NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today
ESPN and Under Armour, in collaboration with the Local Initiatives
Support Corporation (LISC) - one of the nation's leading community
development finance institutions - launched a new initiative
called RePlay. The program's ultimate goal is to revitalize
and transform vacant lots into places where communities can come
together for sports, recreation and play.
RePlay seeks to help local residents in three cities plan
and implement revitalization projects that transform vacant spaces
into safe, quality places for youth and community. The initiative
will direct over $400,000 in grants
to local organizations that will plan and execute projects that
create safe recreation spaces to exercise and play on currently
vacant lots. The program will award $10,000 planning grants and up to $75,000 implementation grants to help groups
working to revitalize vacant spaces in Philadelphia, Los
Angeles and Baltimore.
Organizations can apply for grant funding starting today at
http://www.lisc.org/our-initiatives/health/sports-recreation/espn-replay.
The application deadline is May 15,
2018. Vacant lots in neighborhoods present great
opportunities to provide access to safe, healthy recreation spaces
in communities. LISC will identify projects and provide technical
assistance to local residents and community groups. Additionally,
the organization will assist them from the predevelopment and
construction phases to project completion with funding provided by
ESPN and Under Armour.
"Too many children aren't able to participate in sports due to
the lack of access to safe places to play for underserved youth,"
said Kevin Martinez, vice president
of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. "ESPN is excited to team up with
Under Armour and LISC through the RePlay program to help
improve access so that everyone can get involved and realize the
benefits of sport."
LISC President and CEO, Maurice A.
Jones said the RePlay Program is aligned with LISC's
longstanding efforts to transform vacant spaces into safe,
recreational, sports and play infrastructure in communities
throughout the country. "Good recreational spaces are significant
threads in the social fabric of healthy communities," he said. "Our
collaboration with ESPN and Under Armour gives us an opportunity to
make those communities better and stronger."
"At Under Armour we believe innovation should be encouraged
everywhere – including in our communities," said Stacey Ullrich, senior director of
Global Philanthropy. "We're thrilled to join forces with ESPN
and LISC to ignite innovation and bring the joy of sport and
recreation to our communities. Because we all know that sport
can inspire, unite and maybe even change the world."
About ESPN Corporate Citizenship
ESPN believes that,
at its very best, sports uplift 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.
About LISC
LISC equips struggling communities with
the capital, program strategy and know-how to become places where
people can thrive. It combines corporate, government and
philanthropic resources. Since 1980, LISC has invested $ 17.3 billion to build or rehab 366,000
affordable homes and apartments and develop 61 million square feet
of retail, community and educational space—including athletic
facilities and other recreational space. For more, visit
www.lisc.org.
About Under Armour
Under Armour, Inc.,
headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland is a leading
innovator, marketer and distributor of branded performance athletic
apparel, footwear and accessories. Designed to make all athletes
better, the brand's innovative products are sold worldwide to
consumers with active lifestyles. The company's Connected Fitness™
platform powers the world's largest digitally
connected health and fitness community. For further
information, please visit www.uabiz.com.
Contacts: Diane Lamb
(ESPN)
860-766-2245
Diane.lamb@espn.com
Beverly Smith (LISC)
212-455-9881
bsmith@lisc.org
Amanda Kim (Under
Armour)
443-691-6190
akim@underarmour.com
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SOURCE LISC