The EOCF is removing barriers for kids in underserved communities by covering registration fees, supplying equipment, funding local programs, and supporting inclusive, educational environments. This happens through long-term investments and partnerships with organizations like KidSport, Sport Central, Free Play for Kids, and the Hockey Alberta Foundation.

RELEASE: EOCF invests $21 million in Every Kid Deserves a Shot

Free Play for Kids, a delivery partner of Every Kid Deserves a Shot, offers after-school programs that create accessible and inclusive spaces where kids are not only free to play but also empowered to build confidence and grow, says Tim Adams, Founder and Executive Director of Free Play for Kids.

“Today, we reach nearly 4,500 kids and families a year,” said Adams. “You look around the city today, you feel the amount of need that’s out there, and that need is just a place to feel like you belong. A place where we can experience care, compassion and friendship, where it doesn’t matter where you come from, what you look like or who you love. That’s what sport, when it’s done well, does. It creates community.”

“Ever since I heard about the Oilers, I wanted to play hockey,” said Michael Katua, a member of Free to Play and the U11 North Ball Hockey Team. “Since I joined this team, I’ve been working hard and helping my teammates. It’s been a pleasure to play with them.”

According to Janna Tominuk, CEO of Sport Central, funding from the EOCF’s Every Kid Deserves a Shot initiative has helped distribute more than 40,000 pieces of equipment to kids who need it most. She noted that demand for no-cost sports equipment continues to grow, with a 74 per cent increase over the past two years.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without the foundation’s investment in opportunity, hope and inclusion, because every kid deserves a shot,” said Tominuk. “The impact of Sport Central doesn’t end with every child, but it ripples through families. Every stick, every helmet, every skate leads to a story and creates lifelong memories.”