PLAY Sports Coalition and FundPlay Foundation Announce Strategic Transition to Enhance Youth Sports Advocacy

PLAY Sports Coalition and FundPlay Foundation Announce Strategic Transition to Enhance Youth Sports Advocacy

New York, NY – May 12, 2025

The PLAY Sports Coalition and FundPlay Foundation are pleased to announce a significant strategic transition that will ensure the continued advancement of their shared mission to enhance access and equity in youth sports. Over the course of this year the PLAY Sports Coalition will dissolve as a standalone entity, and its work will be integrated into FundPlay Foundation as a defined program called the PLAYS Initiative.

The PLAY Sports Coalition, formed in 2020, has been a pivotal force in advocating for youth sports, particularly in underserved communities. The coalition's efforts have been instrumental in influencing legislation, ensuring fair access to play spaces, and supporting families in getting their children involved in sports. The coalition's volunteer steering committee, comprising representatives from across the youth sports industry, has been instrumental in driving these initiatives.

"We are incredibly proud of the accomplishments of the PLAY Sports Coalition," said Jared Cooper, Executive Director of FundPlay Foundation. "Their success in unlocking tens of millions of dollars in youth sports grant funding and introducing federal legislation to increase access to youth sports through their advocacy work has set a strong foundation. We are excited to build upon this legacy and expand our impact through the integration of the PLAYS Initiative into FundPlay Foundation."

FundPlay Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to building operational capacity for youth sports nonprofits and increasing access to sports experiences, will now house the PLAY Sports Coalition's advocacy programs. This transition will leverage the resources and expertise of both organizations to amplify their collective impact.

"I am thrilled about the evolution of our work," said Peter Frintzilas, board member of the PLAY Sports Coalition and the chief executive officer of TeamSnap. "The integration with FundPlay Foundation will enable us to reach more communities, support more organizations, and ultimately provide more opportunities for young athletes. This is a significant step forward in our mission to make youth sports accessible to all."

The combined efforts of FundPlay Foundation and the former PLAY Sports Coalition programs will focus on several key areas, including:

Influencing Legislation: Advocating for policies that allocate resources to support youth sports programs in underserved communities.

Play Space Equity: Ensuring direct resources are distributed to increase fair access to play spaces.

Family-Based Incentives: Supporting families to get their children involved in sports, particularly in middle and lower-income households.

This integration marks a new chapter in the ongoing commitment to ensuring that all young people have access to high-quality youth sports experiences, regardless of their background or economic status.

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