Community Chest Spot Light: Youth Sports

This week we shine the spotlight on youth sports.

The TigerSharks swim team is a local club that provides an organized athletic experience for children ages 4-18 in the spring and summer, develops strong swimmers, builds self-esteem and encourages youth of all ages to work together as a team. The TigerSharks contribute significantly to a safer community by providing excellent swim instruction to children of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay the registration fee. Approximately 90 local youth participated in the swim program last year.

The TigerSharks swim team is requesting $500 to help support scholarship swimmers. The TigerSharks also raise funds through bake sales, t-shirt fund-raisers, and parent donations in order to break even. Registration fees of $160 per child are paid directly to the University of the South to cover pool use, insurance, and stipends for the coaches. Expenses last year totaled $16,500, and included 10 scholarships awarded.

Sewanee Little League is affiliated with Little League Baseball, Incorporated, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to promote, develop, supervise, and voluntarily assist in all lawful ways, the interest of those who will participate in Little League Baseball and Softball.”

The Sewanee Little League is requesting $2,500 from the Community Chest to update the baseball equipment. They are also requesting help with field maintenance and to repair the bathroom water leaks. The Sewanee Little League does receive additional funds through registration fees, and uniform and banner sponsors. Expenses last year totaled $7,000, the biggest of which was for mandatory Little League dues and insurance.

The goal of the Sewanee Community Chest is to help citizens by funding the community. Through Community Chest funding, 28 local organizations help those caught in the cycle of poverty, improve lives through outreach and community initiatives, and provide support for children with a variety of programs.

The Community Chest is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and donations are tax-deductible. Send your donation to Sewanee Community Chest, P.O. Box 99, Sewanee, TN 37375.

We also accept PayPal for donations.