Nike - Sport Venture Examples


	Play it 4ward Play it 4ward was founded by six team members in 2007, and now includes over 30 volunteers who use education, sports and entertainment to change lives and keep youth and young adults out of trouble. Play it 4ward targets underserved and underprivileged youth in the Indianapolis community by educating and empowering them through fitness, sports clinics, tournaments, mentoring, entrepreneurship, and self development workshops.
	Play For Health In 2007, Enrique launched Play For Health as a way to improve the East Palo Alto community health through athletics, artistic enrichment and collaboration. Play For Health leverages the population of NCAA Division 1 athletes by engaging youth to play novel sports like volleyball, min-soccer, or create health themed public artwork alongside Stanford University’s scholar-athletes.
	Suncook Valley Sports Swap Nick launched the Suncook Valley Sports Swap in order to raise money for “Sportships” to help families with the costs of playing organized team sports. Through equipment swaps and sales, Nick and five other teenage team members have already provided over $300 in sportships to families in their New Hampshire community.

	Oscar Sports Club Through his “Oscar Sports Club” Ashok brought 25 at-risk teenage boys who had dropped out of school together to learn and play soccer twice a week. Then, after one month of practice, Ashok informed the participants that, from now on, all members had to return to school in order to maintain their Oscar Sports Club membership. Those that did not study could no longer play. Within days, each of the 25 members returned to school. Ashok continues to expand the club.
	Brazil Gender Equality Larissa felt the need to fight against gender discrimination in her favela and support the right for women to play soccer. She empowers women ages 12-25 by providing lessons as well as giving girls a place to play the game they love.
	Futbol Recreativo Competitivo Futbol Recreativo Competitivo was launched by Liana in order to provide local youth the opportunity to play soccer and keep them safe from the streets of Culmore, VA. Liana has teamed up with both George Mason University and Hispanics Against Child Abuse and Neglect in building a safe environment for Hispanic youth and guiding then towards scholarship opportunities.

	Take a Swing Ariella launched Take a Swing,Inc. in order to launch an Atlanta-based tennis program for children from disadvantaged neighborhoods. Combining strategy and fitness, the program helps children build strength and self-confidence. In June 2008, Take a Swing,Inc. was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization, and soon after ran a three week, USTA-backed tennis camp for children from the Latin American Association.
	Tennis for Fun Since its founding in 2001 by Laura and Peter, Tennis for Fun has grown to include eight college students in Massachusetts and four high school students in Maine. The program was designed to bring the game of tennis to developmentally disabled individuals through free weekly tennis clinics. Tennis for Fun exposes participants to previously inaccessible activity, imparts knowledge, builds confidence, and promotes interactions between the disabled and non-disabled.

	Team Ultimate Founded in 2006 by Kayla and Amanda, Team Ultimate has used the game of ultimate Frisbess to capitalize on the importance of team work, self-respect, self confidence, and athleticism among young girls. For periods of 8 weeks at a Girls Inc. of Worchester, MA, Team Ultimate holds weekly team-building sessions for inner city preadolescent girls.

	Running for a Reason Katie and Julia founded Running for a Reason in order to address a community need for time, financial support, and awareness of hospice care for children and families. Running for a Reason is a running club that organizes fundraisers to benefit Hospice of the Valley in Santa Clara County, and enjoys the support of several prominent advisors, including Nike-sponsored distance runner Lauren Fleshman.

	Wild and Water Swimming Laura founded Wild and Water Swimming in order to provide low income children with free swimming and water safety lessons. The organization had been able to serve 136 low income kids across the Atlanta area as well as enlist over 50 youth members of the swimming community in consistent volunteer service. Wild and Water Swimming will be expanding to new Orleans in September 2008, and plans to expand to Mobile Al and Pensacola, FL in 2009.

	Teatro CPA – Corpo, Postura e Ação Theater BPA – Body, Posture and Action: Brazil’s São Mateus suburb has a population of 381,605 people, many of whom lack adequate access to culture, sport and leisure. Teatro CPA was formed in order to create a theater company that will present plays in the region’s public schools that alert the audience to a variety of resources available in the community.
	Procurando Dons Searching for Talents: Procurando Dons was founded in order to create a space within the “Jardim da Conquista” community in Brazil for leisure, expression, and culture. Much of the community’s youth are exposed to violence on a daily basis, and don’t have access to positive outlets for their energies. Procurando Dons aims to provide this space, with a focus on the Hip Hop Movement as a means of constructing knowledge and citizenship.