Indianapolis, IN ─ April 27, 2017 ─ Nine13sports has announced their win in the 2017 Lids Foundation Tip the Hat Grant Contest bringing the organization the $125,000 grand prize. This will allow Nine13sports to continue to meet further demand in Central Indiana as well as bolster efforts in the new expansion city of Minneapolis, Minnesota later this year.
“The significance of winning the 2017 Tip the Hat Award cannot be overstated,” said Nine13sports CEO Tom Hanley. “To continue our long-standing partnership with The LIDS Foundation and LIDS as the 2017 Tip The Hat Award winner is humbling and extremely exciting. We have continued to work more and more with this great organization since 2014 and this win will help take an already great partnership to the next level. To be able to expand to not only meet ever growing demand here in Central Indiana, but also have The LIDS Foundation as a part of our expansion into Minneapolis is huge for our organization.”
To date, the partnership has allowed Nine13sports to serve 20 schools and serve more than 3,000 youth. This grant award will allow Nine13sports to serve an additional 10,000 youth over the next 12 months between both markets.
“Nine13sports was a finalist in the 2016 Tip the Hat grant contest and ultimately finished in third place,” said Hanley. “After going through the process once, we learned a lot. This year, my staff and I personally visited stores in 6 states to talk with their staff and called more than 300 stores across the country to connect with their employees, thank them for the work they do that helps make the Foundation thrive, and to share with them what Lids Foundation means to us. Our ground game during this process was extensive and exhausting, but it gave us a chance to help put a face to our brand as the employees went through their voting process to select the winner.”
“We couldn’t be happier to see Nine13sports win Tip the Hat to continue our partnership in 2017,” said Bailee Reynolds of Lids Foundation. “We had so many deserving organizations in this contest, and we can’t wait to see the impact they all make in 2017, especially Nine13 as our winner. With how closely our missions align we are thrilled to be able to continue this partnership in new ways.”
This award will allow to Nine13sports to continue to meet the demand for their unique bicycle based programming to students across Central Indiana, as well as helping to provide further expansion in the newest market of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minneapolis team will officially launch operations this fall serving schools and students in the local metro area.
About Nine13sports: Nine13sports® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes health, wellness, and exercise for local youth between the ages of 5 and 18 through our Kids Riding Bikes® programs. We have created a unique initiative 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 designed to foster a lasting impact. For additional information please visit www.nine13sports.org or contact info@nine13sports.org.
ABOUT LIDS FOUNDATION: The LIDS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and the philanthropic support arm of LIDS Sports Group. The Foundation works to engage young people in the communities where LIDS Sports Group operates to become active in sports-related activities that promote healthy lifestyles as well as leadership and growth opportunities. It accomplishes its mission primarily through offering resources – be it in the manner of time, expertise, funds, or materials – to nonprofit organizations with goals and values that align with those of the LIDS Foundation.