State OF PLAY PHOENIX
State of Play Phoenix, Project Play’s 21st community report, will analyze children’s access to quality sports and physical activity opportunities in Phoenix, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley. The report, focused on youth sports within the Phoenix Union High School boundary, will research the barriers and opportunities to get more children to play.
This effort is driven by a critical state deficit: Arizona currently ranks 28th nationally for youth sports participation, with girls and children of color participating less than their peers. This makes increased sports access a top priority for the region's rapidly growing youth population given the physical, social, emotional and academic benefits that can come from physical activity.
The project will leverage a powerful coalition of local sports franchises and philanthropic foundations. State of Play Phoenix will focus on:
Expanding access to sports: Reversing low participation rates by making sports available to thousands of local children, giving them the simple opportunity to just be kids.
Fostering character and leadership: Utilizing sports as a vehicle to teach vital life skills, including leadership development, confidence, discipline, mentorship and learning how to handle loss.
Broad community collaboration: Partnering with prominent regional organizations to drive the initiative forward, including the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury Foundation, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Raceway, Arizona Soccer Association, Thunderbirds Charities, Fiesta Sports Foundation, and the Larry Fitzgerald Foundation.
The final report will be released in 2027. Previous Project Play community reports have helped mobilize leaders across sectors to set shared agendas, shape government policies, develop innovative partnerships, and unlock tens of millions of dollars in grantmaking.
For more information about this project, please contact Jon Solomon (jon.solomon@aspeninstitute.org)
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