Leveling the Playing Field

 Leveling the Playing Field, LLC 

Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) is a nonprofit organization which collects gently used sporting equipment donations and redistributes equipment to communities with under-served resources in an effort to expand access and equity in youth athletics.  

The LPF website describes their company vision as a "world without sidelines," and mentions that Leveling the Playing Field was formed as a response to the "growing inequity between those that can afford to play sports and those that cannot, and the prominent role the cost of sporting goods was playing in that gap."  

As their company history frankly puts it, Leveling the Playing Field is "essentially a food bank for sporting equipment "-- and Game Day Athletics is proud to support!

 LPF has warehouses currently located and operating in Baltimore, MD and Washington DC, in addition to their newest location in Philadelphia, which opened recently in 2021. 

In an article published last fall by Gabriela DiGiovanni, the addition of the Philadelphia LPF warehouse in 2021 was met with incredible success, as "$800,000 worth of sports equipment [was collected] and [LPF] distributed $315,000 worth back into the community" within 10 months of opening shop. 

Athletic directors, coaches, volunteers and the like are able to apply for equipment grants through Leveling the Playing Field and shop the warehouse to bring the tools and resources they need to support their athletic programs back home.

 But the giving doesn't stop on the field --- DiGiovanni quoted Danielle Miller, Program Director of Leveling the Playing Field Philadelphia, stating that approximately 50% of the incoming applicants are teachers seeking supplies for their classrooms. 

After connecting with the founder of LPF, Max Levitt, at the 2022 Next Up Youth Sports Conference in NYC, Game Day Athletics was asked to house a donation bin for guests and neighbors to drop off their gently used sporting equipment to be redistributed from their newest warehouse located in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania. 

Since 2023, Game Day Athletics has housed an Eagles themed LPF Donation Bin by the front door of our facility, so our sports-minded community can drop off the equipment their athletes may have outgrown any time at your convenience! Donations are routinely picked up by the volunteers and staff of LPF to be redistributed from their Philadelphia Warehouse. 

And we're not the only team loving what LPF does --- the Philadelphia Eagles have not only financially supported the mission of bringing LPF to Philly, but the Eagles players themselves have volunteered their time to help with inventory and donation drives with Leveling the Playing Field. 

So, while you're cleaning out the garage to prepare for your Superbowl Party this Sunday, watching the Eagles take the mainstage against the Chiefs, stop by Game Day Athletics and make a donation that could provide a child a chance to fall in love with the sports we all have ourselves. 

"Linebacker T.J. Edwards says "it takes all of us," when it comes to supporting the youth in the community and providing them with all the resources necessary to succeed." 

 

Sources: 

Leveling the Playing Field, www.levelingtheplayingfield.org. 

" 'We did not expect it to take off': learn how a nonprofit is getting youth athletes on the field." DiGiovanni, Gabriela. 8 September 2022. https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/leveling-the-playing-field-learn-how-a-nonprofit-is-getting-youth-athletes