U.S. Figure Skating has awarded a combined $12,000 of U.S. Figure Skating Community Development Grants to six figure skating programs. The U.S. Figure Skating Community Development Grants are bestowed to help create opportunities for diversity and inclusivity, promote the sport of figure skating and to allow clubs to give back to their communities. Below is how each of the six recipients plan to use the grant:
- Ames Figure Skating Club (Ames, Iowa) will host a new “Great to Skate” event to provide a free introduction to skating to individuals of all abilities, backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses in the surrounding area.
- The Cedar Rapids Basic Skills Program (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) will use its funds to grow its Learn to Skate USA® program and increase community outreach by partnering with the diverse public elementary schools within the Cedar Rapids Community School District.
- Figure Skating On Your Block (Chicago, Illinois) in collaboration with the Chicago Youth Foundation will fund its initiative to engage more than 2,000 inner-city, low-income youth in free figure skating and ice hockey programming.
- Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena (Washington, D.C.) will continue to support its FFDIA Kids on Ice® figure skating, Learn to Skate USA® and synchronized skating programs, which serve nearly 3,500 kids annually.
- The Louisville Skating Academy (Louisville, Kentucky) aims to collaborate with the nonprofit FEAT of Louisville to establish the Frozen FEAT Summer Camp, which will be designed for skaters on the autism spectrum and their families.
- The Nashville Figure Skating Club (Nashville, Tennessee) aims to grow its adaptive skating program by adding adaptive skating to its Learn to Skate USA® programming and purchasing new equipment such as adaptive scooter supports, adaptive skates and a wheelchair sled.
The Community Development Grants, started by the Robert V. Hauff and John F. Dreeland Foundation, were established in 2010 with the purpose of providing funding to eligible member clubs and Learn to Skate USA® programs throughout the United States. Formerly known as the Hauff and Dreeland Community Development Grant, the U.S. Figure Skating Community Development Grants are awarded to applicants who successfully demonstrate program plans that embody the principles of U.S. Figure Skating’s mission and will be strong role models in promoting the sport of figure skating throughout their communities.
Read more about U.S. Figure Skating’s Community Development Grants here. Please reach out to giving@usfigureskating.org to learn more about how you could increase funding for the Community Development Grants or provide additional support to U.S. Figure Skating.
