Kids Sports Stars

PROGRAMS

KIDS SPORTS STARS (“KSS”) supports programs by providing initial program funding, initiating partnerships, and sharing program findings and methods. KSS believes partnerships with schools, businesses and other non-profits will most quickly and effectively help achieve its vision. KSS work to date has helped achieve the following results:

Initiation of three programs and extension of one program
Participation of six school districts in the greater Phoenix area
Twenty five (25) elementary schools actively supporting the program
Over 5000 elementary children walking and running
Over 1000 parents involved
60,000 + miles walked/run in a single year

Thousands of kids have been “set in motion” towards healthier more active lives. Their stories, pictures and quotes are wonderful to see (CLICK HERE)

1. In the Creighton School District, each year children and their families participate in a KSS program, Kids Rock, developed in partnership with Phoenix Children’s Hospital. In the fall, the children walk or jog the distance of a marathon, mile by mile, over the course of four months. In the spring, the program has a similar challenge for the kids such as walking another marathon or walking the distance of the perimeter of Arizona.

2. For two years, a KSS program at Florence Crittenton Services of Arizona made opportunities for sports and fitness activities available in the summer to the 45 girls who are resident in the Florence Crittenton home. The program demonstrated many positive impacts with 60% of girls exhibiting increased self-esteem, 50% exhibiting higher levels of tolerance and fewer outbursts, 50% making fewer complaints about illness and 60% of the girls with weight problems losing weight. The cost per girl is about $250. Florence Crittenton plans to continue this program as part of its ongoing operation. KSS’s plan to initiate and help make programs self sustaining worked!

3. In the Paradise Valley School District, Scottsdale Healthcare and Kids Sports Stars are building upon and extending the Grand Canyon Trekkers Walking and Running Program and the Kids Sports Stars programs into Title one Schools in the Paradise Valley Unified School District. These 10 schools represent over 6000 kids at the poverty level as defined by school free lunch criteria. Over half of the children at ten of the eleven schools are eligible for a free or reduced (cost) lunch. At one of the schools, the Palomino school, where Scottsdale Healthcare runs a medical clinic, 100% of the children are eligible for free or reduced lunches.

4. In the Scottsdale School District, in partnership with Scottsdale Healthcare, KSS is helping extend the Grand Canyon Trekkers Program to needy schools and is funding a rigorous evaluation of the impacts of the program. The program establishes a walking club at each school to motivate kids to walk the trails of the Grand Canyon at lunch recess on a pre-marked path round the playground for 3-5 days a week for 12 weeks each fall and each spring.


KIDS SPORTS STARS VISION REQUIRES THAT ALL PROGRAMS INCORPORATE THE FOLLOWING KEY ELEMENTS FOR SUCCESS:
1. sports and other physical activites to get kids active and moving 2. education in nutrition and healthy eating to form lifelong habits 3. opportunity for each kid to succeed in a sports or physical activity challenge 4. involvement of the family in the kid’s activity 5. specific goals and accountability for measuring results against the goals Our Vision is that one day all children will embrace sports and fitness to help develop active lifestyles, healthy eating habits, and the self confidence needed for longer, healthier, and happier lives.

Proposals for new programs which help us toward our vision are welcome. We are always looking for well established new partners to develop replicate, and help execute programs which help us to “Make Every Kid a Kids Sports Star”.