Vancouver, BC – December 4, 2025 – KidSport has launched its 14th annual Give the Gift of Sport campaign, calling on British Columbians to donate this holiday season to help break down financial barriers for children seeking to play organized sport in 2026. The campaign, which launched on November 24, runs until January 5, 2026.
This year, KidSport aims once again to raise $1 million through donor support across Canada, and specifically $200,000 to support kids here in BC.
Sport is an invaluable part of many children’s lives and a powerful tool for social development—one that teaches life lessons and can change the course of a child’s life. But the cost of registration fees is a considerable barrier for many families, and participating in organized sport simply isn’t an option without financial assistance to help cover those costs.
Over the past two years, KidSport has seen an unprecedented surge in demand for financial assistance, with grant totals doubling between 2022 and 2024, which placed a significant strain on the organization’s financial resources. In some communities that has led chapters to decrease the amount of funding available per child to ensure support can reach as many families as possible.
“I am so inspired by the incredible impact that sport has on kids across British Columbia and am proud of the role that KidSport plays in helping to make those opportunities possible for kids in our province,” said Angela Crowther, Director of KidSport BC. “We’re so grateful to the donors and community partners who have stepped up over the past few years to help us meet a rapidly growing demand for support. But the need continues, and donor support is critical to ensure we can keep saying ‘yes’ to families who rely on us.”
For so many kids, sport is more than just a game. It provides much-needed structure, helps build confidence, fosters a sense of belonging, and, perhaps most importantly, brings joy. But youth from lower income households are participating in sport at lower rates and for shorter durations each year, highlighting cost as a key barrier, which makes the funding offered by KidSport so critical.
“KidSport is a national organization with local impact. Donations help fund a season of sport for a child in need in your local community,” says Crowther. “Every gift, big or small, truly makes a difference and can have a significant impact on a child’s life.”
Donations made to KidSport can be directed to your local community to help fund a season of sport for kids where you live, and most donations are eligible to receive a tax receipt. To learn more about the campaign, or donate, visit KidSportCanada.ca/GiftofSport.
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About KidSport BC
The KidSport program aims to remove financial barriers to sport participation by providing grants to help cover the costs of registration fees. The program is intended to help increase participation numbers for Sport BC members and their local clubs by providing grants to help cover the costs of sport registration fees so more children and youth can experience the joy of a season of sport. KidSport is a Registered Canadian Amateur Athletic Association (“RCAAA”) with charitable status and can issue tax receipts to donors. Learn more at kidsportcanada.ca/british-columbia or follow us @KidSportBC.
About Sport BC
Sport BC believes in the power of sport and is committed to building stronger communities through positive sport experiences for the 815,000 amateur sport participants in British Columbia. Our goal is to enhance and support sport participation in British Columbia, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Through our members and our signature initiatives KidSport BC, BC Amateur Sport Fund, and BC Women & Sport along with our services Sport BC Insurance, and Payroll and Group Benefits; Sport BC supports our seventy-eight member organizations consisting of Provincial, Multi, and Disability Sport Organizations. Learn more at sportbc.com or follow us @SportBC.
Media contacts:
Allison Mailer Angela Crowther
Vice President, Operations Sport BC KidSport BC, Director
[email protected] [email protected]
778-839-8576 604-839-3551