Launched in 2005, WellesleyWeston Magazine is a quarterly publication tailored to Wellesley and Weston residents and edited to enrich the experience of living in two of Massachusetts' most desirable communities.
Issue link: https://wellesleywestonmagazine.epubxp.com/i/819093
Good Sports officially launched the day it was incorporated in November of that year, with a small fundraiser at the top level ("Level 9") of the Boston Garden, mostly among family and friends. Another big milestone came with the receipt of a $1 million grant facilitated by United Way. Good Sports received the introduction to United Way via a connection with the New England Patriots. The outreach efforts of the small team were paying off, and Good Sports expanded and began donating equipment to children across Massachusetts. Good Sports received more equipment like baseball bats from BSN Sports and clothes and footwear from New Balance, and diversified its funding sources — with a great deal of marketing effort and raising awareness. "We figured out who ran community centers and parks, where the need was, and who con- trolled the need. Then we helped kids through places like the Boston public schools and area Little Leagues," says Keswick. "We also met Mayor Menino, who was always supportive and appreciated the impact we had on kids in Boston. He helped us secure warehouse space to store donations." To run the organization, Harper left her job to be CEO and Keswick left her job to become COO (which they still are today). They set up an office, hired staff, and recruited additional board members to volunteer their time, like Weston resident Kent Weldon and Wellesley residents Mike Harrington and Len Freiman. "I'm proud to lend my support," says Freiman. "Good Sports promotes youth health and social skills — short- and long-term — by getting more kids into the game." After using up the $1 million from United Way, Good Sports continued raising funds and today partners with many companies like Target, ESPN, and Nike. They order some equipment C H A R L I E C O U R Y , A P P L E V I D E O & P H O T O G R A P H Y S T U D I O 156 W e l l e s l e y W e s t o n M a g a z i n e | s u m m e r 2 0 1 7 good works "getting more kids into the game"