[VANCOUVER, Nov. 21] — Today, BC Wheelchair Basketball Society announced that it received a $10,000 RBC Learn to Play Project grant for its Let's Play Program, which helps children with physical disabilities under 13 get active in their homes, schools and on playgrounds. BC Wheelchair Basketball Society is one of 199 organizations from across the country to receive a 2015 RBC Learn to Play Project grant.
"This grant from RBC will help to ensure that every child in British Columbia gets the opportunity to play and develop physical literacy skills," said BCWBS Executive Director Sian Blyth. "We are grateful to RBC and the RBC Learn to Play Project for all the amazing work they are doing to help children get active."
Let's Play's goal is to ignite a passion for play in children with mobility-related physical disabilities and give them the confidence and support they need to be active and dream big. Working in collaboration with community partners, we identify appropriate children in British Columbia and provide them with the resources they need to become physically active, including a Let's Play sports wheelchair. From offering fun Let's Play Days where kids can just be kids to working with schools to integrate a child into his or her physical education class, we help to give each child an active, healthy start and build a strong foundation of physical literacy skills that will last a lifetime.
RBC and the Public Health Agency of Canada, in partnership with ParticipACTION, have committed $2 million in RBC Learn to Play Project grants to help community based organizations build and deliver quality sport and recreation programs that address the widespread lack of physical activity among Canadian youth as well as declining rates in sport participation. The RBC Learn to Play Project is committed to supporting programs and organizations which help children develop the confidence and skills they need to enable them to play, and become happy, healthy and active for life.
“We are proud to support the work of BC Wheelchair Basketball Society,” said Jane Broderick, Chief Brand and Communications Officer at RBC. “Sport and physical activity can transform lives and have a powerful, positive impact on our communities. Let's Play will have a direct impact on the lives of Canadian youth by encouraging them to participate in sport and physical activity, learn basic skills and help build their confidence.”
The RBC Learn to Play Project grants were announced in conjunction with RBC Sports Day in Canada, a national celebration of the power of sport to build community and get Canadians moving. RBC Sports Day in Canada takes place on November 21, 2015 in communities across Canada.
