Foundation Announces $250,000 Game Changer Grant Competition

The Edwin J. Wadas Foundation is accepting applications for the $250,000.00 Game Changer Grant.

This is a competitive grant to address obstacles preventing youth from accessing recreational and competitive youth sports.

Qualified applicants include school districts, nonprofit organizations and municipalities located in Oneida and Herkimer counties.

All projects should be transformative, sustainable and address an issue preventing children aged 5-18 from accessing sports, athletics or recreational play in their local community. Priority will be given to those projects showing collaborative efforts to enhance an existing program.

“The Game Changer Grant provides significant funding to transform your community and provide children access to sports and fitness. There are numerous physical, mental and social skills that can be taught through participation in youth sports. We encourage organizations to collaborate and be creative when addressing obstacles facing their community” stated Victoria Cataldo, executive director of the Edwin J. Wadas Foundation.

In 2023, multiple awards totaling over $700,000 were given out as part of the Game Changer Grant Competition. The winning award of the $250,000.00 was Westmoreland Little League.

“Receiving the Game Changer Grant gave our organization the ability to take an already growing program to the next level. Through the grant, our organization was able to utilize a parcel of land that was already a historical part of the town and fix a big problem we have faced in recent years—field space for our young athletes. As a small organization it gave us the opportunity of a lifetime to create a space that will benefit youth in our community for years to come,” said the Westmoreland Little League board of directors.

Applications are being accepted until May 1. For more details and to apply visit gamechangergrant.com.