PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Among Mayor Cherelle Parker’s pet peeves is seeing kids out in traffic, helmet in hand, raising money for their sports team.
“It gets under my skin because that’s not what our young people should have to do,” she said. So, to save on some fundraising efforts, Parker put a “historic” $3 million for youth sports in the city budget that will help send 28 football and cheerleading teams to national championships.
“We don’t want our young people worrying about whether or not they will even have the opportunity to compete,” she said.
At a City Hall news conference Monday, she announced the release of the first $1 million, including $300,000 in travel money that will cover a portion of the costs for players and chaperones; $250,000 for new equipment at city parks and recreation centers; and $450,000 to the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative to help year-round with expenses for youth teams in every sport.
Dozens of young cheerleaders and football players headed to national tournaments next week cheered the news. State Representative Jordan Harris said the city will get a return on investment from their enthusiasm.
“They are ambassadors for what is right in the City of Philadelphia.”