COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – USA Archery is honored to partner with First Lady Michelle Obama and her Let’s Move! initiative. Mrs. Obama is working to get more kids healthy and active, capitalizing on the inspiration of the Olympic and Paralympic spirit this summer.
USA Archery and many additional National Governing Bodies were given the opportunity through the U.S. Olympic Committee to make a commitment to the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) to provide beginner athletic programming to kids in their local communities throughout the next year.
As part of the commitment, USA Archery will facilitate grants for archery equipment kits, instructor certification, and programming to help grow archery. The goal will be to introduce 50,000 children to the sport through the Explore Archery and “Junior Olympic Archery Development” Program in the next 12 months.
“We are excited to partner with PHA to continue our efforts to develop accessible and affordable youth archery programming in urban areas nationwide,” commented USA Archery Outreach Director Mary Emmons. “Archery is a great avenue to help get youth active and engaged in in a life-time sport.”
USA Archery will tie the PHA partnership to current outreach efforts, including our work to build Explore Archery programs, Junior Olympic Archery Development and Adult Archery Program Clubs. With the generous support of Easton Foundations and Proctor and Gamble, USA Archery has been able to facilitate equipment grants to local and state park and recreation departments in Alabama, Pennsylvania and Texas, as well as USA Archery Clubs nationwide.
“The equipment grant from USA Archery has helped us provide additional archery classes to our youth,” commented Frederick Thomas from the Montgomery Parks and Recreation Department. “We are now able to serve for more youth at our community centers, conduct city-wide clinics and provide year-round instructions.”
“The equipment that Tuskegee Parks and Recreation received from the USA Archery grant will be used as an integral part of our summer Nutrition and Sports Program,” added A.D. Drew, Director for the Tuskegee Parks and Recreation Department. “The archery equipment will be used to enhance the physical activity portion of our summer curriculum. In addition, the youth of the community will have an opportunity to use the equipment to practice for the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association state archery tournament this August.”
In addition, USA Archery has also partnered with Easton Foundations to provide funding to 25 communities in the Dallas, Texas as well as 10 Pennsylvania State Parks. We will continue to partner with other states on similar efforts. To learn more and connect with USA Archery on these projects, please click here or contact Program Manager, Lorin Fiehler.
Read the complete press release from the White House on the Let’s Move initiative here.
