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PeacePlayers held in late July its Friendship Games attended by 200 participants -- staff and coaches, alumni, and guests spent a week traveling to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Caesarea. The games were the first ever in-person 5 site global convening. Games were founded and inspired by Ed and Penelope Peskowitz.

As part of the 2022 All-Star Legacy Projects, Up2Us is partnering with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) and MLBinvestment of $1.3 million over the next 3 years to further sports-based youth development programming focusing on mentorship, recruitment, and training of baseball and softball coaches who work with youth in Los Angeles communities experiencing social injustice.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) will launch in November their grassroots basketball initiative in 11 US markets. The Jr. NBA Leagues, a national network of youth basketball leagues for boys and girls ages 6-14, specifically addresses access and equity issues that were exacerbated during the pandemic. Goal to reach half a million boys and girls by 2027.

US Soccer Foundation launched with adidas the Just Ball League to provide free, competitive neighborhood soccer in New York City and Los Angeles this fall. Mini-pitches will serve as league hubs.

LEARN
While the Biden Administration just announced a federal student loan forgiveness up to $10,000, nonprofit employees with federal student loans may also qualify for The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Waiver. A NYC nonprofit executive explains the process that worked for him. Note the October 31 application deadline.

A pre-pandemic study tracked the mental health and sports participation of more than 11,000 kids ages 9 to 13 from across the US based on parental reports instead of asking kids. The study found youth who played individual sports tend to face more mental health difficulties than peers who played no sports, and those who played team sports were less likely to experience these mental health issues than those who didn't play sports. Summary Analysis in Smithsonian.

Dial 988 -- Anyone experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicide crisis can call or text 988 or chat with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline from anywhere in the US. It is free, confidential and available 24/7/365. More Details

Data from the 2019 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) show that students with higher grades are more likely to engage in physical activity compared to students with lower grades. 66% of US high school students with mostly A’s played on at least one sports team (run by their school or community groups during the 12 months before the survey), compared to only 42% of students with D/F’s.

See CDC Infographic on Health Benefits of Physical Activity.

ADVOCATE
In only 6 months, NY is #1 in mobile sports betting tax revenue! With a 51% tax rate, the highest state tax rate in the US, New York collected $284 million from February - July. For a whole year the $5 million allocated from this tax to the state grant program for nonprofits providing sports to under-served youth will represent less than 1% of the entire annual tax revenue collected.

The PLAYS in Youth Sports Act has been introduced by Congressman Colin Allred (D -TX) due to the efforts of the Play Sports Coalition. The bill sets up a $65 million grant program by the CDC for national and local nonprofits that "can demonstrate a track record and plan for serving low-income and under-resourced communities, as well as providers of adaptive sports programming." Summary Details