In just a short period of time the KIDS FIRST program has had a major impact. In co-operation with Athletic Director Ken Barreras and all the APS high school athletic directors, KIDS FIRST was able to promote an agreement that all athletic fees will be waived for Title 1 homeless children, saving the Title 1 program some $350,000. In its first Holiday gift drive the group donated 110 soccer and
basketballs to the homeless children, and this year the donations went up to 460 sports- related gifts. In a Cleats for Kids Program with the Jewish Community Center, some 60 slightly used soccer cleats were donated to the YDI South Valley Soccer League. In its first SPORTSFEST, the staff hosted some 75 third graders at Whittier Elementary School, exposing them to several games and sports. Coach Pete Gibson's basketball team received all new shoes for the 2013 season and 45 kids from Washington Middle School and Freedom High received 45 tickets to the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. Over 60 dozen t-shirts, shorts, pants, visors and caps were also donated. All of these projects were accomplished with strong partnerships with organizations like the APS Title 1 Homeless Program, Civitan Clubs, JCC, Tickets for Joy, Gardenswartz Team Sales, Zia Graphics, the Soccer Connection, and the House of Soccer. New partnerships are currently being forged with Molina Health Care, The Southwest Women's Law Center, Albuquerque Public Schools and the APS Foundation and the University of New Mexico Athletic Dept. In the future, KIDS FIRST hopes to partner with these groups to run an incentive program for elementary school children to encourage them to participate in sports, stay in school, have a healthy life style and improve their academics. A new Speakers Program is being organized to provide some of New Mexico's best amateur and professional athletes as speakers at these schools and organizations to testify as to the impact sports and academics had on their lives. With over 7000 homeless children in the APS system and thousands more Title 1 children, the mission can be overwhelming, but New Mexico Sports Inc and KIDS FIRST is determined to make a difference. Contact us if you want to help us put a smile on the face of a child.
