It starts with a whistle, a bouncing ball or the crunch of cleats on grass.

For kids across Colorado, sports are often their first taste of teamwork, discipline and joy. But for far too many families, those sounds are out of reach — not because of a lack of talent or desire but because of cost. Registration fees, uniforms, equipment and travel add up quickly.

The hard truth is this: Too often, the ability to play depends on the ability to pay. That’s why the Daniels Fund, together with generous partners, launched Youth Sports Giving Day to break down financial barriers and open the gates of opportunity. Last year, in its very first year, this effort raised nearly $4 million for youth sports organizations across Colorado.

And the results were immediate. Organizations bought new equipment, reduced fees, and even expanded facilities — all with one goal: welcoming more kids to the team.

Through Sept. 17, you can be part of this movement. Visit YouthSportsGivingDay.org, choose your favorite local sports group, and donate. Every gift, whether $10 or $1,000, will be matched dollar for dollar to the first $1 million. Your donations go directly to the organizations you select.

But the real return goes beyond uniforms and fields. Supporting Youth Sports Giving Day builds stronger kids, stronger families and stronger communities in ways that ripple for generations.

The numbers tell the story. About three-quarters of kids from higher-income families play organized sports. In lower-income communities, participation drops to just 38%.

That gap matters. Sports don’t just teach kids how to dribble or run fast. They teach perseverance, teamwork, and leadership — skills that carry into classrooms, careers and life. Young athletes are more likely to graduate, less likely to engage in risky behaviors, and more likely to thrive in adulthood. It’s no accident that more than 90% of women in the C-suite once played organized sports. Sports also instills confidence. The child who sinks her first basket or finishes his first 5K learns something invaluable: I can do hard things. That self-belief lasts a lifetime.

And the benefits of sports lay the foundation for lifelong habits of health. In an age when childhood obesity and screen time dominate headlines, sports provide an essential antidote.

Kids who play sleep better, focus better, and report lower anxiety and depression. Adults who once played are more likely to stay active, lowering health costs and improving quality of life.

The impact goes beyond individuals. Ball fields and courts become gathering places where parents cheer side by side, friendships take root, and coaches become lifelong role models. Sports don’t just develop players; they knit together neighborhoods.

That vision inspired the creation of Youth Sports Giving Day, and in just one year, we’ve seen how these investments open doors and change lives. Now Colorado has the chance to build on that success.

Every dollar invested in youth sports pays dividends: healthier kids, more resilient families, and more connected communities. Years from now, children who had the chance to play won’t just remember the goals they scored or the races they ran.

They’ll remember the confidence they gained, the friendships they forged, and the lessons that shaped their lives.

Through Sept. 17, make your donation to Youth Sports Giving Day and help ensure that every child in Colorado has the chance to get in the game.

Hanna Skandera is president and CEO of the Daniels Fund (www.danielsfund.org)