Madras youth scholarship fund announced

KIDS in the GAME and BendBroadband have teamed up this holiday season to bring more children in Madras access to positive youth sports programs.

KIDS in the GAME, a non-profit organization that inspires kids to thrive in life through sports, will administer a $7,000 donation BendBroadband made to the Madras Aquatics Center (MAC) in a ceremony Wednesday, to create a scholarship fund for under-privileged youth in Jefferson County. The donation, part of BendBroadband’s annual ‘Holiday Giving Fund’, will support hundreds of children in need, and allow low-income families the opportunity to gain access to youth sports programs provided at MAC.

Carolyn Harvey, Operations Manager at the MAC, noted the scholarship program’s significance, “With 85 percent of the population in Jefferson County below the poverty line, plus 29 percent of the population considered obese, the need for programs andopportunities that promote healthy lifestyles is paramount. The MAC is trying very hard to make our community a more healthy place for everyone. Thank you to BendBroadband and KIDS in the GAME for supporting our efforts.”

Through the partnership with KIDS in the GAME, BendBroadband is able to expand their holiday giving impact by creating and applying a sustainable youth sports scholarship program at the Madras Aquatic Center. “We are excited to have the opportunity to implement such a great program in Madras, and truly impact the community as a whole,” says KIDS in the GAME Founder John Ballantine. “At KIDS in the GAME, we look forward to supporting great youth sports organizations like the Madras Aquatic Center, and are honored to work with outstanding community partners like BendBroadband.”

For BendBroadband, Wednesday’s donation reflects its dedication to help strengthen the Madras community. From bringing high speed internet access to Madras businesses and residents with the recent completion of the Broadband Opportunities Program, to partnering with KIDS in the GAME to provide enrichment programs to children and families, BendBroadband’s CEO Amy Tykeson understands the importance of giving back.

“There is no investment more important than youth. BendBroadband applauds the teamwork of KIDS in the GAME and the Madras Aquatic Center. All of us at BendBroadband are proud to be part of this positive program to get kids involved and active. This initiative will change lives,” said Tykeson.