The power of sports: OKC kids benefit from four local non-profits

What if something as simple as a pair of running shoes could change the trajectory of a child’s life? Or a coach who mentors a player and shows them what is possible regardless of their circumstances?

Guiding kids on a better path and diverting the obstacles standing in their way of participating in sports is what four Oklahoma City non-profits are all about.

“We are all pieces of the same puzzle, and by working together, we are helping form an athlete that can unlock the power of sports,” said Taylor Self, communications director, Oklahoma Cleats for Kids.

Cleats for Kids, along with Fields & Futures, the OKC Police Athletic League and The Wes Welker Foundation are all organizations equipping underserved kids with the tools needed to participate in sports.  Cleats for Kids takes care of the shoes and equipment, Fields & Futures makes sure fields are safe and accessible, OKC Police Athletic League helps with programming for younger kids and weekend leagues, while The Wes Welker Foundation handles the extras that come with sports like scoreboards, uniforms and weight rooms.

Each organization was developed in response to an unmet need: poor or no athletic fields, a lack of weekend leagues or coaches, kids who wanted to run or play basketball but didn’t have shoes or the ability to buy them. But more importantly, each organization grew from the desire to give kids the opportunity to participate in sports.

“Kids will come into our locker room or attend an in-school program and get to choose a pair of shoes. They often ask if they get to take the shoes home, and when we tell them yes, their faces are priceless -- they’re so excited,” added Self.

Statistics show that students participating in elementary and high school sports have higher GPAs, score higher on standardized tests and have a lower rate of absenteeism, along with the additional benefits of building self-confidence and a sense of community.

Jermaine Johnson, a Lieutenant in the Oklahoma City Police Department and a coach for OKC Police Athletic League says it’s not only coaching they provide, but also life lessons. “We are getting cops together with kids, coaching them, being whatever kind of figure the kid might need in their life, and serving as a family outside of their house.”

Johnson adds that he and the other coaches can see the kids’ character change too. “Mentoring is going to happen with these kids. It’s either us or the gangbangers, and I would much rather it be us. We are here to be that positive role model.”

Jefferson Middle School in southwest Oklahoma City is a beneficiary of a field from Fields & Futures. Coaches saw participation on their football team grow from 16 to 125 kids and say they’ve become a safe place, while investing in the future of their players.

In addition to the fields, equipment and other sports-related needs, The Wes Welker Foundation established the ELEVATE program in all middle and high schools in the Oklahoma City district. The program focuses on positive character traits, discussed at weekly meetings with students and their coaches.

The impact of these programs is seen over and over. One coach commented that while they are working with the kids now, what they’re truly doing is investing in their future “We are keeping them in school and teaching them about building a community. I think we will see the true impact years down the line.”