NEW YORK, Aug. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In lower-income households, nearly 1 in 5 parents report a decrease in their child's school sports participation due to cost. ¹ One major reason is the equipment is too expensive. That's why DoSomething.org, the largest organization for young people and social change, and ESPN are teaming up a for third year to run the nation's largest youth-led sports equipment drive through a campaign called Game-Winning Drive.

Whether you're donating one ball or a stadium's worth of gear, you're joining DoSomething's members who've donated over 44,000 pieces of gear since 2015.

Now through September 30, participants can visit DoSomething.org/game to learn how to run a sports equipment drive in various communities. Participants will be given tips on how to run a successful drive as well as a location finder with local recreation centers and afterschool programs that are accepting donations.

"Sports are more than just a recreational activity, they are effective tools in making change, at the personal, local, or national level." said Aria Finger, CEO and Chief Old Person at DoSomething.org.  "Participation in sports has so many benefits and can improve a young person's health, leadership qualities, performance in school, and self-confidence. We're thrilled to partner with ESPN for a third year in an effort to get even more young people the equipment they need."

Young people who sign up for the campaign and upload a photo of the sports equipment they collect will be able to enter a drawing to win a $5,000 scholarship.

"At ESPN, we're committed to improving access to sports so that every child can get involved and realize the many benefits of sports," said Kevin Martinez, vice president of Corporate Citizenship at ESPN. "We are proud to work with DoSomething.org to inspire youth to take action and get equipment to kids who need it most."

For more information about the Game-Winning Drive campaign, click here.

About DoSomething.org 
DoSomething.org is the largest tech company exclusively for young people and social change. We're activating 5.5 million young people (and counting!) to make positive change, online and off, in every US area code and in over 131 countries. When you join DoSomething.org, you join something bigger than yourself. You team up with the young people who have clothed half of America's youth in homeless shelters. And cleaned up 3.7 million cigarette butts from the streets. And run the largest youth-led sports equipment drive in the world. And more! You've got the power and the passion to make an impact -- we'll help you get it done.

About ESPN Corporate Citizenship
ESPN believes that, at its very best, sports uplifts the human spirit. Its corporate citizenship programs use power of sport to positively address society's needs through strategic community investments, cause marketing programs, collaboration with sports organizations and employee volunteerism, while also utilizing its diverse media assets. For more information go to www.espn.com/citizenship.

¹  Pay-to-play sports keeping lower-income kids out of the game. (2012, May 14). Retrieved July 24, 2017, from http://www.mottnpch.org/reports-surveys/pay-play-sports-keeping-lower-income-kids-out-game

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SOURCE DoSomething.org