The Chance To Play
For the next 3 months, March through May, Coulee Ridge Development is partnering with KidSport Medicine Hat & Redcliff for their Community Builder fundraiser! That means any funds raised for KidSport Medicine Hat & Redcliff will be matched by Coulee Ridge Development up to a maximum of $2,000! Those dollars will stay in the community to “ensure that all kids have the chance to play.”
KidSport Medicine Hat started in 1997 when it was noticed that there was a need for help with covering registration, which oftentimes can be a costly prospect for struggling families when all other aspects of playing sports are considered. In 2013, Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute conducted a survey to determine the average cost of children participating in sports per year. On average, it was found that families spent roughly $1,400 a year on sports alone, this includes equipment, registration, transportation and more.
Funds for KidSport go toward some operation costs but primarily they are used for giving out grants to children, aged 18 and under, to cover registration fees for sports. The grants are up to $300 per child per year. That includes everything from extracurricular to school sports. Every year, KidSport sees anywhere from 160 to 270 children qualifying for and benefitting from their grants every year. In 2021, $44,376.58 was granted to kids in Medicine Hat and Redcliff, allowing them to play a season.