Program Areas

Previous Partnerships

ESPN RePlay

The RePlay Program was a national effort led by ESPN and LISC with the purpose and goal of revitalizing vacant lots into places for sports, recreation and play. With financial support from ESPN and Under Armour, along with technical assistance from LISC, RePlay provided grants to local community-based groups and other qualified organizations for planning and support of early stage projects, support of capital improvements and to close funding gaps for projects that were in the implementation phase of projects. The goal of the ESPN RePlay Program was to repurpose vacant or underutilized spaces and increase access to quality recreation opportunities in low to moderate income neighborhoods.

Impact

  • 33 awards total
  • 11 implementation grants
  • 22 planning grants

The work in action

  • In 2018, ESPN Replay Program provided a $75,000 City Neighbors Charter School to assist with the construction of the Malone Children Memorial Playground on a vacant lot in Baltimore, Maryland.

    In January 2017, members of the City Neighbors family suffered an unimaginable tragedy. The Malone Family Fire led to the loss of six of the family’s nine children-two of whom were students at the City Neighbors Charter School. One such act of generosity was a donation by JP Morgan Chase of the land next to City Neighbors Charter School current play space. They razed a vacant house that was the source of great distress to the community for the past three years on the property and deeded the land to City Neighbors for the creation of a memorial play space in honor of the Malone Children.

    The generous gift of land allowed City Neighbors Charter School to create a pocket park to serve children and families for many years to come and in honor of the Malone children who had lost their lives.

ESPN Home Court

The LISC/ESPN Home Court Program was a collaboration between ESPN and LISC that provided non-profit, neighborhood-based organizations, middle schools and high schools with financing and technical assistance to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of local basketball courts in selected markets. Basketball courts serve as tremendous community assets because they offer opportunities for recreation and relaxation that contribute to the local health and quality of life, especially for young people. 

Impact

  • 29 furbished basketball courts

The work in action

  • In 2016, ESPN Home Court Program provide a grant award in the amount of $25,000 to The Warriors Community Foundation to refurbish one indoor and three outdoor basketball courts at Oakland’s Lincoln Square Recreation Center.

    The Warriors Community Foundation – the philanthropic arm of the Golden State Warriors worked with the Good Tidings Foundation and Oakland Parks & Recreation to replace some sections of the indoor court, entirely resurfaced the three outdoor courts, and installed new hoop and pole systems at the Lincoln Square Center. Over 200 Oakland youth, ages 6-18, had the opportunity to interact with the 2013-14 NBA MVP Kevin Durant during basketball clinics on the four newly renovated basketball courts, led by Warriors Basketball Camp staff.

Under Armour Facility Improvement Program

The Under Armour/LISC Facility Improvement Program was a partnership of Under Armour and LISC to provide select Baltimore City Schools with financing and technical assistance to meet unmet facility needs such as sports facility refurbishments (weight rooms, dance studios, etc.), sports field/court upgrades (refinishing a court, painting a gym, etc.), or school activity facilities upgrades (band practice room, STEM lab refurbishment, etc.).

Impact

  • 12 projects total