NOVEMBER 2007

(Washington, DC) - DC Sports and Entertainment Commission awarded over $200,000 in community outreach grants during its 2007 fiscal year (October 2006 through September 2007) to support funding for a variety of community programs to promote grassroots recreation in the District of Columbia. On average, the grants ranged from $1,000 to $10,000 and were distributed to sports teams, leagues, and camps, arts programs, and educational initiatives that help to enrich the lives of youth throughout the city.  Since 1996, the Commission has provided nearly $1.5 million of support to District programs through its community grants program. 

For the last several years, Community Outreach Grants from the Commission have provided financial support for District youth programs in a number of ways, such as renovating youth fields, endowing scholarships, equipping youth music programs from jazz to classical, and supporting multicultural centers and neighborhood associations.

“We would like to congratulate this year’s recipients of the Community Outreach Grants.  Investing in our youth is a top priority for DCSEC and we are proud to be able to give back to the community as well as help our youth and their journey towards excellence,” said Greg O’Dell, DCSEC CEO.

Organizations that have been awarded DC Sports & Entertainment Commission grants include:

Ward 8 Tennis Council                   

Summer Youth Tennis Camp

Friends of Ft. Dupont Ice Arena     

Skate for fitness youth skating program

Duke Ellington Jazz Festival           

School’s jazz festival

Dance Institute of Washington        

Performing arts exposure and lecture-demonstration series scholarships

Hoops Dreams                                             

Annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament to raise funds for scholarship

Capitol Hill Baseball & Softball League 

Upgrades to Ludlow Field

Bright Beginnings, Inc.                               

Outdoor and Environmental Education Program for pre-schoolers

A Greater Washington                                

Field of Dreams baseball program     

Anacostia Community Boathouse               

Youth River Sports Day and Health Fair                  

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington

Support for sports programs

The DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, an independent agency of the District of Columbia government, is responsible for the management and operation of Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, the D.C. Armory and their adjacent facilities.  The Commission is also charged with presenting and promoting sports, entertainment and special events.