CHAMPRO Announces Spring 2026 Grant Recipients

BANNOCKBURN, ILLINOIS (April 6, 2026) – Affordability can make or break whether a child continues to play their beloved sport. Thanks to CHAMPRO’s Teamwork Grant Program, eight youth sports organizations across the country can now help ease the financial burden on families this spring.

CHAMPRO established the Teamwork Grant Program in 2023 to bolster youth sports organizations that might otherwise lack sufficient funding. Recipients of the Spring 2026 round are as follows:

• Chicago Blitz Youth Football and Cheerleading Organization in Chicago, Ill.
• Eastside Jr. Surfriders in Kailua, Hawaii
• Eva R. Gsum Foundation in Montreal, Quebec
• Heartland Youth Football and Cheer in Sunbury, Pa.
• Olney Boys & Girls Club in Olney, Md.
• Selma Little League in Selma, Calif.
• Texas Terminators Softball in The Woodlands, Texas
• Vilonia Youth Football and Cheer Association in Vilonia, Ariz.

“We are proud to continue supporting youth athletes with the Teamwork Grant,” said Bill Hunt, founder and CEO of Champro. “Thank you to each and every applicant. These organizations are the heartbeat of their communities, and we’re honored to help push their missions forward.”

Lisa Richardson, secretary and board member of Chicago Blitz, said she has seen parents struggle to keep up with the rising costs associated with youth sports. To do their part, the Blitz seek all avenues of funding — including the Teamwork Grant — and trim budgets without taking shortcuts. The grant will help them drop registration fees, offer scholarships and upgrade gear.

“This funding is the fuel for our rebuilding phase,” Richardson said. “It means we don’t have to choose between a quality program and an affordable one. Our top priority is player safety, and this grant makes that possible without passing the bill to our families.”

Organizations like the Blitz are vital for cultivating well-rounded youth.

“We believe the benefits of team sports participation extend beyond those gained from physical activity,” Hunt said. “Young players on a team learn the importance of teamwork, leadership, respect and the value of practicing to improve performance. The ability to accept defeat and prepare to play another day are character-building life lessons learned from sports participation.”

Richardson recalls a time when college recruiters were overlooking one of her high school-aged players due to his grades.

“Our coaches didn’t let him slip through the cracks,” she said, adding that they spent a whole summer mentoring him. He then secured a spot at a Division I school. “Once you’re a Blitz, you’re always a Blitz, and we make sure our players have the discipline to win in life, not just in the game.”

The next round of Teamwork Grant applications opens May 1, 2026. To be the first to know when applications go live, follow Champro on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Champro is a member and supporter of NSGA. Bill Hunt is a member of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame.