For the second year in a row, basketball courts in neighborhoods that struggle to attract capital will get major renovations, thanks to a partnership between ESPN and LISC. The endgame? More opportunities for better health and quality of life in communities that need them.
ESPN and LISC refurbish basketball courts in six communities nationwide
NEW YORK (January 13, 2017) – Basketball courts in six communities across the country will undergo major renovations thanks to a collaboration between Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and ESPN that’s focused on improving the quality, safety and accessibility of courts in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods.
The Home Court Program, launched by ESPN and LISC last year, has awarded $150,000 to upgrade basketball facilities in Cleveland; Detroit; Long Beach, CA; New York City; Oakland, CA; and San Antonio. It specifically targets communities that struggle to attract capital for improving athletic facilities and programs.
“Basketball courts can serve as tremendous neighborhood assets,” said Kevin Martinez, vice president of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. “They provide more young people with the ability to have access to sports, which ultimately contributes to better health and quality of life for those in the community.”
Last year, the program provided $125,000 in grants to community organizations for capital improvement projects in five cities.
LISC identifies local, nonprofit, community-based agencies that have an interest in building or refurbishing basketball courts in schools and neighborhood parks. Through the program, local agencies are provided with the necessary financing and technical assistance to improve the quality and safety of courts in their communities. The agencies oversee the construction, maintenance and programming of the courts.
LISC President and CEO Maurice Jones said the Home Court Program is consistent with LISC’s longstanding efforts to upgrade athletic fields in underserved communities throughout the country.
“Good recreational facilities are significant threads in the social fabric of healthy communities,” he said. “Our collaboration with ESPN gives us the opportunity to make those communities stronger and more resilient.”
For more information, visit LISC Sports & Recreation.
About ESPN Corporate Citizenship
ESPN believes that, at its very best, sports uplift the human spirit. Its corporate citizenship programs use power of sport to positively address society’s needs through strategic community investments, cause marketing programs, collaboration with sports organizations, and employee volunteerism, while also utilizing its diverse media assets. For more information go to www.espn.com/citizenship.
About LISC
LISC combines corporate, government and philanthropic resources to help nonprofit community development corporations revitalize distressed neighborhoods. Since 1980, LISC has raised more than $16.2 billion to build or rehab more than 348,000 affordable homes and develop 56 million square feet of retail, community and educational space nationwide. LISC support has leveraged nearly $48.5 billion in total development activity.