Sport in Society's Urban Youth Sports, the Kevin Fitzgerald Family, and Northeastern University Introduce the Kevin Fitzgerald Giving Back Fund
(1-18-08) BOSTON, Mass - Sport in Society’s Urban Youth Sports (UYS) program, together with the Fitzgerald family, and Northeastern University are proud to announce the establishment of The Kevin W. Fitzgerald Giving Back Fund. The Fund was created to honor Kevin’s legacy of championing the causes of children throughout his lifetime.Fitzgerald began his career as a youth worker in South Boston, Mass. In the midst of the racial unrest caused by school busing, he immediately went to work providing opportunities for the youth of South Boston. His work in South Boston kicked off a 27-year stint as a State Representative in Massachusetts. During his tenure, Fitzgerald founded Mission Possible, the Children’s Caucus and the Health Start Program, which has evolved into the Children’s Security Plan. As a State Representative he was a consistent supporter of the Children’s Trust Fund, the Healthy Families Initiative, and early childhood education.
Kevin strongly believed that children’s development, self-esteem and values are improved by the introduction of physical activity and healthy development opportunities. He worked tirelessly for children who are underserved because, in his own words, “they are the City’s children, the City’s future and they deserve every advantage that the City can offer them.” He felt every child deserved equal access to activities that would keep them active, safe, engaged and healthy.
One of his crowning achievements in this commitment to serving Boston’s children was Urban Youth Sports. Realizing the inherent value that sports and physical activity have upon children, Kevin helped found the Urban Youth Sports Program in 1997. The mission of Urban Youth Sports is to promote the health and well-being of urban youth through physical activity and healthy development initiatives.
His passion for this cause resulted in Urban Youth Sports providing physical activity to more than 20,000 children over these last ten years throughout the City, yet he was not satisfied with this success. His vision for Urban Youth Sports was to have it in every neighborhood in the City and for even more children to have an opportunity to participate.
“With childhood inactivity and obesity at all-time highs nationwide and with many barriers to youth sport participation in urban environments, the work that Kevin started through Urban Youth Sports has become even more important to the future generations of Boston’s children,” said Linda Keefe, program director, Urban Youth Sports. “The Fund will provide the resources necessary to sustain and expand Urban Youth Sports into every neighborhood in Boston.
The children of Boston, for decades to come, will have their lives enriched because of their champion, Kevin W.Fitzgerald.”
Tax-deductible donations can be made to the Kevin W. Fitzgerald Giving Back Fund. To donate, checks can be sent payable to The Kevin W. Fitzgerald Giving Back Fund, Urban Youth Sports, 350 Richards Hall or online at www.sportinsociety.org/KevinFitzFund.php.