Scoring with scholarships

Most parents can attest to the high cost of youth sports. With registration fees, equipment and travel, it may feel like you’re supporting your own little professional athlete.

However, it would be a shame for a child not to be able to take the field due to financial reasons, and luckily organizations like the Spokane Youth Sports Association (SYSA) offer need-based scholarships to take the sting out of the financial costs of their programs.

“Our philosophy is to have everyone be able to play sports,” said Philip Helean, the executive director of SYSA.

With sports offered every season out of the year, scholarships offered by SYSA cut down on the cost of the registration fees for those sports. The registration fee includes equipment and league costs as well. This year, SYSA has saved parents $20,000 with their scholarship program.

“We are getting more and more requests,” said Helean, who said it was a combination of the rising cost of youth sports and the current economic conditions.

Parents need to fill out an application for the scholarships and kids that get free or reduced lunches at school automatically qualify for them.

SYSA also considers special circumstances for the need-based scholarships.

The cost of these scholarships are offset by the generous donations made by the community.

Every spring, SYSA holds a fundraising breakfast to help add to the scholarship fund as well.

“There have been really generous people in the community that realize families in Spokane need this,” said Helean.

For more information about the scholarships, contact the SYSA organization at krisf@sysa.com.