporters Aaron Levine and Alyssa Charlston.
All Girl Everything Ultimate Program (AGE UP) was the first recipient of the Sports Equity and Inclusion Award, a financial grant-based recognition given out during the annual Sports Star of the Year Awards, in collaboration with Seattle Sports Commission and King County Play Equity Coalition
AGE UP provides access to ultimate frisbee for girls and local communities with limited resources.