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Sports continue to offer numerous opportunities for children to have fun and learn the importance of leadership and teamwork. They also help kids build confidence, healthy relationships, and much more. But the high cost of competitive athletics makes it harder for families to involve their children in such sports.
There is no doubt that volleyball is becoming very popular among American kids. But the financial barriers that prevent many girls from participating are obvious. Registration Fees, travel costs, uniforms, equipment, training, and tournaments can make it hard to simply play for those young talented athletes who have a passion for the game.
Sisters Sofia Allgood (13 years old) and Summer Allgood (14 years old) founded Pulse Up Foundation. The nonprofit organization was founded to assist girls to continue playing volleyball despite their financial situation. With the help of fundraising and community support, Pulse Up Foundation tries to help talented volleyball players and help school volleyball programs better serve their athletes.
Such initiative came out of necessity as Sofia and Summer Allgood realized the problems after many years spent in volleyball. “There are so many girls out there who have the talent and love for the game but are forced to quit because the cost of volleyball clubs, uniforms, travel fees, and everything else is just too expensive,” the sisters explain.
Their experiences reflect a reality many families know all too well. Participation in youth sports often requires difficult financial decisions, particularly when multiple children are involved in multiple activities or when households face competing priorities. For some families, supporting a child’s athletic goals can become increasingly difficult despite a strong desire to keep them involved.
More Than Athletic Development
Although financial obstacles in youth sports are well covered in the media, there is much to be said about opportunities missed when a child quits playing a particular sport.
For Sofia and Summer, volleyball has taught them lessons that go far beyond competing. Thanks to all these years spent playing, they have acquired skills of discipline, responsibility, resilience, leadership, and communication. All these traits continue to influence how they approach challenges in school, relationships, and community involvement.
Pulse Up Foundation was founded keeping in mind the wider significance of youth sports. Volleyball means much more to the founders of the organization than just a game. It becomes a chance for self-improvement, gaining confidence and developing leadership skills during some of the most crucial years of a kid’s life.
“Hopefully she will feel seen, valued, and hopeful. We would like her to know that someone believes in her and supports her dreams.” The sisters tell about athletes who are given an opportunity to compete thanks to Pulse Up Foundation.
Investing in Entire Communities
Apart from assisting individual players, the organization also intends to assist schools that lack the needed equipment and resources for the volleyball program. The reasoning behind the plan is based on the organization’s perception that sports access should be at the community level.
When strong programs are established at school, children get introduced to volleyball for the first time. Once the necessary equipment and resources are available at school, many students will get the chance to interact with volleyball which could not have happened without that.
The organization hopes to increase its outreach into the Dallas volleyball community by assisting both individual players and programs.
The importance of timing for such activities cannot be overemphasized. Most club volleyball registration and payment usually happen several months before the start of the season. Early fundraising gives the organization a chance to assist when the most is needed.
Creating Access Through Community Support
Sofia and Summer want Pulse Up Foundation to serve as a source of assistance for many families around Dallas. On a long-term basis, the sisters plan on helping hundreds of girls play volleyball and offering assistance to educational institutions.
The mission of Pulse Up Foundation, however, goes deeper than just volleyball. “As you see, volleyball serves as the vessel, and the mission is more about providing the opportunity for young women,” the sisters say. “By supporting Pulse Up Foundation, you are making an investment into the future of these women and creating the opportunity for them.”
Additional information about the foundation, its mission, and ways to support can be found on their website, PulseUpFoundation.com.