- Today’s Presentation: Presenters Matthew Lutz and his mother Elea Lutz with Gear to Grant:
- Matthew is a student at Shattuck St. Mary’s and he founded Gear to Grant at the age of 14.
- Gear to Grant is a youth sports nonprofit organization.
- They collect donated sports equipment and provide financial grants to help children participate in athletics.
- Matthew explained how sports shaped who he is through building friendships, belonging, confidence, opportunity, and discipline.
- You never know where sports might take you! It all starts with a chance to play!
- Matthew began to notice the other side of sports, one where some kids didn’t have the same opportunities as others.
- His mission is to help kids play sports.
- Barriers are real and he shared some stats including that since 2019 there has been a 46% increase in cost for sports. For Americans, $40 billion is spent each year on sports.
- Youth sports are getting more and more expensive and Gear to Grant is trying to help remove barriers for kids.
- Matthew started Gear to Grant at age 14 working in his parents’ garage.
- His approach was what if we can connect good gear and kids who need them?
- They started collecting gear from those who didn’t need any more and re-purposing it for other kids who do need it.
- Every kid deserves a team and a chance to belong.
- His mom helps with being on the board for Gear to Grant.
- Faribault is the heart of the story through local schools and organizations.
- One example he gave was the Faribault Soccer Club – tiny feet and little feet programs and how they worked with those programs – 105 kids got the chance to play.
- This summer Matthew attended an Emerging Rural Leaders class at the University of Chicago.
- Some of the results so far from Gear to Grant? They have helped 500+ kids, provided 2.8K in grants, 450+ items collected, 650 pounds of gear, and Gear to Grant has 10+ community partners.
- If you would like to learn more about Gear to Grant, please check out their website at www.geartogrant.com or scan the QR code below
- Matthew provided a very informative and inspirational presentation today at Rotary that left many very impressed with his efforts! Great job presenting to our club today, Matthew!
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