Sport for Good New Orleans Expands; Awarding $750,000 to NOLA Nonprofits

NEW ORLEANS – November 30th, 2017 – As part of their Sport for Good New Orleans initiative, national foundation Laureus Sport for Good USA (Laureus USA) has announced its investment in seven local nonprofit organizations that use sport or physical activity to improve the lives of youth in underserved communities. These grants are made possible by the support of Laureus’ long-standing national partner, Mercedes-Benz USA, who has invested more than $2,000,000 in Sport for Good New Orleans over the past three years.

Sport for Good New Orleans is a long-term commitment to strengthening the community by using the power of sport to create sustainable change in the lives of underserved youth. Laureus USA originally launched Sport for Good New Orleans in 2014, awarding a first round of three year grants to six nonprofits using sport as a tool for social change. Alongside these grants, Laureus USA provided training for coaches, networking for program staff to share best practices, and monitoring and evaluation support to help expand each program’s impact and reach. Now in its fourth year of operation, Sport for Good New Orleans has made significant headway. Supported programs reach three times the number of youth they were serving prior to support from Laureus USA, and are leading a coalition of over twenty organizations that are focused on using sport to uplift New Orleans.

Sky Hyacinthe, Executive Director of Elevate New Orleans describes Laureus USA’s support as invaluable: “Being part of Sport for Good New Orleans and receiving funding from Laureus USA has allowed Elevate to achieve something all non-profits hope to achieve: sustainability. Their support not only allows us to grow our program and foster our students’ love for basketball and education but it allows us to continue to grow and bring in new kids from our community who otherwise would not have been reached.”

CEO of Laureus USA and Olympic Gold Medalist in Track and Field, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, also spoke to the success of the program, “We are thrilled with the success Sport for Good New Orleans has seen over the past three years and look forward to continuing our work here. By providing a second round of three year grants, we are empowering these organizations to continue working together to make an even bigger impact. Along with our direct grantees Sport for Good New Orleans brings together over 20 organizations in New Orleans to achieve the long-term goals of reducing violence, improving educational attainment, and reducing obesity.”

This weekend, Laureus USA will host a series of events as part of their annual Sport for Good Weekend in New Orleans.

• Friday, December 1^st :
  • 2:00pm-4:00pm at Schaumburg Elementary School, local leaders of Sport for Good New Orleans will host a “Day of Play” for over 100 youth. At the event, organizations will run activity stations highlighting the positive benefits of sport and play.
• Saturday, December 2^nd:
  • Laureus will host a celebratory reception for the awarded programs (Youth Run NOLA, Girls on the Run New Orleans, Elevate New Orleans, Excite All Stars, Yoga for Youth, Project Peaceful Warriors and Dancing Grounds) where key stakeholders from the New Orleans community will have the chance to hear about the future plans for Sport for Good New Orleans.
• Sunday, December 3^rd:
  • Laureus USA will bring youth from their supported programs to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to enjoy the Saints vs. Panthers game. Youth will have the chance to watch the players warm up on the sidelines then enjoy the game from a suite, thanks to Laureus’ partnership with Mercedes-Benz USA.

Since launching Sport for Good New Orleans in September 2014, Laureus has expanded its successful Sport for Good Cities program to three additional cities. Sport of Good Atlanta launched in July 2017 and Sport for Good New York and Sport for Good Chicago will be launching in January 2018.