Sports always acted as a catalyst to bring communities closer together.  At its core sports serve as a source of inspiration, resilience, and hope.  Sports boost self-esteem, build a foundation for lifelong health, and reduce stress.  They teach accountability, dedication, and leadership.   

But youth sports’ core values are under siege. Only 38% of kids aged 6 to 12 played team sports on a regular basis in 2018, down from 45% in 2008 (Sports & Fitness Industry Association). The average child today spends less than three years playing a sport and quits by age 11, according to a 2019 survey of sports parents conducted by the Aspen Institute and Utah State University. 

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If there were ever a time for youth sports, it is now, however recent studies reflect that families see fewer options to play sports coming out of the pandemic. 50% of youth sports organizers fear they won't have the financial resources to pay for facilities and staff, according to a survey conducted by LeagueApps, a youth sports management platform.  Thirteen percent of youth sports parents indicated their community-based sports provider closed due to COVID-19, and another 12% said it merged with another organization (State of Play 2021 report). In total, more than 4 of 10 families said their community-based sports provider has either closed, merged, or returned with limited capacity.  We now find ourselves in a spot where we can see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. 

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Project Parachute’s mission is to fortify the local sports ecosystem by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors​.  Project Parachute is what the name implies: A tool to provide safe passage.  Navigating through crosswinds is unavoidable, but it’s time to toggle.  Project Parachute provides high quality athletic programs and education which act as a recovery mechanism.  Our vision is to bring people and the magic of sports together!  Help to pull the rip cord and let’s get to work!  We can do this together when we band together to be a part of the community comeback!