Empowering youth through education and experiences. Join us in transforming lives! #BeGreaterThanYourGreatestExcuse

At Project Transition, we're not just an organization; we're a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change. Through our High-FIVES pillars—Family Unity, Intelligence, Value, Enriching Experiences, and Steadfast Sportsmanship—we're empowering underserved youth to unlock their true potential and forge paths of prosperity. 

Each donation, each volunteer hour, and each shared story fuels our mission to transform lives. In a world of endless challenges, we offer solutions, support, and a community united by a single mantra: "Be Greater Than Your Greatest Excuse." Join us, and together, let's build a brighter future for every young soul eager to learn, grow, and succeed. #BeGreaterThanYourGreatestExcuse

Project Transition

Providing the opportunity for inner-city children to participate in youth football and cheer.

The Snoop Youth Football League is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded to provide the opportunity for inner-city children to participate in youth football and cheer. The SYFL serves children between the ages of five and thirteen, teaching them the values of teamwork, good sportsmanship, discipline, and self-respect, while also stressing the importance of academics.

The Snoop Youth Football League was founded by entertainment icon, Snoop Dogg. The fall of 2005 was the inaugural season of the SYFL, and there were over 1,300 kids in the Los Angeles area that participated. The season began in September and included seven regular season games and a three week playoff, concluding with the “Super Bowl,” at the end of November. SYFL all-star teams were chosen and participants traveled to Houston, TX. In fact, each year an all-star team is selected to travel to another city to compete with children in other football leagues. In addition, this provided opportunities for many children to ride on an airplane, travel to states that they never dreamed of going, and play in the most prestigious stadiums in the United States.

Snoop Youth Football League Foundation

Changing the way youth experience the foster care system in America.

Together We Rise is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization comprised of motivated young adults and former foster youth. Our vision is to improve the lives of foster children in America, who often find themselves forgotten and neglected by the public.

Together We Rise

Kids’ Club supports underserved youth in our community by awarding grants for programs for kids from birth to age 18 and beyond. 

Kids’ Club of Tarrytown & Sleepy Hollow provides support for underserved youth.  As a community organization, we marshal resources, increase local awareness, advocate for programming, and strengthen services to improve the lives of children and families. We collaborate with a variety of community organizations to identify needs, close gaps in services and provide opportunities for children.

*Through our close ties to the community, we are able to find, fund, and facilitate programs we believe will have the greatest impact on the lives of those we serve.* 

At Kids’ Club, we are all volunteers; we have no paid staff.  We all live or work in the community or surrounding areas. **Administrative costs are covered through the generosity of our Board members, enabling 100% of every dollar you donate to Kids’ Club to help the children and families we serve.** 

Kids' Club of Tarrytown & Sleepy Hollow, Inc.

We are committed to inspiring, enriching + supporting youth in underserved communities through athletic development and education.

Geo Baker Go Beyond Foundation aims to bridge the opportunity gap among youth in underserved communities by providing athlete-driven service programs and training designed to unlock their greatest potential on and off the court, through charitable acts and partnerships.

Our goal is to partner with like-minded non-profits, schools, community/recreation centers to carry out our 4 pillars: 

SOCIAL RESPONSBILITY
Acquiring a sense of purpose and connectedness, while contributing positively to the development of underserved communities through dedicated, charitable service.

Provide underserved communities with programs that allow us to develop our youth to their fullest potential, socially, physically and mentally.

Partnering with charities on initiatives that focus on youth sports inclusion, the whole person, and the development of underserved communities in NJ.

Raising awareness among the community by leveraging communication channels highlighting charities via volunteer work supported by social media campaigns featuring role models that positively influence society.

ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT 
Providing training for youth to grow and develop, using knowledge from playing at the highest level, thus putting student-athletes in the best position to succeed on and off the court.

Conduct basketball clinics for local youth players, consisting of fundamental basketball drills, speed/agility drills, and educate on the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

Sponsorhip of youth sports teams in underserved NJ communities

Collection and donation of athletic equipment to youth sports teams and NJ schools in need

Host annual events that will benefit local communities (ie. 3 x 3 tournament, shooting contests, etc)

Connect youth to appropriate AAU/travel teams to help further their level of play and exposure.

EDUCATION 
Supporting the development and growth of students to foster success in the classroom and in life, laying the foundation for future academic achievement, as well as mental health and physical wellness.

Utilize collegiate student-athletes organizations for tutoring services to empower the youth through education.

Partnership programs that include health and wellness education to ensure that kids live a healthy and productive life.

Partner with sports psychologists on the importance of mental health among student athletes.

Workshops highlighting the pros and cons of social media, as it applies to student-athletes.
Lecture series on what it takes to be an elite student athlete (on and off the court) consisting of topics such as:
 - Importance of time management
 - Leadership
 - Recruiting Process
 - Importance of Academics/Scholarships, etc

MENTORSHIP
Playing a vital role in underserved communities by providing leadership and guidance to youth in both basketball and life.

Motivational lecture series to prepare our youth to succeed in on and off the court consisting of:
 - Teaching and inspiring leadership
 - Focus on teaching players a different mental skill to apply to their daily lives and athletic endeavors.
 - Equip youth with the tools and strategies they need to boost their confidence, respond to adversity, resilience, overcome obstacles, and achieve greater success in all areas of their lives.
 - Strengthen their minds and shift their mindset to optimize growth and development

KEY STATISTICS
Nearly 3 million NJ residents—or one-third of the state—live in or below the poverty line -15% are children (Source: Legal Services of New Jersey)

Only 22% of kids living in poverty get an opportunity to play sports.(Source: The Aspen Institute, Project Play)

The shift from low-cost or free, school or town-run recreation programs to the pay-to-play model across the US began around 2008, as cities and municipalities slashed recreation budgets and never restored them. Now 80% are pay-to-play (Source: John Engh, COO of the National Alliance for Youth Sports)

We can’t fully rely on schools - In 2022, the Physical Activity Alliance gave schools nationwide a grade of D– for physical fitness, reflecting MINIMAL access to regular physical education classes, gym time and equipment.
Research shows that participating in sports can lead to immediate and long-term benefits for youth, their families and communities. 

THE POWER OF YOUTH SPORTS (Source: President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition Science Board)
Improved teamwork, leadership, social skills, and social responsibility

Improved life skills (e.g., goal setting, time management, work ethic, empathy, overall health and wellness)

Improved educational + occupational skills (IE. determination, perseverance, grit, resilience, critical thinking)

High school athletes are more likely to attend and graduate from a four-year college

Higher levels of academic achievement

OUR VISION
To provide athletic opportunities to all kids, creating places of organic integration, where friendship replaces economic and racial differences and the collective desire to play a sport they love.
We want to address equality and inclusion at every level, so that the underserved will not be left out of youth sports. 

GEO BAKER GO BEYOND FOUNDATION 
SEEK funding and grant opportunities to help support youth sports in underserved NJ communities 

PARTNER with local non-profits/schools, community, etc to: 

GENERATE awareness and provide training and mentorship to youth in underserved communities with the help of collegiate student-athletes. 

SPONSOR youth sports teams in underserved NJ communities 

DONATE equipment to youth sports teams and NJ schools in need 

CONDUCT camps/clinics for underserved youth in NJ 

HOST annual events that will benefit local communities

ABOUT GEO BAKER 
Since graduating from Rutgers University, Geo Baker has continued to conduct himself with the same drive and intensity that helped him excel on the basketball court and in the classroom. Only now has he shifted that energy towards entrepreneurial and business endeavors.

In addition to The Geo Baker Go Beyond Foundation, Baker has established GB Go Beyond, a NJ-based basketball training program that helps middle school and high school athletes unlock their fullest potential on and off the court.

“We are excited to have student athletes who are role models in the community give back by mentoring and training kids in underserved communities how to excel on and off the court. Sometimes all they need is someone who believes in them and is willing to guide them to a better way of life.” - Geo Baker

Geo Baker Go Beyond Foundation is a fiscally sponsored project of Edward Charles Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization (tax ID 26-4245043). 




Geo Baker Go Beyond Foundation

America SCORES LA is a nonprofit organization focused on recreation, sports, leisure, or athletics. It is based in Los Angeles, CA. It received its nonprofit status in 2000.

America SCORES LA

An organization focused on recreation, sports, leisure, or athletics. It received its nonprofit status in 2020.

Serving Up Hope Inc

To encourage safe, vibrant public spaces, sustainable transportation and public health through a program of car-free street events.   Promover el espacio público seguro y animado, el transporte ecológico, y la salud pública por una programa de de acontecimientos de calles sin carros.

CicLAvia

We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

Girls on the Run of the Bay Area

The Roquan Smith Foundation provides much needed assistance to families in rural Georgia and support underprivileged children.

The Roquan Smith Foundation supports community impacts and programs that will strengthen the core of family. There are large food drives in Macon County Georgia and Baltimore annually, annual free football camps, holiday helper events, free game day tickets to local organizations that support children in foster care and families impacted by domestic violence. And countless other micro projects and events to support football programs and families in need.

The Roquan Smith Foundation

New York City’s YMCA is here for all New Yorkers — to empower youth, improve health, and strengthen community.

New York City's YMCA

MCS is building a home for circus arts on the near east side of Madison, WI. Come see a performance, take a class, or join a club!

Madison Circus Spaces fosters appreciation for and participation in circus and movement arts in the Madison, WI area by providing a practice space for performers and hobbyists.

Madison Circus Space

We serve more than 17,000 members at 35 Clubs in the greater Seattle area. Since 1943, #GreatFutures start HERE!

To inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.

Boys & Girls Clubs of King County

Guardian Project

Promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation.

To transform San Francisco’s streets and neighborhoods into safe, just, and livable places by promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation.

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

A holistic understanding of yoga to one and all !

Yoga Bharati is a non-profit, voluntary organization

Yoga Bharati USA

We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

GOTRC is a non-profit after-school program that uses the power of running to prepare 3rd-8th grade girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.

Girls on the Run-Chicago

To use the unique power of rugby to empower and inspire youth, primarily from underserved communities, to Go Forward and realize their true potential.

Play Rugby USA

Dedicated to inspiring hope and providing a path to success for the area’s most at-risk youth.

Our mission is to reduce youth violence by connecting proven-risk young people with new networks and opportunities, including meaningful career tracks in and beyond personal training. We use the gym to replace segregation and isolation with economic mobility and social inclusion, disrupting the system that leads to urban street violence.

InnerCity Weightlifting

Our mission is to spark and nurture a passion for the sport of rowing in people of all ages.

Sammamish Rowing Association

The Bellevue Boys & Girls Clubs' mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us the most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, & caring adults.

The Bellevue Boys & Girls Club’s mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us the most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, & caring adults.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue

Soccer in Huron County communities. www.hcysc.org

The mission of HCYSC is to promote a safe environment for children and adults to enjoy the game of soccer.

Huron County Youth Soccer Club

The Mission of The First Tee of Central Ohio is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.

First Tee - Central Ohio

Dedicated to helping under-resourced schools and sports programs receive the sports equipment they need to compete.

Victory Sports is a local non-profit dedicated to helping under-resourced schools and sports programs receive the sports equipment they need to compete.

Victory Sports Global Outreach Inc.

We support youth in need through scholarships to cover out-of-school time activities including team and camp participation, mentorships, academic support, community service & building activities... BECAUSE EVERY CHILD DESERVES AN OPPORTUNITY!

The Watts Foundation is leveraging sports for the enrichment of youth. Key programs are implemented to develop leadership skills, academic prowess and citizens of high integrity. These pillars are critical for sustainability of their future.   Focus to increase social awareness will ultimately foster a standard of excellence in our youth. This culture instills the values that inspire today’s youth to be successful in tomorrow’s world. Показати більше

The Watts Foundation

Borders' mission is to use soccer as a vehicle for positive change

Soccer Without Borders' mission is to use soccer as a vehicle for positive change, providing under-served youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, …inclusion, and personal success.   What We Do: Soccer Without Borders, or Futbol Sin Fronteras, runs community-led, year-round, youth development programs in under-served areas in the USA and abroad. We provide programming to youth who are traditionally excluded from sports-based and extracurricular activities. Our program provides participants with an avenue for positive engagement, a platform for personal growth, and a toolkit for a brighter future.  Where We Work:  Soccer Without Borders currently operates 7 year-round programs in 3 countries. SWB program locations include Boston, MA, Baltimore, MD, Greeley, CO, Oakland, CA, Seattle, WA, Granada, Nicaragua, and Kampala, Uganda Ещё

Soccer Without Borders

TSYI Inc is focused on recreation, sports, leisure, or athletics. It is based in Stone Mtn, GA. Nonprofit status in 2015.

The Tommie Smith Youth Initiative is dedicated to nurturing the health, fitness, and educational development of youth, particularly marginalized children. Tommie believes that through the disciplined training required by track & field, athletics can serve as an effective vehicle for mentoring youth. Tommie Smith has traveled around the world providing technical assistance to communities engaged in uplifting young people, and he has motivated thousands of young people to embrace a healthy lifestyle.

Tommie Smith Youth Initiative

Denver Triton Swim Team is a nonprofit organization focused on recreation, sports, leisure, or athletics. It is based in Aurora, CO. It received its nonprofit status in 2010.

Denver Triton Swim Team

SNG offers unique, year-round programs and classes for children and young adults with special needs and disabilities. 

We are committed to strengthening the physical, mental, emotional, and social skills of our athletes and students through a variety of programs that promote a lifetime of achievements. SNG offers programs and classes in gymnastics, swimming, karate, cycling, fitness, cheer, life skills, dance, art, and music. Based in Texas, SNG reaches thousands of individuals annually throughout the United States and internationally. 

Special Needs Gymnastics (SNG)

Empowering women to feel confident about their bodies by using fitness & physical movement as a way to build self-worth.

We’re in the midst of an epidemic. Our young women are bombarded with images and messages that glorify perfection as thin and beautiful.  In some instances, they also have inadequate education on the merits of healthy, active, nutritious living.  As a result, our young women are falling short--failing to realize how extraordinary they are. Instead they focus on everything they are not.  

Movemeant Foundation

Providing high quality athletic, academic, and development programs with an emphasis on mental fitness

Foster Park Sports is a beacon of positive change in the community, illuminating the path to holistic youth development through its dynamic programs. Deeply rooted in East Flatbush, FPS goes beyond the realm of traditional sports organizations. Their primary mission is to help youth reach their full potential through providing high quality athletic, academic, and development programs with an emphasis on mental fitness. This innovative emphasis on mental well-being reflects in their strategic fusion of high-caliber athletic training with mindfulness practices, ensuring participants not only ace their game on the court but also cultivate resilience, emotional intelligence, and teamwork. By fostering a tight-knit community spirit and championing mental fitness, FPS emerges as a game-changer, shaping the future leaders of tomorrow. 

Foster Park Sports

Jacob “Val” Myers’ attempt to be the youngest person in human history to ski solo and unsupported to the Geographic South Pole

!!Update: The final fundraising deadline is AUGUST 20!  While significant progress has been made, Val and the Youngest to Pole Project needs the community to rally behind the expedition now more than ever!!

3 years ago Jacob “Val” Myers set out with the goal of being the youngest person in human history to ski solo and unsupported to the Geographic South Pole.  In that time he has travelled to the coldest regions of the world training in areas such as Canada’s Yukon Arctic and as far away as the historic glaciers of Norway.  Val has become a competent expeditioner and guide during his journey and began operating as a polar guide for the world-renowned Shackleton Challenges team comprised of other world record-holding polar travelers, mountaineers, and ocean rowers.

Never one to shy away from a chance to help others, Val has used his growing platform in pursuit of this world record to engage with and inspire Appalachian youth in the Eastern United States.  “Once I complete my long journey on the ice I intend on touring the Youngest to Pole Project in rural areas throughout the US and using everything that I’ve learned in outdoor spaces to get these kids plugged back into the outdoors as contributing members of a healthy, eco-conscious community.”

Social projects aside, Val has also partnered with Climate Force who he will support during their major reforestation project in Daintree.  Val intends on planting enough trees to offset the carbon produced in his own venture.

Read More about the expedition on Val’s Website https://www.valhallahikes.com/adventurejournal/6g5ueedyhccwxwyqwgem34ae800rv1

The Youngest to Pole Project 

Founded in 2022 by Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, the Give Em A Reason foundation's mission is to empower youth through sport, by way of self-esteem building and opportunity creation. 

Give Em A Reason Foundation

Joyful anti-racist surf lessons for BIPOC 

Color the Water began as a way to fight racism after the murder of George Floyd. We wanted to fight racism with joy, so we started to offer free surf lessons and media for BIPOC in the LA area. Now we are a diverse, inclusive, anti-racist safe space for hundreds of BIPOC surfers.

Color The Water

We are first generation college students and committed professionals that believe in the power and potential of Black&Brown youth

Holla Mentors is a culturally responsive mentorship organization that since it’s inception has fostered a community of socially active neighbors, local entrepreneurs and committed professionals willing to foster healthy relationships with children and teens who are economically challenged and significantly at risk within the structures of the educational system.

Holla Mentors

Providing healthy, structured after-school sports programs for Palestinian girls and boys. 

PACES  was founded in 2006 with the aim of providing healthy, structured after-school sports programs for Palestinian girls and boys; for girls as a means of getting them out of their homes and into programs that empower them within their communities, and for boys who would otherwise be on the streets and exposed to violence and negative or destructive influences. Through our programs we provide Palestinian children an escape from being idle on the streets, or in their homes, an escape that is fun, healthy, and encourages participation and excellence in an activity that is extremely important to their development. Moreover, we encourage active citizenship and provide young people with the opportunity to develop values such as respect for the opponent, adherence to rules, teamwork and fair play. We combine sport with non-sport factors to enhance our programs and we have partnerships with local and international NGOs to provide the children with workshops and exposure beyond sports that give them additional development opportunities. Our programs promote gender equality and we are extremely proud to have achieved our goal of a 50% girl's participation rate. PACES  builds local capacity by training leaders in the community as coaches to deliver its sport programs in Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon. Our programs are well designed led by trained and competent coaches. Not only do our programs provide a fun, healthy and educational alternatives to the children enrolled; they have also created employment opportunities for hundreds of coaches. We believe that providing children from refugee camps and marginalised communities a fun and healthy alternative to being in their homes and/or on the streets can make an immense difference in advancing their general well-being, their physical and social development, and help them develop into productive adults in the future. 

PACES - Palestine Association of Children's Encouragement Sports

The TJ Carrie Foundation provides a social-emotionally supportive community for children and families living with heart conditions

The mission of the TJ Carrie Foundation is to provide a social-emotionally supportive community for children and families living with heart conditions, while educating the greater community on heart health. In addition to inspiring youth to Dream Big through  education and physical activity.  

​When the NFL cornerback started his foundation in 2016, TJ’s goal was to help young people struggling with physical challenges, offering encouragement and advice to children and families dealing with health issues. Along with his wife, Ty’lsha, the foundation’s mission has grown to inspire all youths to establish and achieve big dreams. With signature programs and community events, the foundation provides a platform for TJ to be hands-on and engaged with young people and their families,  helping them overcome their problems and accomplish their goals.  The TJ Carrie Foundation’s approach is built on the pillars of faith, hope, courage, and love.

Being a professional football player being able to play the game is such a blessing for TJ each day and one that he does not take for granted. He dreamed about putting on those pads and helmet and playing under the Friday night lights, on Saturday afternoons, and even on to the NFL.

 As a 14-year-old freshman at Deer Valley High School in Antioch, California, TJ was hyped to begin his journey. On the first day of tryouts, his life changed forever. It was hot, and they were working hard. He was sweating and was having trouble catching his breathing … and then it all went dark.

TJ left the field in an ambulance and was transported to thehospital. The medical personnel stabilized him. But the doctors were stumped as to what caused his problem. It was a year later before they had an answer. TJ had a one-in-a-million birth defect where his right coronary artery was positioned between his lungs.

The doctors gave a now 15-year-old and his family two choices. He could give up any strenuous physical activity for the rest of his life, ending his dreams of playing football. Or TJ could undergo risky surgery to correct the problem. With the help of his family, he decided to take a chance, so he could keep alive his big dream of playing football. On Valentine’s Day 2006, TJ underwent open-heart surgery at Oakland Children’s Hospital.

He spent two months recuperating in the hospital, part of what became a year-and-a-half-long recovery. It was hard, scary, and challenging, but he was driven by his big heart and a relentless work ethic to achieve his dream.  He recovered and was finally able to play football as a senior at De La Salle High School in Concord, California, where the Spartans won a state championship that season. He went to Ohio University, where he played 50 games for the Bobcats and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sports administration. 

And his ultimate dream was achieved when Oakland selected him in the 2014 NFL Draft, beginning a pro career where he has worn the uniform of the Raiders, Browns, and Colts.

 

TJ Carrie Foundation

Gridiron provides support for resources, coaching, events, and leadership training to ALL athletes no matter their ability to pay

Our Mission
We partner to design, teach, support and strengthen an athletic ecosystem that accelerates the stability, success, and upward mobility of football athletes in Central Indiana.

- We believe in diversity and inclusion.
- We believe mental health is first and foremost in the development of a child.
- We believe in equal access, support, and positive football programming.
- We believe that healthy families build stronger communities.
- We believe that by supporting parents they can have a more active role in their child’s development. 
- We believe that healthy mentors and positive role models benefit athletes and their communities. 
- We believe that long-term health and well-being extends both on and off the field.

Gridiron Foundation

Running for a Better Oakland is an organization that encourages Oakland students to develop healthy lifestyles through running. 

Running for a Better Oakland (RBO) is a non-profit organization that encourages Kindergarten-12th grade Oakland students to develop healthy lifestyles through running. By providing training and encouragement, RBO helps students build confidence and set goals, giving them tools for achievement and hard work they can draw on in all areas of their lives.

RBO strives to build a tolerant, healthy, and prosperous community. Through the discipline and rigor of a structured running program, RBO’s goal is to create new relationships, establish trust, build self-esteem, and empower students, parents, and volunteers.

Running for a Better Oakland

Pull Up Park Jam is a nonprofit community fitness organization. It received nonprofit status in 2015.

The World's Longest-Running Calisthenics Competition

THE WORD CALISTHENICS DERIVES FROM THE GREEK TERMS KALOS, MEANING BEAUTY, AND STENOS, MEANING STRENGTH.  CALISTHENICS IS A FORM OF EXERCISE IN WHICH PEOPLE USE ONLY THE WEIGHT OF THEIR BODY AS RESISTANCE.  BECAUSE OF ITS SIMPLICITY CALISTHENICS IS ACCESSIBLE TO A WIDER RANGE OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A GYM.  ADDITIONALLY, WITH NO ADDED WEIGHTS, CALISTHENICS IS A SAFER LIFE-LONG ACTIVITY FOR PEOPLE FROM AGE 1 TO AGE 100.

O U R  H I S T O R Y:  T H I S  I S  W H E R E  I T  B E G A N 

THERE IS NO ORGANIZATION THAT HAS CULTIVATED THE CALISTHENICS COMMUNITY LONGER THAN THE PULL UP PARK JAM.  FOUNDED IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY IN 1998 BY RAY FUNN AND KEITH FIELDS, THE EVENT OPERATED AS A NON-PROFIT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF RODNEY "REDD" HARRISON.  THE PULL UP PARK JAM GREW TO BE THE LARGEST CALISTHENICS COMPETITION IN THE WORLD, ATTRACTING 100 COMPETITORS PER YEAR FROM COUNTRIES AS FAR AWAY AS JAPAN AND UKRAINE.  EVENTS AROUND THE GLOBE LAUNCHED TO EMULATE THE CAPTIVATING EVERGY OF THE PULL UP PARK JAM, WITH NOTABLE GLOBAL ICONS GETTING THEIR START IN CALISTHENICS THROUGH THE PULL UP PARK JAM.

O U R  H I S T O R Y:  T H I S  I S  W H E R E  I T  B E G A N  
THERE IS NO ORGANIZATION THAT HAS CULTIVATED THE CALISTHENICS COMMUNITY LONGER THAN THE PULL UP PARK JAM.  FOUNDED IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY IN 1998 BY RAY FUNN AND KEITH FIELDS, THE EVENT OPERATED AS A NON-PROFIT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF RODNEY "REDD" HARRISON.  THE PULL UP PARK JAM GREW TO BE THE LARGEST CALISTHENICS COMPETITION IN THE WORLD, ATTRACTING 100 COMPETITORS PER YEAR FROM COUNTRIES AS FAR AWAY AS JAPAN AND UKRAINE.  EVENTS AROUND THE GLOBE LAUNCHED TO EMULATE THE CAPTIVATING EVERGY OF THE PULL UP PARK JAM, WITH NOTABLE GLOBAL ICONS GETTING THEIR START IN CALISTHENICS THROUGH THE PULL UP PARK JAM.

THE PULL UP PARK JAM EXPANDED TO CHICAGO IN 2015 UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OMARI JINAKI.  THE CHICAGO EVENT ALONE HAS BECOME THE LONGEST-RUNNING CALISTHENICS COMPETITION IN THE WORLD.  THANKS TO COMPETITORS FROM NEW STATES AND NEW COUNTRIES, CHICAGO BECAME THE SECOND-LARGEST CALISTHENICS COMPETITION IN THE COUNTRY.   IN RECENT YEARS, THE FOCUS IS NOT ON MAKING THE EVENT LARGER EACH YEAR, BUT ON CONTROLLED, PURPOSEFUL GROWTH -- WITH JUDGING OBJECTIVITY AS THE PRIORITY IN CHICAGO.  YEARLY ENHANCEMENTS MAKE THIS THE MOST STRICT CALISTHENICS COMPETITION IN THE UNITED STATES, WHILE STAYING TRUE TO OUR ROOTS OF REACHING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.  THE CHICAGO EVENT MAKES ELITE CALISTHENICS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY IN THE FREEDROM OF A PUBLIC PARK.

The Pull Up Park Jam is a 501(c)(3) non-profit (EIN: 30-0745794).  For more than 20 years the event has run solely on the financial contribution of the competition host(s).   There have been a small few financial contributors for which we are eternally and extremely grateful.  Additionally, there are also a few notable in-kind donors that provide their time to store equipment, build and upgrade equipment, move and set-up equipment.  Without this ongoing equipment storage, the Chicago Pull Up Park Jam, the only annual calisthenics competition in Chicago, would not exist at all.  The entire Chicago calisthenics community owes this donor and all donors immense gratitude.

We welcome others to learn more about our operations and financial expenditures to determine if they'd like to contribute financially or in-kind to offset the ongoing event costs. 

Every year, the annual costs to host the competition include:

* venue permit
* venue insurance & attendee personal injury insurance
* competition equipment and heavy-duty construction tools
* trucks and vans, gas, vehicle insurance, overnight parking (3 days)
* portable restrooms and sanitation
* pre-event overnight security
* electronics (outdoor generator, time clocks, extension cords, megaphone) 
* competitor apparel & design revisions
* trophies, medals, & awards
* website maintenance
* videography & photography
* staff as needed (equipment movers and judges)

CHICAGO PULL UP PARK JAM

All Paddle Battle

Buck Hill Foundation promotes alpine skiing and snow sports in the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area, especially for youth.

Buck Hill Foundation

The purpose of the Pickup Baseball Foundation is to build a community that provides inclusive access to the game of baseball.

There are no pickup baseball opportunities in the entire SF Bay Area except for ours.

Our strategy to build a community around inclusive access to baseball is to provide consistent weekly pickup baseball opportunities to everyone who wishes to participate in order to achieve our goals. At these events we actively practice optimism, focus on the enjoyable aspects of the game of baseball, and encourage inclusive access to it.

Our group is the only weekly pickup baseball group in the SF Bay Area and we are offering this service for free to the public. Our operations are frugal and scalable and present a facile and dependable way to improve the local community.

Our impact is measured in the length of our list of participant email addresses as well as the number and nature of personal responses at in-person events or through a google form on our website complement.

Pickup Baseball Foundation

We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun experienced-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

Girls on the Run Puget Sound inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experienced-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

Girls on the Run Puget Sound

Raising awareness of systemic racism and racial disparities in the United States through virtual fitness challenges. 

beneFIT Fitness Challenges is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit that raises awareness of systemic racism and racial disparities in the United States through fitness challenges. Many American citizens stand against racism, but do not know how to get involved. At beneFIT, challenge participants can promote social equality simply by moving their bodies. Also, many Americans are unaware of the deeply rooted issues that have perpetuated systems of control for people of color and other marginalized populations for centuries. beneFIT aims to educate others about social injustices by tying the amount of activity and the funds donated to statistics about social injustices that exist today.

beneFIT is focused on painting a picture of the broad, overarching ways in which systemic racism manifests in our modern society so includes challenges that highlight multiple aspects of racial injustice and racial disparities. Participants track their activity using their fitness watch (Apple Watch, Garmin, Fitbit, etc.) and submit their activity on social media. That activity is then turned into a donation that we make to an organization whose mission aligns with the issue we are highlighting that month. 

beneFIT emphasizes the importance of participants' engagement within their physical community and the e-community. Participants are encouraged to explore connections to social injustices where they live and share their experiences/reflections with others via social media which connects participants to the cause on a deeper, more personal and emotional level. As a result, participants are then equipped with the most powerful tool to facilitate real growth and change in our society: a story to be told, a conversation to begin.

beneFIT

Soccer Chaplains United is a 501(c)3 dedicated to providing spiritual care, wise counsel, and meaningful service for soccer.

Soccer Chaplains United

Our mission is to make sport healing for all youth, everywhere, through training, consulting, and movement building. 

The Center for Healing and Justice through Sport (CHJS) is a national nonprofit organization working to ensure that more young people have access to sport experiences that are youth-centered, healing-centered, inclusive, and work to address issues of systemic injustice.
 
We believe that healing is a right for all. And through the wide appeal and accessibility of sport, we’ve found it is the ideal environment for healing-centered and justice-oriented philosophies. This work changes the lives of not only participating athletes, but their families, their communities, and the world at large.
 
If you believe that all sports should be healing and that all kids deserve equal access to sports we humbly ask for your support.

The Center for Healing and Justice through Sport

MG Foundation empowers at-risk youth through fitness internships, fostering responsible citizens and inspiring a brighter future. 

The Mallory Gaston Foundation is dedicated to empowering at-risk youth from Marin, San Francisco, and Alameda Counties through career exploration and internships in the health and fitness sector. Our mission is to create viable work opportunities and foster the development of responsible and engaged citizens through this transformative program. By providing education and purpose, we aim to bridge the gap between marginalized communities and the broader masses, instilling understanding, empathy, and empowerment.

Our Commitments:

1. Empowering At-Risk Youth: We are committed to providing underserved youth with the tools, resources, and opportunities necessary to explore and pursue careers in the health and fitness sector. Through mentorship programs, internships, and hands-on experiences, we aim to instill confidence, passion, and a sense of purpose in each participant.

2. Creating Viable Work Opportunities: We believe that every individual, regardless of their background, deserves access to meaningful and sustainable employment. By partnering with local businesses, organizations, and professionals in the health and fitness industry, we strive to create pathways to viable work opportunities for our program participants, ensuring a brighter future for them and their communities.

3. Fostering Responsible and Engaged Citizens: Our program goes beyond career exploration; we are dedicated to nurturing well-rounded individuals who are actively involved in their communities. Through our comprehensive curriculum, we emphasize the importance of personal growth, leadership, and social responsibility, equipping our participants with the skills and mindset necessary to become compassionate and engaged citizens.

4. Bridging Communities and Instilling Understanding: We envision a society where everyone is valued and understood, regardless of their background or circumstances. By connecting youths from marginalized communities with the broader masses through our program, we aim to break down barriers, develop empathy, and create a sense of unity. We believe that education and purpose serve as the foundation for building bridges of understanding within our community.

Through our unwavering commitment to at-risk youths, viable work opportunities, responsible citizenship, and community bridge-building, The Mallory Gaston Foundation strives to make a lasting impact on the lives of our young people and the communities we serve. Together, we can create a brighter future for all.


The MG Foundation

To create “best of the best” experiences and opportunities for youth soccer players through our clubs, events and facilities.

San Jose Surf Soccer Club soccer is a 501(3)c non profit organization dedicated to the development of youth soccer. We are passionate about using soccer to make a difference in our community and in the lives of our children, so we mobilize volunteers and stretch every dollar to have a bigger impact. But our ability to achieve our goals is hampered by inconsistent funding, and that’s where you come in!

Your donation helps us:

Provide the consistent, reliable programs that our community needs
Reduce player cost to participate per year
Enable us to better plan our programs and initiatives for maximum impact and efficiency
Allow us to focus our resources on our mission

Bay Area Surf dba San Jose Surf

DIP is a non-profit organization creating a state-of-the-art, community space for all people to explore the benefits of aquatics.

Denver Indoor Pools (DIP), a 501 (c)(3) (DBA Aquatics @ Altitude) has laid the groundwork for an extraordinary project in Aurora, Colorado.  Their goal is to build an indoor swimming complex to serve the aquatics community at the individual and team level in swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming and other water activities.  The volunteer board and fundraising cabinet are embarking on a multi-million-dollar capital campaign. 

We need your support.

The founding board of DIP came together around shared interest and support for accessing water, and desire to share aquatics with more of the community. We feel strongly about how aquatics benefits our lives and wish it were more accessible. 

Most of us can remember the first time we tried out for the swim team or attempted a new underwater sport. DIP wants to serve as that invitation for everyone in the Denver region to see what aquatics are all about. 

We are thrilled for the opportunities the DIP facility will bring to our community: teaching water safety for Colorado families, and offering healing spaces for individuals looking to rehabilitate with the benefits of aquatic therapy. The facility has the potential for the Denver region to host regional and national competitions, providing high-elevation training for international athletes. 

Everyone, of all ages and ability, are truly welcome. 

Consider yourself invited.
