2024 Grant Recipient: Leveling The Playing Field Philadelphia

THE GRANT:

We donated $1,000 to help fund operating costs of the Philadelphia PA warehouse and distribution center. This warehouse provides recycled athletic equipment to under-resourced local schools, clubs and athletic associations for underserved youth athletes and programs.

Here are some images from our visit to Leveling The Playing Field at their warehouse and offices in Philadelphia, PA.

WHY WE GAVE TO LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD:

The Carol Lusignea Memorial fund is dedicated to the improvement of education, health & wellness, and sports for students and athletes ages K-12. Carol started the club field hockey program for Upper Dublin

Township and knew firsthand how costly equipment is and how many youth athletes may not be able to afford the cost of participation. Our donation to Leveling The Playing Field (LPF) helps all kids, no matter their economic status, to have access to the power of sport and team. In addition, LPF currently has a gender equity initiative which includes a vision that all kids have access to the equipment they need to participate in youth sports and recreation. Specifically, they are working to increase access to sports for young women and girls by distributing thousands of sports bras to girls each year. No athlete should be left on the sidelines due to equipment inequity and LTPF aims to help everyone participate through their “Keep Her Playing” initiative.

On a personal note, Carol was an active, competitive athlete through her years at Upper Moreland High School, and East Stroudsburg University playing field hockey and lacrosse, and continued playing in post-collegiate sports before having children. As a 20-year High School Varsity Field Hockey Coach, and 25+ year Health and Physical Education Teacher, Carol knew the importance of sports, sportsmanship and teams to develop our youth. She loved seeing kids empower themselves physically and mentally through sports, and was especially appreciative of the racial and economic diversity sports can provide.

ABOUT LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD:

Leveling the Playing Field was founded in 2013 in response to the growing inequality between those that can afford to play sports and those that cannot, and the prominent role the cost of sporting goods played in that gap. After working in youth sports, college athletics and professional football, the founder, Max Levitt, realized the volume of equipment that goes to waste from elementary school aged kids all the way up to our professional sports franchises. In response, he decided to develop, essentially, a food bank for sports equipment. LPF's mission is to redistribute equipment and expand access and equity within youth sports and recreation programs in under-resourced communities. Their vision… A world with no sidelines.