Indianapolis, IN ─ December 8, 2015 ─ Nine13sports has received a $40,000 grant awarded by the Finish Line Youth Foundation that will fund the purchase of equipment needed for expansion to support continued growth of Kids Riding Bikes programs in Indiana.
“Being awarded this grant from the Finish Line Youth Foundation is a huge honor,” said Tom Hanley, Founder and Executive Director at Nine13sports. “In 2015, we operated at capacity and impacted 7,500 individuals in Central Indiana. We have been working diligently to add staff and equipment to increase the population that benefits from our programs. In 2016, we anticipate more than tripling the amount of schools that will benefit from Kids Riding Bikes programming.”
This grant marks one of the largest gifts to Nine13sports from a national foundation that has a competitive application process. The equipment being obtained as part of this grant will go directly to a new program operations team and includes bicycle simulators, digital technology and other supplies.
By adding an additional program team, Nine13sports will serve an additional 40 schools per year and estimates that up to 8,000 additional youth will be impacted by programs. The footprint of these schools will focus on engaging new districts and communities throughout Central Indiana.
“Nine13sports has been a great example of the type of organization the Finish Line Youth Foundation likes to support as they engage the entire community with fitness in a unique and impactful way,” said Marty Posch, President for the Foundation.“ Through their innovative approach to providing programs designed to help schools improve fitness through bicycling, they have developed strong relationships in Central Indiana with school districts, corporate partners and foundations.”
Hanley continued, “The vision that Finish Line Youth Foundation and Nine13sports share is that sports and physical activity is an equalizer among all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. It’s about trying your best and knowing that with hard work you can achieve success. We’re incredibly fortunate to have the support from the Foundation and to have their support to make an impact throughout Central Indiana in 2016 and beyond.”
About Nine13sports:
Nine13sports is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes health, wellness, and exercise for local youth between the ages of 5 and 18, using bicycling as the gateway. We have created a unique program in which we have integrated the traditional bicycle with technology to provide a turnkey product for youth programs, schools and other community organizations. In addition to individual betterment of health and fitness, our programs promote community, teamwork and mutual respect for one another. Our vision is to use the art and sport of bicycling to teach and positively influence our participants and leave a lasting impact. For additional information please visit www.nine13sports.org or email info@nine13sports.org.
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