Aida Campbell, president of Lake Howell Pop Warner (a recent youth league recipient of a HKPS donation), was kind enough to share this photo.

"Below is a copy of the letter we received from the six year old of this family...I wanted to share it with you so that you can experience first hand the impact that you are having by helping us to help our families.  It truly tugs at your heart strings," stated Campbell. The young athletes request was granted thanks to the supporters of HKPS.

Everywhere you go, the ever increasing cost of participation youth sports along with life events and circumstances might keep a young athlete off the field and out of the game. Please consider a tax-deductible donation today to help support young athletes like the one who wrote this letter.  Help kids play sports!

Above: Letter from 6 year-old requesting a "scholarship." The request was granted.

L to R: Lance Ragland, co-founder of HKPS, presents a check to Aida Campbell, president of LH Pop Warner and Robin Neill, cheer comissioner.

Lance Ragland, vice president of HelpKidsPlaySports.org (HKPS) proudly presented Lake Howell Pop Warner Football & Cheer with a donation of $500. The funds were given to help waive expenses for deserving kids who want to participate in football or cheer, but are finding it difficult to pay.

The Hawks are part of the Pop Warner Youth football and cheer program and a member of the Mid Florida Division. As posted on their website, "Pop Warner isn't just about tackling, scoring, cheering, or tumbling, it's about being a part of something bigger...a place where families and friendships can grow. Pop Warner strives to help young athletes develop fundamental values such as strength, character, commitment and dedication."

This donation is made possible by supporters of HKPS--donations like these are a result of their generosity and support.

Help Kids Play Sports!

Tom Sweitzer, Director of the Orlando Tennis Centre & Kevin Masih, HKPS founder.

HelpKidsPlaySports.org (HKPS) presented Tom Sweitzer, USPTA Master Pro & Director of the Orlando Tennis Centre with a check for $500 for the Orlando Community & Youth Trust for the purpose of providing free tennis lessons to kids. Last year, Tom's tennis outreach program gave free lessons to thousands of children ages 6-12 in our area. Tom anticipates giving free lessons to 3,000 children this year.

The first of these lessons will be during the USTA $10,000 Women's Pro Circuit Tournament held at historic Orlando Tennis Centre March 17-22. Last years event featured players from 24 different countries and included free tennis lessons for local youth and Special Olympic athletes. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Orlando Community & Youth Trust which funds the free tennis lesson program.

The 2014 winner, CiCi Bellis, pulled off a major upset at the U.S. Open and finished the year as the No. 1 junior in the world. Attendance is free. Go see future women tennis stars in action and help kids play sports. For information call Tom Sweitzer at 407-246-4469.

The 2015 HelpKidsPlaySports.org (HKPS) Online February Fundraising Blitz has begun. Donate today!

Last year, HKPS raised over $7,000 that helped about 70 kids participate in various youth leagues and programs. Without these funds, they may not have been able to participate. HKPS hopes to raise over $15,000 in 2015 starting with the online fundraising blitz. "The donations we make to various youth sports leagues to help waive league fees for kids is made possible by donations from our supporters and various fundraisers," stated Kevin Masih, HKPS founder.

"We thank each an everyone who supported us last year and hope to grow that support in 2015. It is our promise to continue our mission and help more and more deserving kids get and stay in the game."

Double Down Owner Terri King (top left), Double Down Owner Shawn Foster (top right), Lance Ragland (bottom left, HKPS co-founder), Kevin Masih (bottom right, HKPS founder) pictured with Double Down Athletes.

HelpKidsPlaySports.org (HKPS) proudly presented Double Down Athletics with a donation of $500. The funds were given to help waive expenses for deserving kids who want to train, but are finding it difficult to pay.

Double Down coaches train and coach boys and girls in gymnastics, tumbling, aerial arts, dance & cheer. For more information go to their website at www.doubledownathletics.com or call (407) 365-8021. Double Down Athletics helps hundreds of young athletes reach their goals.

This donation is made possible by supporters of HKPS--donations like these are a result of their generosity and support.

Help Kids Play Sports!

James Rudolph, co-founder of HKPS, presents Courtney Mullins, president of WSBL,  with a donation of $500 to help waive league fees for deserving kids.

HelpKidsPlaySports.org (HKPS) proudly presented Courtney Mullins, president of WSBL Sunshine Youth Sports, with a donation of $500. The funds were given to help waive fees for deserving kids who want to play basketball but can't afford to pay. The WSBL serves about 800 families and players. Courtney and her husband Chris, run the Northeast Orlando league.

The WSBL – Sunshine Youth Basketball League offers organized league play for children in grades K – 12. The WSBL is in partnership with the City of Winter Springs Parks and Recreation Sports Program. In addition, the WSBL are partners with the Orlando Magic Jr. Magic program and Jr. NBA/WNBA. League play is offered during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. For more information, go to www.WSBL.com .

The donation is made possible by supporters of HKPS--donations like these are a result of their generosity and support. Help Kids Play Sports!

L to R: Kevin Masih-HKPS founder, Stan Merrell-commisioner OLL, James Rudolph-HKPS co-founder, Lance Ragland-HKPS co-founder, Todd Cluxton-president OLL

HelpKidsPlaySports.org (HKPS) proudly presented Todd Cluxton and Stan Merrell, president and commissioner of Oviedo Little League (OLL) with a donation today of $500. The funds were given to help waive fees for deserving kids who want to play Little League but can't afford to pay. Oviedo Little League serves about 300-400 families and players.

For more information on Oviedo Little League Baseball & Softball, go to www.oviedolittleleague.com .

The donation is made possible by supporters of HKPS--donations like these are a result of their generosity and supprt. Help Kids Play Sports!

OBR board members with HKPS founder, Kevin Masih

HelpKidsPlaySports.org (HKPS) made a donation to Oviedo Babe Ruth Baseball & Softball (OBR) this week. The donation was made at a board meeting with OBR volunteers present. The $750 donation was made on behalf of HKPS board members and supporters. As with all HKPS donations, the funds are given to help waive fees for kids who are in need.

"OBR is one of the largest baseball & softball leagues in Florida and while they consistently produce state champions, they also have a reputation of great coaching and superb sportsmanship," stated Kevin Masih, HKPS president. "We are proud to support the league," added James Rudolph, HKPS co-founder. Lance Ragland, HKPS vice president elaborated, "We all love watching our kids play and we know how much our kids get out of team sports. We want to give that same experience to others." For more information on OBR go to www.oviedobaberuth.com.

Adults Pictured L to R: Lance Ragland, co-founder of HKPS; Roy Bova, Class Athlete founder; Kevin Masih, founder of HKPS. (Not pictured, James Rudolph, co-founder of HKPS)

This past weekend, HelpKidsPlaySports.org (HKPS) donated $500 to Class Athlete, to help kids who can't afford the league fees. The check was presented to Roy Bova, the founder and CEO of Class Athlete, Inc.

Bova founded the youth sports organization nearly six years ago, to create an outlet in the Casselberry/Winter Springs/Oviedo community. Roy now enjoys facilitating over 1,000 student athletes, with thousands of family and friends joining him every Saturday. Soccer, flag football, and basketball are offered at the youth and adult level.

His goal is to have a facility in Seminole County where student athletes can come to learn, be tutored, do homework and then play sports in a safe, fun and positive environment. For more information on Class Athlete, go to (www.classathlete.com).

The rain stayed away this past Friday night and about a 1,000 people came to watch the Sanford River Rats defeat the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs, 6-2. Aside from the baseball, one of the evenings highlights was watching about 100 kids run the bases between innings. Thank you River Rats for helping us with our FUNdraiser!

The Florida Collegiate Summer League (www.floridaleague.com) is a wood bat baseball league with six teams in Central Florida. Founded in 2003, the Florida League provides a valuable opportunity for college players to play wood bat baseball against top-level competition with the goal of preparing them for a career in professional baseball.

Next week is the playoffs with the top two teams playing a championship game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg! See the website for game times and locations.

Recently, over 100 golfers descended upon Deer Run Country Club in Casselberry, FL for the Annual Kevin Watson Memorial Golf Event. The nine-year event serves to to honor the man the tournament is named after.

Thanks to all the participants, $3,000 was donated to HKPS making the event our top fundraiser of the year. The proceeds from the event will help local kids play sports who might not otherwise be able to afford the league fees.

Lance & Keri Ragland have been running the event since its inception. Lance is also a co-founder of HelpKidsPlaySports.org (HKPS).

L to R: Kevin Masih, HKPS founder, William "Bud" Oliver, YMCA Executive Director, Lance Ragland, HKPS vice president & co-founder.

HelpKidsPlaySports.org (HKPS) proudly presented William "Bud" Oliver, the Executive Director of the Winter Park YMCA, with a donation today of $750. The funds were given to help waive fees for deserving kids who want to play in the Y sports programs but can't afford to pay.

The donation is made possible by supporters of HKPS--donations like these are a result of their generosity and supprt. Help Kids Play Sports!

L to R: Kevin Masih, HKPS founder; Brian Pederson, ACYS director; James Rudolph, HKPS co-founder (not pictured, Lance Ragland, HKPS co-founder).

On June 9, Brian Pederson, director of the Association of Christian Youth Sports (www.acys.org), accepted a donation from HelpKidsPlaySports.org (HKPS) in the amount of $500. The donation will be used to help waive participation fees for kids in need.

The ACYS has nearly 3,500 children who play in their programs. Soccer, basketball, flag football and lacrosse are offered.

Pederson has agreed to join HKPS as an associate member. For more information, go to www.acys.org.

Alex Lopez, PSP owner/trainer, second from left. Most of the participants of Sunday's Fitness FUNdraiser are pictured. Thanks to all who participated!

 A health conscious group gathered on Sunday, May 18 at Premier Sports Performance (PSP) in Longwood, FL to raise money for HelpKidsPlaySports.org (HKPS). Alex Lopez, owner of PSP, expertly energized and trained the group (ages 9-50) for well over an hour. Attendees were also given individual instruction on how to properly perform certain exercises, correcting improper technique that could lead to injury. For more information on PSP, go to www.premiersp.com.

Thanks to Alex and all the participants, HKPS raised enough money to help about 6 kids pay for league fees that they might not have been able to afford otherwise. Help kids play sports!

HKPS associates in attendance were James Rudolph, co-founder & treasurer as well as Jamie Yasko-Mangum, associate member.

Click below to see more photos...

HelpKidsPlaySports.org recently donated baseball gear to the Oviedo Challenger Baseball League. Jill Woodard, the league's vice president in charge of the league for kids with special needs, said the program allows children with all kinds of disabilities onto the field where they can play T-ball, or Coach-Pitch games with the help of volunteer "buddies." Should you be interested in donating baseball gear directly to the league or wish to learn more, please email Kathleen Williams at [email protected] or call Jill Woodard at 407-687-8464.