A multi-million-dollar, multi-year investment to provide safe play spaces, essential amenities, and community opportunities for every child in our nation’s capital.
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WASHINGTON, DC – September 25, 2024 – Today, Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) announces the launch of District of Play, an ambitious multi-million dollar investment in a company-wide youth sports initiative aimed at giving every child in Washington, DC the opportunity to participate in sports and build lifelong health benefits. This multi-year project highlights MSE’s belief in the power of sports to unite communities and build a brighter future for the city.
“Sports has the power to inspire people, build resilience and foster a sense of community. District of Play is our commitment to ensuring every child in Washington, DC has access to these opportunities and contribute to our city’s long-term health legacy,” said Ted Leonsis, founder and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “This is an ambitious company-wide initiative operated with the same focus and dedication we put into all of our franchises, venues and media properties. This culture of service and giving back aligns with my double-bottom-line philosophy for our company and is ingrained in everything we do. District of Play is an extension of that commitment.”
Despite the well-known benefits of youth sports, including improved physical health, mental health and emotional resilience, many children still face barriers to play. District of Play serves to bridge these gaps by focusing on children who are often limited by a lack of resources and access to inclusive and safe play environments.
Monumental’s approach to this program is aligned around three broad areas of work:
Providing safe playgrounds: MSE will renovate public courts and skating rinks, build playgrounds, and upgrade other venues to host youth events. These efforts will create safe and engaging environments for children throughout DC, providing them with a place to play and grow. Empowering players: MSE will provide essential sports equipment and scholarships, expand inclusion programs, launch a girls’ empowerment program, and design accessible playgrounds. This will provide opportunities for children, regardless of background or ability, to participate and benefit from the positive impacts of sports. Engaging parents, coaches, and the community: MSE will fund professional development for coaches, promote pickup games and other events that encourage lifelong play, and organize annual back-to-school and holiday initiatives. These actions are intended to support and engage the broader community and foster broad involvement in youth sports activities necessary for continued success.
The centerpiece of the effort is the distribution of approximately 30,000 NBA-sized basketballs to school children across the district. Other initial program highlights include:
In addition to investing capital and hiring new staff to manage the day-to-day operations of the District of Play, MSE has developed a roadmap for the next four years and is beginning to execute on this vision. This Sunday, September 29, Washington Wizards Head Coach Brian Keefe, along with head men’s basketball coaches from American University, Howard University and Georgetown University, will host a free Wizards Coaches Workshop, open to participants of all levels, at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in the District’s 8th Ward. The Washington Capitals are partnering with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to renovate the Watkins Recreation Center street hockey rink, and MSE will soon unveil the first basketball court that the District of Play will be paying to renovate.
In addition to investing in public programs, Monumental Sports & Entertainment also works with the city’s vast network of existing club leagues, including Flag Star Football, a multi-age group flag football program. Beginning this season, the back of the uniforms will feature the logo of Monumental Sports Network, MSE’s independent media platform. This is a $350,000 annual investment that will expand opportunities for DC kids, particularly the girls’ programming within the league.
District of Play is designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing MSE to adjust its programming over time based on feedback from participants, parents, coaches, and community partners. While the announcement of this effort includes specific commitments, the initiative’s open-ended structure allows MSE to evolve to meet the needs of the community and create the kind of impact its programs are designed to reach the kids who need them most.
For more information about District of Play and how to get involved, visit monumentalsports.com/districtofplay.
Specific initiatives and funding over the next four years:
MSE will renovate one indoor basketball court at a local school or community center each year for youth to practice and play. It will also renovate two outdoor basketball courts each year, one in each borough over a four-year period. MSE will build a new street hockey rink/multi-purpose sports facility to expand access to hockey. MSE will provide transportation for DC youth to attend free ice hockey and skating classes, reducing transportation barriers that may prevent participation. MSE will build playgrounds in each DC borough over the next eight years, fostering safe and engaging play areas for the city’s children. MSE will help Flag Star Football reach more kids by providing scholarships, expanding programs, and supporting after-school programs. MSE will launch the MSE Girls Empowerment Program, which focuses on mental health, physical health, and sports to inspire and empower girls to reach their potential. MSE will support the Kids On Ice program at Fort Dupont Ice Arena and the Fort Dupont Cannons team, providing additional resources to help these important programs succeed. MSE will provide basketballs to all DCPS elementary school students and donate new equipment to DPR Community Centers. MSE will support the DPR Youth Basketball League through subsidizing league affiliations, providing jerseys, and conducting clinics to improve the quality and accessibility of youth basketball. MSE will host free, one-time community basketball clinics in Wards 7 and 8, featuring Go-Go players, Wizards alumni, and current Wizards and Mystics players. MSE will provide scholarships for basketball camps and expand girls-only programs to ensure equitable access to quality sports training. MSE will expand Caps On Ice and Off Ice programs to increase opportunities for youth to participate in ice sports and street hockey. MSE will add hockey clinics exclusively for Ward 7 and 8 students and expand Try Hockey for Free clinics to foster opportunities for more kids to learn and play hockey. MSE will fund Positive Coaches Alliance workshops for DCPS coaches, athletes and parents to promote positive coaching techniques and supportive parenting strategies. MSE will expand basketball days within its DMV jurisdiction. MSE will host the Monumental Basketball Coaches Academy, offering free or low-cost clinics for high school, middle school and AAU coaches. MSE will support pickup basketball efforts and produce PSA content promoting youth sports opportunities for the Monumental Sports Network. MSE will host its annual back-to-school event, providing essential school supplies, such as backpacks and supplies, to help students start the new school year with confidence. MSE organizes its annual Thanksgiving Activation to provide hot meals and warm clothing to families in need. Each year during the holidays, MSE partners with Martha’s Table to support the Family-to-Family program, adopting dozens of families and providing gifts to fulfill wish lists, ensuring a joyful and memorable holiday season.
Additionally, for the 2024-2025 season,
MSE will partner with neighborhoods and BIDs across DC for revitalization and beautification projects, such as the annual Capitals Outdoor Rink and murals in collaboration with DC Artists. MSE teams will participate in the following community events: Giant BBQ Battle, Fan DC Wellness Community Day, KIPP DC Pride Summit, Capital Pride Parade, El Salvador Festival, Taste of the DMV, Adams Morgan Street Fest DC State Fair, Fight for Children Youth Sports Day, DC Boat Show, RFK Day of Play, Cherry Blossom Festival, Broccoli City Festival, and Chuck Brown Day. The Washington Wizards will partner with When We All Vote and DC Cap on voter education and registration to increase youth voter turnout throughout the DMV. The Washington Wizards will continue their seasonal activations with NBA grantee Congress Heights Art + Cultural Center to introduce, inspire and educate both youth and adults about the abundant arts and cultural opportunities available in Wards 7 and 8. The Washington Wizards will partner with Everytown for Gun Safety x Students Demand Action to host a Young Black Changemakers Summit. The Washington Wizards will partner with Penn DMV to host a digital conference for DC youth. The Washington Wizards will partner with Food on the Stove Hometown Heroes Lunch to provide/deliver free lunches to DC fire and police departments on September 11th. The Washington Wizards will host the Hoops for Troops All-Star Challenge, a basketball skills challenge and basketball game, at DC-area military bases for military personnel and their families. The Washington Wizards will host a For the District Meal Packing Event as part of their Season of Giving efforts to benefit those in need within DC. Washington Wizards alumni will visit patients at select MedStar hospitals during cancer awareness and heart health awareness campaigns. The Washington Wizards will host College Girl Fund Foundation students during Dr. Martin Luther King Jr./Mentorship Month and partner with MSE employees on game days to provide an immersive experience in the business of sports. The Washington Wizards will continue their DC Wards Summer Reading Tour in partnership with the DC Public Library Foundation, hosting community events at various DC public libraries throughout the summer. The Washington Wizards will continue to host mental health programs with chapters of Morgan’s Message. The Washington Wizards will continue their Black-Owned DMV Business Highlights & Supports, looking for Black-owned businesses to partner with on monthly highlights and community activities/events such as Back-to-School Tip Off and Literacy Night. The Washington Capitals will seek out DC artists to partner with on special jerseys and retail collaborations (previous artists include DC Proper, Robert Generette III (aka Rob Zilla), Freeman, and TKO Paintings). The Washington Capitals will continue their annual reading program to support DC students. Washington Capitals alumni will visit patients at select MedStar hospitals throughout the season. The Washington Capitals will partner with DPR to renovate the outdoor rink at Watkins Elementary School. The Washington Mystics will partner with Leveling the Playing Field to distribute sports bras to local schools. The Washington Mystics will partner with Sharing Shoes to distribute basketball shoes to local youth in need. The Washington Mystics will continue their sixth-year partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety to raise funds for the Community Fund through the Wear Orange game (June 2025). The Mystics will continue to raise funds for the Mystics Fund, which supports equipment donations and free clinics for local girls. The Go-Go will continue their partnership with DCPL for the second annual Superhero Reading Initiative.
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