Vegas Ball Drive, Year Three

 

 

Greater Youth Sports Association 

 

 

 

 

Las Vegas, Nevada December 2022 – Greater Youth Sports Association (GYSA) a 501(c)(3) non-profit, serving at-risk elementary-age youth in Southern Nevada, will be hosting their 3rd Annual Holiday Ball Drive on December 17th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. In addition to being a family-friendly holiday event, this fundraiser seeks to collect sports balls for at-risk and fostered youth while raising funds for GYSA’s afterschool sports and character development program.

 

The event launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as a contactless ball drive to collect youth-sized sports balls for at-risk children while they were stuck at home. In its first year the event was a success and collected hundreds of balls that were distributed before the Christmas holiday.

 

The event has since grown exponentially thanks to community support and partnerships. During the 2021 Holiday Ball Drive, community partner, Las Vegas Sports Realtors, in collaboration with UNLV Football player, Marcus Phillips Jr., pledged to donate 100 balls. This contribution along with support of the local community and Las Vegas entrepreneurs Phase 1 Sports, Legends N Making, and ElevateNowBrands, helped GYSA collect nearly 600 balls.

 

This year GYSA returns in partnership with Las Vegas Sports Realtors and a goal of collecting 2,000 balls and raising $25,000 in funding. The family-friendly event will be hosted at the new Phase 1 Elitetraining facility and will include: a Kids Sports Combine Course, Raffle Prizes, Free Tacos for the first 75 people to donate 2+ balls, Player Appearances, Autograph Signings, Raiders Fan Bus, Bestie Photo Booth, Hot Cocoa & Treats and the Rebel Den Pop Up Shop.

 

Community partners for the 3rd Annual Ball Drive include Las Vegas Sports Realtors, Gaudin Ford, Phase 1 Elite, Highlands Residential Mortgage, and New York Life.

 

Join GYSA and its community partners on December 17th, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Phase 1 Elite, 2015 E Windmill Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89123. GYSA will be collecting NEW youth-sized basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, volleyballs, and baseballs. Monetary donations will also be collected in-person, or can be made online at: https://greateryouthsportsnv.org/ball-drive.

 

To become a community partner, please contact Sarah Goitz at [email protected].

 

ABOUT GYSA: GYSA, which was founded in 2018, has accomplished much over its short life. The organization’s Founders believe that cost should never be the reason a child does not participate in sports. Sadly, this is the reality for 7 out of 10 low-income students across the nation. Over the last several years GYSA has grown its program through 30 local elementary schools, been named an NYSS Champion by the ODPHP and the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition, and have provided thousands of at-risk children with afterschool sports programming, educational support, character development, and social emotional support.