Power of Sports | A Field to Call Home - Fields & Futures
 
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A Field to Call Home

IGNITING SUCCESS – One field, one coach, one student at a time.

An inspiration behind the creation of Power of Sports, Fields & Futures is a 501(c)3 charitable organization based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – and a real time example of what’s possible when a community identifies a need and moves to act on it.

Founded by local residents Liz and Tim McLaughlin, Fields & Futures was created in 2012 to help Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) grow student participation in sports, believing every child deserves the opportunity to join a team and benefit from that experience. A driving belief: If they play, they stay and if they stay, they graduate. To some, it may look like Fields & Futures builds and maintains athletic fields but to others, they know it’s about something much bigger. It’s about giving all children the opportunity to belong to something bigger than themselves … a motivator to go to school and focus on attendance and grades … and a proven pathway to graduation.

OKCPS is Oklahoma’s largest school district, serving more than 46,000 students from predominantly high poverty neighborhoods. In 2012, fewer than 10 of the district’s 42 athletic fields were playable. Student participation in sports fell far below the national average and thousands of young students were missing the opportunity to experience what so many others take for granted. Fields & Futures, along with a growing base of partners, donors, and supporters is working hard to change the story.

In each month’s episode, Power of Sports featured a short segment called “A Field to Call Home,” illustrating the impact that can happen when a community rallies around an opportunity to create a brighter future for its children. For more information, please visit FieldsandFutures.org and follow their story on Facebook and Twitter @FieldsFutures.

A Letter From Dan Towriss

Dear Friends,

As Group1001 made plans to enter the Oklahoma market, we knew it was important to identify a cause we could support – something that would have a reaching impact and provide our company an opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way.

As a believer in the power of sports to connect community and kids, with a goal of creating a better path to graduation and the life they deserve, I knew we found our cause when I saw the impact being created by Fields & Futures. Viewing youth sports and education as one of the few remaining ways we have to reach at-risk youth for lasting social change, I am confident students benefiting from this work will be the parents, employees, and business leaders we see leading this great city in the future.

As we all know, youth sport is a proven ground for academic success and instills lifelong decision-making skills, core values, and empowers developing minds and bodies to set challenging goals and pursue dreams with a higher degree of confidence and self-worth.

We are excited to share the Fields & Futures story, as well as countless others of individuals and organizations across the country who are working hard to give all children the opportunity to realize their full potential.

Daniel J. Towriss
CEO, Group1001

Inspiring Social Change

Can something as simple as rebuilding an athletic field reduce crime, prevent teen pregnancy, curb drug abuse, breathe life back into a school campus, improve graduation rates, address health issues, increase home values, give parents a reason to engage in their child’s education, and bring community back? We say yes.

Because it’s not about the field. It’s about what it represents. A safe place to play and learn important life lessons. A place to be part of something and build lifelong friendships. A place to learn what you’re all about … about who you are meant to be. Athletic fields and team sports are classrooms and leadership labs. And every child deserves the opportunity to experience it for themselves.

For three seasons and 34 episodes, Power of Sports shared thought-provoking conversations with subject-matter experts who see the positive impact sports can have on the life of a child and community.

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