3 minute read
PARENTING
CHANGE–POWERED BY SPORTS
INTRODUCING SHAREWAVES
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WRITTEN BY SHANNON E. ROESGEN / GRAPHIC PROVIDED BY SHAREWAVE
WHAT IS SHAREWAVES? ShareWaves is a 501(c)3 public charity delivering high quality sports experiences to kids in under-resourced communities. ShareWaves launched just three years ago, and serves children from under-resourced homes who experience many barriers to sports access and are less likely to receive the support they need. Bill Brandmeyer, founder and CEO of Sharewaves, explains that children in under-resourced communities have an overwhelming need for equitable physical activity, exercise, and high quality sports experiences. Multiple studies have shown that physical activity, exercise, and sports participation positively impact a child’s physical and mental health, including decreasing obesity, early heart disease, social isolation, anxiety, and depression. ShareWaves website (sharewavesfoundation.org) says, “Without access to sports and structured play, kids miss critical developmental benefits, including physical health, social-emotional growth, and academic advancement.”
BARRIERS SHAREWAVES HOPES TO BREAK DOWN ShareWaves emphasizes that kids are dropping out of sports at an alarming rate. 35-40 million children ages 4-14 participate in organized youth sports, but 70 percent of them drop out by age 13. This causes them to miss opportunities for socialization, character development, exercise, and fun. Cost is given as the primary barrier preventing kids from playing youth sports. One of ShareWaves’ goals is to provide GameChanger grants to children who need financial assistance in order to play sports. THERE ARE RISING NUMBERS IN CHILDHOOD OBESITY AS WELL AS A SURGING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC Children in Kansas City (and other cities) are experiencing isolation, separation, depression, disconnection, and loneliness. The safety restrictions imposed during the pandemic have been causing and exacerbating this problem. There is a rise in mental health problems reported among young people, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and intentional self-harm. Extended social isolation, educational uncertainty, and inactivity are causing a large amount of stress for young people. But physical activity, exercise, and sports are proven methods to help young people reconnect, heal, and thrive.
SHAREWAVES INITIATIVES FOR 2022 1. Provide GameChanger grants to assist in connecting kids to high quality sports experiences 2. Build #Ready2Play Training Experiences for Kids and the #Ready2Play app 3. #MovementIstheMedicine: Movement
Is the Medicine is a “program that links physical activity, exercise, and sports participation to adolescent well-being, improvement in mental health, and teenage suicide prevention” (sharewavesfoundation.org). ShareWaves and their #MovementIstheMedicine campaign hosted a 5K this past year to raise awareness about mental health. Mental health awareness events are regularly scheduled to draw attention to movement as an essential component of healthy, positive mental wellness, and are designed to help reduce the stigma of seeking help. The 5K was a huge success and a positive step forward, bridging the health benefits of physical activity as a helpful panacea to mental health struggles. THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF SPORTS ShareWaves explains that in sports, children contribute to something bigger than themselves. They learn important life lessons and experience character-building interactions. These can have an impact both on and off the field. The values delivered through sports encourage respect for oneself and for others. Sports can teach cooperation, how to work toward a common goal, healthy responses to victory and defeat, and virtues like courage, humility, patience, and perseverance. HOW YOU CAN HELP There is a text-to-donate site set up for the #MovementIstheMedicine campaign. Money raised for this goes to developing programs for kids who are suffering from the post-COVID trauma. ShareWaves is also planning their third annual March Gladness fundraiser, scheduled for this month. They are partnering with local nonprofit organizations to raise money for Power of Sports GameChanger grants. Visit ShareWave’s website for more information about the March Gladness fundraising event and to learn more about ShareWave’s purpose and initiatives: sharewavesfoundation.org.
ShareWaves Foundation
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