A local organization wants to make sure all young people in the D.C.-area have access to sports programs, especially during the summer break from school.

“We see an increase in risky behavior with kids during the summer months because they have no place to go,” said James Kallusky, president of the organization Fight for Children. “Sports is more than an outlet for them, it can be a lifeline for them.”

Fight for Children collaborates with 40 non-profits in D.C., Northern Virginia, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County, supporting the organizations through funding and advocacy.

The organization’s goal is to provide equitable access to youth sports programs, regardless of a young person’s circumstances or finances.

“These types of programs make a difference in kids’ lives,” Kallusky said. “The more types of programs and opportunities that we can get to families, the better. There will be a reduction in youth crime if we can make sure that all kids have access to these programs.”

Next week, Fight for Children will co-host a Youth Sports Town Hall with Council member Kenyan McDuffie. The town hall is being held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Northwest on June 26. There will be a panel, small group discussions and networking opportunities.

“Let’s take a look at what’s working and what’s super positive about youth sports right now in D.C.,” Kallusky said.

Kallusky said the organizers hosting the town hall will be asking people about challenges their facings, concerns and what Fight for Children could do to help.

Then before school starts, its third annual Youth Sports Day will be held August 23 at the fields at RFK. Kids can get school supplies, wellness checks, haircuts and food at the free family-friendly event, which drew about 2,000 people last year.

Registration for the programs is available online now.

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The 2025 Tampa Bay Lightning locker room sale gave fans an opportunity to add to their team collection while also raising money to support numerous youth hockey initiatives that grow the sport in the Tampa Bay region.

The annual sale was conducted last Friday on the Pepsi Porch outside of AMALIE Arena and offered fans a chance to acquire player-used gear including sticks, helmets, gloves, team-issued clothing, skates, goalie equipment and more. There were more than 1,000 sticks up for grabs at this year’s event.

Leftover equipment from the sale will be available at next year’s event.

Around 1,000 people attended the 2025 sale. All of that money benefits the community and hockey development program run by the Lightning, one that engages area youth in the sport.

The event benefits Lightning fans through access to game-used equipment, and proceeds ensure young hockey players have access to a growing sport in the area, according to Tampa Bay Lightning community and hockey development coordinator Josh Dreith.

“It’s really crucial,” Dreith said of the sale’s impact on youth hockey, “especially for the sled hockey team. The funds are necessary for some of these programs.”

Enough funds were raised at this year’s sale to freeze costs for community hockey programming next season, according to Dreith.

This marked Lightning fan Andrew Hamilton’s fourth year at the sale. He and his brother, James, set their sights on some target items and didn’t leave it to chance—the brothers arrived at AMALIE Arena at 2 a.m. on Friday to secure the first spots in line.

Andrew arrived around 3 a.m. to previous years’ sales and ended up second in line, so he bumped up his arrival time for 2025 shopping. He was hunting this year in the Andrei Vasilevskiy department, or as he put it, “anything Vasy”. He hoped for one of the goalie’s blocker and glove sets, one of the goaltender’s stick and maybe leg pads.

Andrew’s job and hours in law enforcement can make attending games in person difficult, but he has built a full in-game experience at home. His living room features a Budweiser goal light and a smoke machine as well as game-used sticks from Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Nikita Kucherov.

He became a Lightning fan after his brother, James, introduced him to the sport. James also has a room dedicated to the Lightning gear and was right there with his brother at the front of the line.

“It was always a brainwash of football because we live in Florida. So it’s football, football, football, football, football,” Andrew said. “And then we started hockey. And then I got my wife, she’s like, ‘I’m never going to another football game ever.’ It’s always hockey from now on.”

The Hamiltons left with plenty of Vasilevskiy gear as well as a Conor Geekie stick, player gloves and clothes.

Don Ellsworth was third in line after arriving at 3 a.m. He made the 40-minute drive from his home near Saint Leo, Florida. Ellsworth and his son use the Lightning gear for on-ice practice and attend four to five Lightning games per season.

He drove through the rain in the dark hoping to be one of the first people in line.

Many fans left the sale happy, and proceeds will help fund adaptive and disabled hockey programming such as the sled hockey team as well as other initiatives including ball hockey. Money is spent on a range of targets including equipment, travel, ice time and enrollment fees for players.

“I think the great part is that it offers the ability for the general public to get access to player-used equipment and authentic player apparel,” Dreith said. “It gives them access to that, but then it also helps us raise money for programs that really need it.”

The high school conferences select their top players every season, and we select ours.

Basketball in Chilliwack is soaring to new heights, with a spike in youth registrations so far this year. 

The Chilliwack Basketball Association is reporting that in just the first five months of this year, they saw “explosive growth” with more than 400 youth registrations. In a press release recently, they said that jump in new players “reflects the city’s deepening love for the game.” 

They are now offering after-school programs, spring clubs, adaptive offerings and even Jr. WNBA sessions. 

Next up will be their “action-packed” summer camps, which they say are a good time for new players explore the game. 

“We’re so proud of the momentum,” they wrote in the release. “Chilliwack kids are getting the chance to grow not just as athletes, but as teammates, leaders, and confident individuals. Basketball is just the beginning.”

This year’s highlights for the organization include speed and agility training with CFL star Bo Lokombo, skill sessions led by Coach Pam Danis and Coach Eric Rogers, adaptive basketball programs — the first and only in Chilliwack, Jr. WNBA Mini Hoopers  for Grades 2–4, club teams for boys in Frades 4 through 9, and a successful spring break camp and inaugural pro-d day camp. 

“The association’s commitment to inclusivity and excellence is matched by the quality of its coaching roster, including former University coaches in Eric Rogers and Pam Danis who are shaping the next generation of Chilliwack athletes,” the release states. 

There are several four-day basketball camps this summer, held at Chilliwack Secondary Schoo. These camps offer focused skill development in a supportive and energetic environment. 

A youth camp runs July 7-10, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., for Grades 1-3 and 5-7. Cost is $160. 

A youth and elite camp runs July 28-31. Grades 1-6 runs from 9 a.m. to noon and is $160. Grades 7-12 runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is $175. These camps feature pro guest coaches including Marek Klassen, with high-level drills and competitive play. 

The youth and girls camps runs Aug. 11-14. Grades 1-6 Youth runs from 9 a.m. to noon and is $160. Grades 6-9 Girls runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is $175. Led by Canada Basketball Hall of Famer Coach Pamela Danis, this session emphasizes confidence and leadership for female athletes

All participants will receive camp t-shirts, prizes, and valuable court time with coaches. For more information or to register, visit www.chilliwackbasketball.ca or email chilliwackbasketball@gmail.com.

 

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