Dick’s Sporting Goods continues to give back.
In honor of the 10th anniversary of its Sports Matter Program, the Pittsburgh-based retailer’s charitable arm, the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation, has created a $2 million grant initiative. The grant will be funded by the retailer’s giveback program under which 1 percent of the sales of its DSG private brand go directly to the Sports Matter Program. Over the past decade that program has committed more than $100 million to ensure more than 2 million young athletes have access to sport and can thrive on and off the field by helping with equipment, registration fees, league costs and playing fields.
“At The Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation, we believe in the transformative power of sports and its ability to shape futures,” said Rick Jordan, vice president of the foundation. “As we celebrate a decade of Sports Matter and our commitment to provide opportunities for youth to play sports, we’re thrilled to launch this new grant initiative extending our reach and impact to even more communities across the country.”
Dick’s awarded 20 grants of $10,000 each to 10 Pittsburgh-based organizations at the opening of its Dick’s House of Sport last week and will give another 10 similarly sized grants to Boston-based organizations at the grand opening of its store there on April 19. Additional grants will be awarded to youth sports organizations throughout the year.
This year, the Dick’s Foundation will partner with several organizations including: Every Kid Sports, where it will cover registration fees; Good Sports, to provide equipment to youth in underserved communities; LISC to build 20 fields, courts and additional infrastructures in high-need neighborhoods, and DonorsChoose to support educators and coaches to help keep kids in the game.
Dick’s is the country’s largest sporting goods retailer with 850 stores under the Dick’s Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Public Lands, Going Going Gone! and Warehouse Sale stores.
