Developing Champions:
20 More Years
Play Like a Champion believes sports build character, teach teamwork, and foster resilience. Our mission is to ensure every child, especially those in economically distressed communities, has the opportunity to play and grow through safe, supportive, and developmentally appropriate athletic programs.
I am such a believer in the Play Like a Champion program. Have been for a long time and a big supporter of it. Young people may forget their teachers, but they will never forget their coach."
Mike Brey Assistant Coach for Atlanta Hawks,
former Notre Dame Men’s Basketball Coach
Launching October 1st, our three-year, $2 million campaign will expand our reach and deepen our impact. With your support, we will:
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ENSURE EVERY CHILD HAS A TEAM and the opportunity to grow into a champion.
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FUND TWO KEY STAFF POSITIONS to expand and sustain our mission.
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BRING PROGRAMS TO NEW CITIES where needs are urgent and resources are scarce. ​
Campaign Goals and Timeline
Ways to Give
There are many options to support Play Like a Champion and help fulfill our mission:
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Online Giving: Use the secure portal on this page for flexible giving and account management.
Cash or Check: Gifts by cash or check address immediate needs. Checks can be made to Play Like a Champion Today with Campaign listed in the memo.​​
Gifts of Securities: Donate stocks, bonds, or mutual funds and avoid capital gains tax (contact Kristin at kristin.sheehan@playlikeachampion.org).
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Direct Qualified Charitable Distribution from Retirement Accounts: Satisfy required minimum distributions and lower tax liability.
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Planned Gifts: Bequests, life insurance, real estate, and beneficiary designations can advance your charitable and estate goals.
We encourage you to consider an initial payment of 10% to 20% to begin your commitment, ensuring we can start helping more children immediately.
When You Give, You Join Our Team
Your generosity does more than support our mission – it welcomes you as an essential member of our team. By giving, you stand with those working to help every child become a champion. Together, we can transform youth sports into a source of opportunity accessible for all. As we celebrate 20 years of nurturing young champions, we invite you to invest in the next generation, ensuring every child, regardless of background, has the chance to grow, lead, and thrive.
We're Coming to a City Near You!
To celebrate the launch of our campaign, we’re hosting a series of high-energy events in cities across the country. Each event centers around a great sports experience while sharing how this mission is changing the future for thousands of kids who have no access to sports and are faced with the consequences of poverty and violence. Click the cities below to find an event near you!
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Play Like a Champion's first donation to Boxing Out Negativity was like a tear of joy. One of the most impactful donations. We grew from a program to a family. Words cannot express the love that I have for Play Like a Champion, which is our champion.
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Derek Brown​, Boxing Out Negativity
Why Now?
The equity gap in youth sports continues to widen, leaving countless children vulnerable to cycles of poverty and violence. For children growing up in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, poverty touches every aspect of life – limiting access to quality education, nutritious meals, safe housing, and supportive community networks. These barriers contribute to higher rates of chronic stress, mental health challenges, and diminished physical well-being, while too many young people face unsafe environments without positive outlets for growth.
Without intervention, poverty can pass from one generation to the next, with children more likely to experience academic setbacks and reduced social mobility. Yet organized sports can be more than a game. They can be a critical safety net. They offer mentorship, teamwork, and confidence. They provide safe spaces and trusted role models. They nurture resilience and hope for a brighter future.
The work ahead is urgent. Now is the time to ensure that youth sports are not just a privilege reserved for the few, but a pathway of opportunity, belonging and growth for all!
Our History
Founded in 2006 at the University of Notre Dame, Play Like a Champion has grown into a nationally recognized force addressing the equity gap in youth sports. The program was born out of the vision of Dr. Clark Power, a Notre Dame professor of psychology and education, who combined his love of sports, deep commitment to child advocacy, and expertise in moral development to respond to troubling trends in youth sports:
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Escalating costs shutting out families
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Pursuing wins at the expense of development, leaving too many children on the sidelines
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An unhealthy culture fueled by overzealous coaches and parents
Play Like a Champion Today Educational Series Developed
With the support of fellow faculty, coaches, and administrators, Power developed the Play Like a Champion Today Educational Series, a curriculum rooted in sports science and educational research. What began as a campus initiative soon became a national movement as the program partnered with schools and sports organizations across the country to bring its mission to life.
Expanding its Reach
After more than a decade at Notre Dame, Play Like a Champion became an independent 501(c)(3) and expanded its reach, serving high-risk communities and advocating for wider youth sports access. Over the past 20 years, we have partnered with more than 280 schools and sports organizations across the country – from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America to the North Lawndale Athletic and Recreation Association in Chicago and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles schools – building a broad network committed to the same vision.
Who We Serve
Today, as our community and impact continue to grow, Play Like a Champion remains steadfast in our mission: to ensure every child has the opportunity to play in a safe, supportive, and joyful environment — one where they can thrive as athletes and as individuals.
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Play Like a Champion serves all children and families within economically distressed neighborhoods, offering access to sports programs as both a safety net and a ladder out of poverty. Our reach spans high-risk cities and vulnerable youth populations nationwide.
