“Be a Game Changer!”

This is the call to action of more than thirty Healthy Futures Ambassadors this week as they reach out and ask Alaskans to give what they can to help get disadvantaged kids in get in the game.

One if five Alaska youth hover near or below the poverty line.

Celebrity athletes, public figures, coaches, and community leaders have been recruited to raise awareness about a grant program for underserved young Alaskans. Through the Healthy Futures Game Changer Fund kids, families, coaches, teachers, and sports teams can apply for assistance to help them participate in sports and recreation.

The Game Changer Campaign is a one-week fundraising competition running Oct. 17th – 23rd, the ambassadors will work to collectively to try to raise $50,000 that will be immediately available to families-in-need.

The Game Changer Fund provides up to $500 grants that can provide financial support for everything from sports equipment, registration fees, transportation support, facility rentals, to just putting sneakers or boots on a kid.

“71% of schools in Alaska qualify as Title 1 due to high percentages of students living below poverty level,” said Healthy Futures executive director Harlow Robinson. “Those kids have less access to sports and recreation opportunities, and this has a negative impact across all aspects of their lives moving forward. We’re doing what we can to change that.”

Alaskans can support their favorite ambassador while making a direct and lasting impact in the lives of our economically disadvantaged youth. They can also choose to create their own team and join the competition and win prizes for reaching goals.

In September 2021, Healthy Futures absorbed The Basics and Kicks for Kids, two programs that have worked around Alaska over the past decade to remove economic barriers to youth participation in sports and recreation. The work is continuing under a new name and management.

“We were saddened to learn The Basics was going away because they’ve been filling an important role in Alaska,” said Robinson. “I’m glad Healthy Futures was able to take the torch.”

Since the start of the year, Healthy Futures has awarded Game Changer grants to dozens of students aged K-12 from across the sate with a variety of needs. Grants this year have provided sports equipment, support with club soccer registration, coverage of equestrian horse camp fees, kick-sleds for a rural youth dog-sled program, wrestling shoes for a high school team, winter boots, sneakers, and much more.

“The list goes on and on,” said Robinson. “It feels good to help, but honestly, we’re just scratching the surface at this point.”

The nonprofit organization is partnering with an all-star roster of ambassadors to support the cause. Paralympic skier Andrew Kurka, reality TV star Ariel Tweto, basketball player DaJonee Hale,  Anchorage Wolverines Head Coach Evan Trupp, Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink, and Alaska Native Games legend Nicole Johnston are just a few of the campaign’s ambassadors.

For  Hale, her role as an ambassador is personal. She was three-time All-American basketball player at Southern Methodist University and played professional basketball in Europe. But at one time Hale had been a homeless teenager in Anchorage feeling hopeless. She credits a supportive community that provided her with a chance to put her life on a different track.

“Having that support allowed me to have long-term goals like playing basketball and going to college,” said Hale.

Hale is currently the program manager at Point Source Youth, working to address youth homelessness.

Both donors and potential recipients can learn more about the Healthy Futures Game Changer Fund on the Healthy Futures Website at https://healthyfuturesak.org/community-support/game-changer-fund-kicks-for-kids/.

Individuals or businesses can either select an ambassador’s team to donate to or create their own Game Changer Campaign fundraising team at https://www.classy.org/campaign/game-changer-fund-fundraiser-2022/c420531 and be eligible to win prizes.

Healthy Futures is the signature program of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The goal of the organization is to empower Alaska’s youth to build the habit of daily physical activity.

Game Changer Ambassadors

Alev Kelter, Professional rugby player

Alysa Horn, Coach and fitness/wellness trainer

Andrew Kurka, Paralympic skier

Anna and Kristy Berington, Iditarod mushers

Anna Dalton, Marathon runner, business leader

Archie Young, Mount Edgecumbe High teacher and coach

Ariel Tweto, Realtiy TV star

Carey Carpenter, Youth physical activity advocate

Carol Seppilu, Ultra Runner, suicide survivor

Carrie Jokiel, Alaska Sports Hall of Fame director, former college hockey player

Chad Bentz, Former professional baseball player, Juneau Douglas High athletic director,

Danonee Hale, Former pro basketball player, homeless youth advocate

Dave Barney, Boys and Girls Club director

David Norris, World cup skier, mountain running star

Doug Herron,  Alaska Running Academy founder and coach

Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska Chief Medical Officer

Erin Kirkland, Youth wellness and fitness community leader

Evan Trupp, Anchorage Wolverines head coach

Holly Brooks, Former Olympic skier, youth sports counselor

Jo Reid, Alaska Youth Soccer Club director

Kara Moriarty, Community and business leader

Kathleen Navarre, Dimond High flag football coach, sports administrator

Kieth Perkins, Southeast sports official and broadcaster

Lisa Keller, APRN broadcaster, running coach

Matt Carle, Alaska Sports Hall of Fame director, former college basketball player

Matt Froehle, Bartlett High and Cook Inslet Soccer Club coach

Megan Olson, Former UAA Chancellor

Melissa DeVaughn, Chugiak High School track coach

Nicole Johnston, Alaska Native Games legend, NYO director

Norm Rousey, Colony High cross country coach

Rich Krupa, Sitka High activities director, teacher, coach

Rick Hansen, Alaska Sports Hall of Fame director, ultra runner

Steve Zanazzo, Lathrop High School athletic director

Tobin Karlberg, College basketball player

Todd Boonstra, Kenai Central High cross country coach, teacher

Zoe Hickel, Former pro hockey player, Ohio State coach

Additional Article Sponsors:
Korndrop Family Foundation | Arctic Slope Regional Corporation | Replacement Glass | Coho Financial Group | Midas Alaska | Black-Smith, Bethard & Carlson, LLC. | Aktive Soles | Continental Auto Group | BOSCO's | Residential Mortgage | Taylored Restoration | JL Properties | RE/MAX Dynamic Properties Kevin Taylor | Joe Alston | Alaska Oil and Gas Association | Team Moriarty | Kathie Bethard | Todd Whited | Team Heat | Dr. Justin Libby, DDS | Invisalign-Ben Ward | Allen Clendaniel | Mark Silverman | Dan Rufner | Rick Mystrom | In Memory of Drs. John & Elizabeth Tower | Mark and Jamie Johnson | Don Winchester | Kristopher Knauss | Glen Bailey | Aspen Endodontics | The Conway Family | Don Clary and Judy Besh | Jim Hajdukovich | Kathleen Navarre | Moose's Tooth, Bear Tooth and Broken Tooth Brewing | R&M Consultants, Inc. | Donley Family | Firetap | On the Border | Krispy Kreme | Burgerfi | Amy and Greg Schumacher | Alice & Gunnar Knapp