Can Play Sports activities, based in Central Iowa, has expanded to Coralville

Women taking part in Can Play Sports activities pose for an image. Can Play Sports activities, with hubs within the Des Moines space and Coralville, offers alternatives for adaptive sports activities and play. The group is one in every of seven to get grants from Girls Lead Change. (submitted photograph)

Melissa Clarke-Wharff began Can Play Sports activities after feeling annoyed her son, Jack, who suffered a number of strokes as a baby, didn’t have many choices for sports activities and recreation tailored to his wants.

Ten years later, Can Play Sports activities has expanded from the Des Moines space, the place it serves almost 1,000 youngsters and 500 adults, to Coralville, with actions now being provided at GreenState Household Fieldhouse.

“It’s about eliminating boundaries to play and giving these children alternative to be lively and socially engaged of their communities,” Clarke-Wharff mentioned in a telephone interview final week.

Can Play Sports activities is one in every of seven recipients of grants from the Women with Targets Fund administered by Girls Lead Change, a non-partisan, nonprofit group for the development, growth and promotion of girls, their organizations and to impacting the economic system and future workforce.

Girls Lead Change supplied Can Play Sports activities $1,000 towards the HERS program, which stands for Well being, Empowerment, Respect in Sports activities. This system works with women in grades fourth by means of seventh to supply mentoring on topics together with well being and wholesome residing and in addition alternatives to be taught new sports activities.

“HERS is comparatively new, ”Clarke-Wharff mentioned. “We began it this 12 months and we’re attempting to ramp it up going into 2023.”

Programming will begin in Central Iowa, however broaden to Coralville within the second half of 2023, she mentioned. The grant cash might be used to place collectively the curriculum, get tools, pay for rental house and supply individuals with some gear, she mentioned.

The grant quantity varies by request, however common awards had been between $500 to $1,000, in keeping with Amy Eaton, director of selling and strategic growth for Girls Lead Change. Different Girls Lead Change Women With Targets Fund grant recipients are:

Award recipients had been chosen by a committee of Girls Lead Change companions and neighborhood volunteers, the group mentioned in a information launch.

“These recipients all boast missions that be sure that women (Okay-8) have a possibility to achieve vital expertise that may help their development as ladies leaders,” Girls Lead Change reported.

The Fund is distributed by means of the Better Cedar Rapids Neighborhood Basis, the place tax-deductible contributions might be made on-line.

Emblem for Girls Lead Change, a non-partisan, nonprofit group devoted to the development, growth and promotion of girls, their organizations and to impacting the economic system and future workforce.

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