Comments on: Impact Through Inspiration http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/11/impact-through-inspiration Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:22:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Geoffrey Hyatt http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/11/impact-through-inspiration#comment-1022 Geoffrey Hyatt Fri, 23 Nov 2007 13:45:29 +0000 http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/11/impact-through-inspiration#comment-1022 6 years ago Good Sports was just an idea: School-age sports participation was way down, costs to play were way up, and many people would donate gear to these kids if they had an easy way to do it. A small group of volunteers worked to solve this problem. Five years ago on volunteer stepped up to work full time, with no pay, to transform Good Sports from an idea to a reality. Here is the inspiring note she sent yesterday to the thousands of people who have supported Good Sports since that day: "I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Good Sports Anniversary! It was four years ago today that Good Sports was incorporated and had its first event at the then FleetCenter overlooking a Boston Bruins game. We had 80 people in attendance and raised $8,000. Hard to believe that 4 years later we are securing over $1 million worth of equipment each year for 50,000 young people. And our event now raises over $150,000 and is attended by nearly 700 people. This would not all be possible without the support and dedication of all of you. Thank you all for your commitment to Good Sports and the young people we serve. We appreciate you each and every day, but we are especially grateful for your efforts today." 6 years ago Good Sports was just an idea: School-age sports participation was way down, costs to play were way up, and many people would donate gear to these kids if they had an easy way to do it.

A small group of volunteers worked to solve this problem. Five years ago on volunteer stepped up to work full time, with no pay, to transform Good Sports from an idea to a reality. Here is the inspiring note she sent yesterday to the thousands of people who have supported Good Sports since that day:

“I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Good Sports Anniversary! It was four years ago today that Good Sports was incorporated and had its first event at the then FleetCenter overlooking a Boston Bruins game. We had 80 people in attendance and raised $8,000.

Hard to believe that 4 years later we are securing over $1 million worth of equipment each year for 50,000 young people. And our event now raises over $150,000 and is attended by nearly 700 people. This would not all be possible without the support and dedication of all of you.

Thank you all for your commitment to Good Sports and the young people we serve. We appreciate you each and every day, but we are especially grateful for your efforts today.”

]]> By: Patricia A. Barry http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/11/impact-through-inspiration#comment-925 Patricia A. Barry Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:45:47 +0000 http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/11/impact-through-inspiration#comment-925 Some people think that horses are just for recreation. I believe that horses are for inspiration and successes. I run a program that offers horseback riding lessons to children and adults. We recently went to our first horse show that was to benefit our program. Our riders worked all summer to hone their skills. One particular rider was going to be competing against all able bodied riders. I was concerned for his safety, but I also respect his desire to take risks as other 30 year old do. His horse was being less than cooperative throughout the day. When it came time for his last class,I realized that he would have to keep his horse quietly standing still in the ring while the other 6 riders competed and were eliminated one by one if he were eliminated first. He was eliminated first, and he did keep his horse standing quietly. He didn't receive any ribbons but he knew as did I that he had risen to the challenge, was able to take a risk and had succeeded. I was in tears of joy, and he was all smiles. Some people think that horses are just for recreation. I believe that horses are for inspiration and successes. I run a program that offers horseback riding lessons to children and adults. We recently went to our first horse show that was to benefit our program. Our riders worked all summer to hone their skills. One particular rider was going to be competing against all able bodied riders. I was concerned for his safety, but I also respect his desire to take risks as other 30 year old do. His horse was being less than cooperative throughout the day. When it came time for his last class,I realized that he would have to keep his horse quietly standing still in the ring while the other 6 riders competed and were eliminated one by one if he were eliminated first. He was eliminated first, and he did keep his horse standing quietly. He didn’t receive any ribbons but he knew as did I that he had risen to the challenge, was able to take a risk and had succeeded. I was in tears of joy, and he was all smiles.

]]> By: Melissa http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/11/impact-through-inspiration#comment-888 Melissa Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:19:24 +0000 http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/11/impact-through-inspiration#comment-888 Good Sports ensures all kids have the opportunity to play. When the coach takes a disadvantaged child aside and gives him a glove so he can get out on the field with his friends, that's inspiring. Good Sports ensures all kids have the opportunity to play. When the coach takes a disadvantaged child aside and gives him a glove so he can get out on the field with his friends, that’s inspiring.

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