Youth sports leagues across our country are not only in full steam but are likely in playoffs as the current school year winds down. Regardless of the team's record, hopefully your young athlete's will have been able to leave this experience with something new - a new skill, a new personal best, a new personal record. If you can help them see that their personal goals have been achieved, it will be much less of a blow if their team didn't come out as they hoped. In fact, help them see that in the grand scheme of all sports, most don't win the division!
What makes a great team is a great coach and I hope your child had one this past season. As you consider ways to thank your team's coach, I want to pass along an interesting idea that was sent to me via email recently called Coins4Kids.org. Coins4Kids was founded by two teenage boys in Illinois after their 5 year old cousin was diagnosed with a cancer called Neuroblastoma. Their hope was to raise money for research as well as raise awareness. Talk about turning adversity into action!
They have found some amazing and creative ways for kids to make a difference and to use regular, life moments as charitable opportunities - such as a team coach's gift.
Here's how it works, from Coins4Kids web site:
Coaches love teaching kids to play sports! Coaches can now be honored for their efforts and lead by example in helping children win the battle against Childhood Cancer. Why not honor your coach by donating the money collected for the end-of-the-season Coaches gift to Pediatric Cancer Research?
It’s easy; Team Parents will collect donations for the end-of-the-season Coaches’ gift. Submit the donations along with the completed Information Sheet (below) and mail to Coins4Kids. Upon receipt of your donation, Coins4Kids will send you an original, Coins4Kid’s Coaches’ Whistle Lanyard and Award Certificate to be presented to the Coach, along with the thanks of thousands of cancer kids.
Your tax deductible donation will help fund the most promising Neuroblastoma Childhood Cancer Research as designated by the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation (CNCF). Every penny counts and your donation will go to where it will have the greatest impact for the kids and families who are waiting for new treatments and a cure!
You may be thinking, but our season ends next week? That's the great thing about computers! Feel free to print my blog post if you have to to show your coach your intent...I seriously doubt her or she will mind when the whistle or certificate arrives.
Actually, you could do this to honor a teacher, too. With the end of the year here and many schools having strict gift giving policies, honoring any one who works with kids with a donation to help kids is one of the best thank yous I can really think of. And, having this entire cause created by kids makes it extra sweet. Great job, Greg and Jon! I hope other kids hear what you do and find similar cool ways to give back to their communities.
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