LEXINGTON PARK, MD, June, 2015 – Through their $2M commitment to non-profit Good Sports over the next two years, Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS) awarded Esperanza Middle School a Let’s Play equipment donation valued at $5,200. The donation will provide the school with softball gloves and chest protectors, along with basketballs, dodgeballs, stopwatches, and warm-up pants and jackets.
“We are pleased to support Esperanza Middle School with this grant from Let’s Play, part of our overall commitment to bringing play to life and ensuring that kids are able to make play a daily priority,” said Vicki Draughn, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Dr Pepper Snapple. “We hope that it will make a big difference to kids in the community and give them the equipment and gear they need to get in the game and get active.”
The donation is part of Let’s Play, a community partnership led by Dr Pepper Snapple to get kids and families active nationwide. Let’s Play provides the tools, places and inspiration to make play a daily priority. Through their partnership with Good Sports, an organization which provides donations of athletic gear, footwear and sports equipment to deserving organizations or communities, Let’s Play has committed $2M through 2016 to help kids become active through organized sports and fitness programs.
“Our partnership with Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Let’s Play will enable Good Sports to provide even more equipment to deserving youth across the country,” said Melissa Harper, CEO of Good Sports. “Together, we are thrilled to support Esperanza Middle School by providing the tools and resources they need to keep their children active, healthy, and happy.”
The physical education department of Esperanza Middle School strives to offer as much physical activity as possible despite having to source all funding for the department through fundraising by the staff or grants. Teachers are working to implement a morning P.E. program that will allow homeroom classes to begin their day with a variety of fitness activities, ranging from basketball to yoga.
Esperanza health and physical education teacher, Lisa Clow, the creator of the Morning P.E. program, will use this donation to “add more activity into our school day and according to worldwide studies, bolster our student’s brain infrastructure.”
Studies show that in addition to the obvious benefits of regular activity, kids who participate in sports enjoy better nutritional awareness and improved self-esteem. However, kids also need the proper equipment to enjoy these benefits. Through the Let’s Play initiative, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Good Sports will equip 2 million kids around the nation with the tools to play.
Visit Let’s Play at www.LetsPlay.com to join the conversation and learn how to apply for the s available grants to make communities more active and playful.
About Let’s Play
Let’s Play is an initiative launched in 2011 by Dr Pepper Snapple Group to provide the tools, places and inspiration to make play a daily priority. By 2017, DPS will provide nearly 10 million children across North America with new opportunities to play and be active through Let’s Play. Working in partnership with the nonprofit organizations KaBOOM! and Good Sports, Let’s Play engages community organizations, thought leaders, elected officials and DPS employees to help eliminate the ‘play deficit’ by building and improving playspaces and providing grants for athletic equipment and gear. For more information, please visit LetsPlay.com or Facebook.com/LetsPlay.
About Dr Pepper Snapple Group
Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) is a leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. Our success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. We have 6 of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and 13 of our 14 leading brands are No. 1 or No. 2 in their flavor categories. In addition to our flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, our portfolio includes 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Clamato, Crush, Hawaiian Punch, Mott’s, Mr & Mrs T mixers, Peñafiel, Rose’s, Schweppes, Squirt and Sunkist soda. To learn more about our iconic brands and Plano, Texas-based company, please visit www.DrPepperSnapple.com. For our latest news and updates, follow us at www.Facebook.com/DrPepperSnapple or www.Twitter.com/DrPepperSnapple.
About Good Sports
Good Sports helps lay the foundation for healthy, active lifestyles by providing athletic equipment, footwear and apparel to disadvantaged young people nationwide. By partnering with sporting goods manufacturers, Good Sports gets crucial equipment to kids who need it most, getting them in the game. Since 2003, Good Sports has provided more than $12 million worth of equipment to more than 1,800 youth programs, impacting millions of kids. Good Sports has also been awarded a coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest charity evaluator, for sound fiscal management, transparency and accountability; is a Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance accredited charity; and is listed on Social Impact Exchange’s S&I 100, an index of top American nonprofits creating meaningful social impact. For more information on how you can support Good Sports, please visit www.goodsports.org
About Esperanza Middle School
Esperanza Middle School offers a wide variety of academic programs and services, and is small enough to maintain an atmosphere of friendliness, helpfulness, and personalized service for students in sixth through eighth grade. The curriculum is balanced with science, social studies, world language, and the unified arts to ensure that all rising students are well prepared for the rigors of high school. To learn more, please visit http://schools.smcps.org/ems/.
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