CHICAGO, February 25, 2010 – SWC provided much needed sports equipment to the Teen Reach Program at Youth Crossroads, a nonprofit based in Berwyn IL. The program targets at-risk junior high school students, and provides them with a positive after-school program that includes life skills training, recreational activities, positive adult mentors, and academic assistance.

The youth in the Teen Reach Program come from the community of Cicero. According to Joel Wallen, Youth Development Specialist at Teen Reach, "90% of Cicero's population is Latino, of which 43% are new immigrants. Nearly 1 out of every 5 children in Cicero lives in poverty. More than 29 street gangs operate in the community, recruiting children as young as third grade." All services are provided free of charge for youth and their families in their service area.

The equipment provided by SWC included basketballs, flag football belts, footballs, soccer balls, softballs, bats, volleyballs, and jerseys. Wallen appreciated SWC's "commitment to serving the good causes in your local communities. Please know that your donation will positively affect our agency and the youth we serve."

Since its inception in 1997, SWC has collected and delivered nearly 26 tons of sports equipment to more than 15,800 children in Mexico, Nicaragua, Uganda, and the United States. SWC’s “Communities Play” Program has received past support from Alaska Airlines, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association’s Baseball Tomorrow Fund, and the Kristi Yamaguchi Always Dream Foundation.

The Sports for the World’s Children Foundation is California 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation based in San Francisco. SWC’s mission is to help facilitate the creation of ongoing, self-sustaining, quality sports programs for children with limited or no resources. Sports equipment and monetary donations are accepted year round. Interested individuals can contact SWC for more information about the “Communities Play” sports equipment distribution/volunteer program to Mexico, and/or to order a DVD about their programs at swc@swcfoundation.org, (415) 566-3487. SWC is also on the Web at www.swcfoundation.org.