Phoenix, Ariz. — The Arizona Youth Soccer Association (AYSA) in collaboration with MaxInMotion® presented 581 youth soccer players with scholarships for the 2014-2015 season. This year marks the third year of this unique partnership, in which MaxInMotion® has cumulatively awarded $410,000 in funding to AYSA for deserving players. Applications increase every year with about 799 applications being submitted this season from 33 AYSA Clubs across the state.

“MaxInMotion® has helped us accomplish a lot in three years,” said Arizona Youth Soccer Association Executive Director, Leslie Johnson. “Hundreds of boys and girls from across Arizona have enjoyed active soccer seasons thanks to MaxInMotion® and we couldn’t be more appreciative.”

“Athletics teach young people so many skills, from leadership to teamwork to self-discipline,” said Jonah Shacknai, MaxInMotion® President. “MaxInMotion® broadens the universe of children who are able to participate in the caliber of play offered through the AYSA Club network. We are the only charity in Arizona that believes economics shouldn’t be a barrier for talented, deserving young athletes to participate in competitive sports.”

About MaxInMotion® Foundation:

MaxInMotion® provides much needed financial assistance to youth sports programs for underprivileged children and for the development of programs to include special needs populations in youth sports activities. Research shows that participation in youth sports enhances community values, interdependency, and collective responsibility. Physical fitness prevents childhood obesity and has also been linked to reducing school dropout rates, teen pregnancy and high-risk behaviors, all of which pose tremendous consequences to our society.

MaxInMotion® has developed partnerships with other youth sports organizations, including Coyotes Charities, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, Phoenix Suns Charities and the Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL). The Arizona Youth Soccer Association has established cycles for application submission, which begin each year in the late spring. Visit www.maxinmotion.org for more details.

MaxInMotion® was founded in memory of Max Shacknai, who embodied the ideal young athlete: passionate, hardworking, and incredibly committed to his teammates. To learn more or to contribute visit www.maxinmotion.org

About Arizona Youth Soccer Association

Arizona Youth Soccer Association (AYSA) is a 501c(3) non-profit association. AYSA is the official youth soccer association of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer. AYSA represents 81 Member Leagues and Clubs comprising membership of more than 39,800 registered players, coaches, referees and league administrators. Servicing the entire state, AYSA provides recreational and competitive opportunities for players of all ages, genders and skill levels. For more information, please visit – www.azyouthsoccer.org

Contact: Ron Gilmore, AYSA 602-433-9202 – [email protected]

AYSA Receives the Largest Donation in History to Support Youth Soccer Players in Financial Need

Phoenix, Ariz., October 10, 2013 – Arizona Youth Soccer Association is thrilled to announce that the MaxInMotion® Foundation has awarded more than $160,000.00 in scholarship funding for the 2013-14 season. The funding will be used to support youth soccer players throughout Arizona in financial need.

This year, 722 applications for financial support were submitted. In the end, 465 players were approved to receive over $160,000.00 in scholarship funding. The athletes represent 29 member youth soccer clubs within the Arizona Youth Soccer Association. Coupled with the donation of over $100,000.00 last season, MaxInMotion® has now funded over $260,000.00 in two years. The next anticipated cycle will begin in June of 2014.

“MaxInMotion® is honored to continue its important partnership with AYSA. As the governing body of Arizona Youth Soccer, AYSA has joined with us to enable economically challenged players to participate in competitive soccer and build the core values that MaxInMotion® stands for: personal fitness, teamwork and community involvement. Max Shacknai would have been proud that an organization founded in his memory is able to assist so many talented young athletes,” said Jonah Shacknai, MaxInMotion Foundation President.

“Arizona Youth Soccer Association is extremely appreciative of our partnership with the MaxInMotion® Foundation. Their efforts to help break down the financial barriers associated with participating in competitive youth soccer for players in financial need are unsurpassed,” said Mark Thede, President of AYSA. “This year, the Foundation awarded the single-largest donation in AYSA history which will ensure that 465 players will receive much needed financial assistance so they can participate in the game they love!”

About MaxInMotion® Foundation:

Provides much needed financial assistance to youth sports programs for underprivileged children and for the development of programs to include special needs populations in youth sports activities. Further, research shows that participation in youth sports enhances community values, interdependency, and collective responsibility. Physical fitness prevents childhood obesity and has also been linked to reducing school dropout rates, teen pregnancy and high-risk behaviors, all of which pose tremendous consequences to our society.

MaxInMotion® has developed partnerships with other youth sports organizations including Coyotes Charities, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Phoenix Suns Charities. Grant applications are being fulfilled by each organization for their respective youth sport. Like Arizona Youth Soccer Association, there are established cycles for application submission. Visit www.maxinmotion.org for more details.

MaxInMotion® was founded in memory of Max Shacknai, who embodied the ideal young athlete: passionate, hard working and incredibly committed to his teammates. To learn more, or to contribute, please visit: www.maxinmotion.org

About Arizona Youth Soccer Association:

Arizona Youth Soccer Association (AYSA) is a 501c(3) non-profit association. AYSA is the official youth soccer association of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer. AYSA represents 78 Member Leagues and Clubs comprising membership of more than 36,900 registered players, coaches, referees and league administrators. Servicing the entire state, AYSA provides rewarding recreational and competitive opportunities for Players of all ages, genders and skill levels. For more information, please visit: www.azyouthsoccer.org

Contact: Ron Gilmore, AYSA 602-433-9202

PHOENIX, AZ – Arizona Bridge to Independent Living and the MaxInMotion® Foundation are pleased to announce the development of a series of adaptive sports clinics for youth in Arizona. The half-day clinics will introduce children 18 years and under to wheelchair basketball and power soccer for athletes with disabilities.

The clinics will be held at the Virginia G. Piper Sports & Fitness Center (SpoFit) on May 4, June 8 and July 13, 2013. SpoFit is located the Disability Empowerment Center at 5031 E Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona.

Players from the Phoenix Banner Wheelchair Suns will be on hand to work with kids interested in wheelchair basketball, and members of the ASU Sun Devils Power Soccer team will work with kids interested in power soccer.

The clinics are designed to introduce children to the sports, allow them to try out the specialty wheelchairs and equipment used in competition, and meet other children who have similar disabilities. “All too often kids with disabilities and their parents don’t have access to sports and recreational programs. These clinics will allow the entire family to see what can be gained from team sports participation,” said SpoFit Manager Amber Blanchard.

Wheelchair basketball is played at many levels. Some universities offer scholarships to wheelchair players, and it is a Paralympic sport. The Phoenix Wheelchair Suns have four teams including a co-ed youth squad.

Power Soccer has been played for three decades, but has seen a striking increase in popularity with the advent of new technology. The sport is played on a basketball court. Athletes use power wheelchairs with front guards to move a large ball down the court and attempt to score much like traditional soccer.

“SpoFit’s adaptive recreational programs provide important opportunities for youth who otherwise may not be able to participate in sports,” said MaxInMotion® President Jonah Shacknai. “We are proud to support the work they are doing in our community.”

For more information about the clinics visit www.spofit.org.

About MaxInMotion®

MaxInMotion® is a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to providing young athletes an opportunity to compete at both the recreational and competitive levels in major youth sports. The Foundation provides financial support directly to youth sports organizations throughout the state of Arizona, to help underwrite inclusion in sports programs of financially challenged boys and girls who would not otherwise be able to participate. MaxInMotion® also develops programs to include special needs populations in youth sports activities. The Foundation embraces the philosophy that youth sports contribute dramatically to character development and personal fitness, and that team participation helps establish values of community, interdependency and collective responsibility.

About SpoFit and the Arizona Bridge to Independent Living

The Virginia G. Piper Sports & Fitness Center (SpoFit) opened in 2011 and is one of only two centers specifically designed to host sports, fitness, and recreational activities for people with disabilities in the U.S. SpoFit is a program of Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL), the largest independent living center in Arizona.

MaxInMotion® grants Phoenix Suns Charities $50,000 to provide financial aid to 1,500 young Valley athletes

PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns Charities will offer 1,500 Valley children an opportunity to participate in youth basketball programs throughout our community, thanks to a $50,000 grant by local non-profit, MaxInMotion®. The two organizations have partnered to create the Phoenix Suns Charities’ MaxInMotion® Scholarship Program, designed to provide financial assistance to children who are interested in participating in youth basketball programs, but may not have the means to do so.

Through the partnership, the MaxInMotion® Foundation will grant $50,000 annually to Phoenix Suns Charities, which will be distributed to local non-profits that run basketball programs throughout the Valley. As a result, each non-profit organization will then award Phoenix Suns Charities’ MaxInMotion® Scholarships to children in need of the assistance.

As part of the program, all scholarship recipients will receive a free ticket to either a Phoenix Suns or Mercury home game.

About MaxInMotion®

MaxInMotion® is a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to providing young athletes an opportunity to compete at both the recreational and competitive levels in major youth sports. The Foundation provides financial support directly to youth sports organizations throughout the state of Arizona, to help underwrite inclusion in sports programs of financially challenged boys and girls who would not otherwise be able to participate. MaxInMotion® also develops programs to include special needs populations in youth sports activities. The Foundation embraces the philosophy that youth sports contribute dramatically to character development and personal fitness, and that team participation helps establish values of community, interdependency and collective responsibility.

Phoenix Suns Charities’ “Jump Ball”

Phoenix Suns Charities will host its 25th anniversary gala, “The Jump Ball,” on Saturday, March 2 at Talking Stick Resort, beginning at 6 p.m. Guests will enjoy appearances by the entire Suns team and coaching staff, as well as Suns’ Ring of Honor members Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson. Entertainment will be provided by Grammy award-winning group, The Pointer Sisters, comedian Frank Caliendo and DJ Roonie G.

Table sponsorship options, as well as a limited number of individual tickets, are available at sunscharities.org, or by calling 602-379-7767.

–SunsCharities.org–

Contact: Christina Borrego, 602-721-5779 [email protected]

PHOENIX, AZ — MaxInMotion® announces the completion of the inaugural cycle of grants in collaboration with Coyotes Charities and the Arizona youth hockey community. Among the recipients were those pursuing an opportunity to participate in the Fall 2012 through Spring 2013 competitive hockey seasons, as well as a Foundation that has introduced more than 1,000 children age four to 12 to the game for the first time.

“The youth hockey community in our state is a growing, active group; deserving of support because of their sportsmanship and effectiveness in teaching kids the importance of teamwork in competition,” said Jonah Shacknai, MaxInMotion® President. “Knowing that more boys and girls will be able to participate this upcoming season, some for the first time, is very rewarding to MaxInMotion’s® supporters.”

MaxInMotion® funding will help pay for learn-to-skate programs which cost approximately $700 per child for a full year. The grants will also help cover fees for recreational hockey leagues, which focus on skill development, teamwork and physical fitness in a fun environment. These costs are approximately $850 for a full year. When it comes to competitive hockey leagues, the costs range between $3,500-$7,000 a year, not including travel or the additional $500 or more, for standard hockey equipment.

“I was excited to learn about the MaxInMotion® scholarship program and was thrilled with the contributions made to help kids in our organization,” said George Bird, finance director for Arizona Runners Hockey. “As the treasurer for our hockey club, it was my happy duty to communicate the scholarship awards to the families and see the expressions of gratitude and thankfulness for MaxInMotion’s® generous contributions. The organization’s generosity brought joy and relief to these parents who have been struggling to find a way to let their kids participate in a sport they love. It is great to see that there are organizations like this out there,” said Bird.

The Phoenix Junior Coyotes Youth Hockey Program agrees. “The entire Jr. Coyotes program is very grateful that MaxInMotion® was able to help out some of our players by keeping them on the ice and able to continue to participate with their team for this hockey season,” said Mike De Angelis, director of travel hockey for Phoenix Jr. Coyotes.

MaxInMotion® has developed partnerships with many youth sports organizations, including Coyotes Charities, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, Phoenix Suns Charities and the Arizona Youth Soccer Association. Grant applications are being fulfilled by each organization for their respective youth sport. Visit www.maxinmotion.org for more details.

MaxInMotion® provides much needed financial assistance to youth sports programs for underprivileged children and for the development of programs to include special needs populations in youth sports activities. Research shows that participation in youth sports enhances community values, interdependency, and collective responsibility. Physical fitness prevents childhood obesity and has also been linked to reducing school dropout rates, teen pregnancy and high-risk behaviors, all of which pose tremendous consequences to our society.

MaxInMotion® was founded in memory of Max Shacknai, who embodied the ideal young athlete: passionate, hard working, and incredibly committed to his teammates. To learn more or contribute visit www.maxinmotion.org

PHOENIX, AZ – MaxInMotion® announced today an important addition to its list of major sports franchise partnerships. Coyotes Charities, the non-profit charity arm of the Phoenix Coyotes, has become a key collaborating partner in cultivating youth sports for deserving young athletes in our communities. This expansion into youth hockey advances MaxInMotion’s mission of helping financially disadvantaged Arizona youth to participate in organized sports.

“We are so appreciative of how MaxInMotion® has been received by our community of professional sports organizations since its launch earlier this summer,” said Jonah Shacknai, MaxInMotion® President. “With partners like the Phoenix Coyotes, we will make a difference in the lives of many young Arizona athletes who otherwise would not be able to discover their potential in a team sport like hockey.”

Coyotes Charities seeks to enhance the quality of life throughout Arizona communities by supporting non-profit organizations that promote healthcare, education, cultural arts and sports-related programs for children. They join the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Phoenix Suns Charities whose combined skills and experience in supporting youth sports will serve Arizona youth and MaxInMotion® well. Further, MaxInMotion® has developed a partnership with Arizona Youth Soccer Association, which is currently receiving and reviewing grant applications from youth soccer clubs statewide.

“We are very pleased to partner with MaxInMotion® to help financially disadvantaged children in our state participate in the sports they love,” said Phoenix Coyotes President and COO Mike Nealy. “We look forward to working with MaxInMotion® to raise awareness about the foundation and to create opportunities for young athletes to play the game of hockey.”

It has been proven that participation in youth sports enhances community values, interdependency, and collective responsibility. Physical fitness prevents childhood obesity and has also been linked to reducing school dropout rates, teen pregnancy and high-risk behaviors, all of which pose tremendous consequences to our society.

MaxInMotion® provides much needed financial assistance to youth sports programs for underprivileged children and for the development of programs to include special needs populations in youth sports activities. Selected organizations must support soccer, baseball, basketball, or hockey, and emphasize character development, teamwork, academic excellence, and self-respect.

MaxInMotion® was founded in memory of Max Shacknai, who embodied the ideal young athlete: passionate, hard working, and incredibly committed to his teammates. To learn more or contribute visit www.maxinmotion.org

New Non-Profit Reveals Website and Grant Application Process for Youth Sports Groups

PHOENIX, AZ – MaxInMotion®, a new not-for-profit foundation dedicated to helping financially disadvantaged Arizona youth participate in organized sports, launches its website today. MaxInMotion® will provide much needed financial assistance to youth sports programs for underprivileged children and for the development of programs to include special needs populations in youth sports activities. Starting today youth organizations from across Arizona can apply for grants and everyone can donate to help young people in their community by visiting www.maxinmotion.org.

MaxInMotion® was founded in memory of Max Shacknai, who embodied the ideal young athlete: passionate, hard working, and incredibly committed to his teammates. Upon sharing the news in honor of Max’s birthday today Jonah Shacknai, Max’s father and MaxInMotion® President, said, “MaxInMotion® will provide children from financially constrained families with opportunities to participate in organized sports to learn important life skills such as teamwork, commitment and the value of health and fitness. We believe it will create a long-lasting community impact.”

Importantly, participation in youth sports enhances community values, interdependency, and collective responsibility. Physical fitness prevents childhood obesity and has also been linked to reducing school dropout rates, teen pregnancy and high-risk behaviors, all of which pose tremendous consequences to our society.

MaxInMotion® will be a strong financial ally to non-profit organizations that enroll children regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnic background, and special needs in recreational or competitive level teams. Selected organizations must support soccer, baseball, basketball, or hockey, and emphasize character development, teamwork, academic excellence, and self-respect.

MaxInMotion® has forged partnerships with two of the major sports franchises in Arizona, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Phoenix Suns Charities, to combine with their skills and experience in supporting youth sports. In addition, the Foundation has developed a partnership with Arizona Youth Soccer Association and major hockey clubs and organizations throughout Arizona, so that participation in these important sports may also be promoted.

The debut is timely given all of the cuts to school sports programs and the ever-shrinking budgets of community athletic programs. As a result there is a dire need to support youth in low-income communities who have drastically limited opportunities.