Leveling the Playing Field

Leveling the Playing Field provides free sports equipment to kids from under-resourced communities in Delaware County and the Greater Philadelphia area, ensuring they can access the mental and physical benefits of youth sports. Essentially, we operate a food bank, but for sports equipment.

The Need

Research shows that participating in sports can improve social-emotional development, improve grades, and even lower rates of crime and drug use. However, the cost of sports equipment is one of the most commonly cited barriers to participation in youth sports among low-income families. That's where we come in!

Results

We opened our Sharon Hill warehouse in 2021 and have provided $4M of sports equipment to 595 programs since then. Of that, $380K+ worth of gear has been distributed to 52 unique programs in Delaware County. Now, we need your support to help us keep growing our impact across Delco and the Greater Philadelphia area.

Hear what our Delco beneficiaries have to say:

“This equipment has allowed us to offer more programming to additional kids that we wouldn't have been able to assist. We now have extra supplies and equipment, and the kids love it.”  
--Community YMCA of Eastern Delaware County

"It made it possible for our younger residents to try both lacrosse and field hockey in a clinic type setting. Each student was able to have his/her own equipment and to try varying sizes to find the right equipment. We feel this is very helpful when it comes to introducing new sports to children" 
--Upper Darby Township

"Being able to provide gear to each of our kids that show up to our programs allows them to be able to continue to learn the sport they may have interest in after our instruction day is over. Without this donated equipment, our kids wouldn't be able to continue with their sport...We couldn't do what we do without you." 
--Sow Good Now