8 inspiring youth sports fundraising stories proving community support changes everything, from wildfire recovery to championship dreams.
Provided by our good friends at GoFundMe. All stories are linked directly to GoFundMe pages.
- First to Third Baseball Camp (Altadena) – Youth baseball camp seeks new venue funding after city denies park access post-wildfires
- Roosevelt High School Basketball (Minneapolis) – Teams need $14,500 for new uniforms after massive district budget cuts
- Dirt Devo Cyclocross Team (Denver) – Youth team rebuilds after thieves steal every bike, tool, and generator from trailer
- PUMAHS Ultimate Frisbee (Arlington, MA) – Non-varsity club team raises $13,000+ for national tournament travel costs
- Alaska Rush 2012 Boys Soccer – Team overcomes geographic barriers with $5,000+ for President’s Cup Regional tournament
- Kern Valley Girls Track Team – Community funds $4,000 for championship rings after historic first CIF state title
- Santana Deveaux Boxing (Ohio) – 9-year-old defends Jr Olympics title with $7,750 in community support
- Kaylie’s Softball Journey (Michigan) – Single mom receives $1,300 to send daughter to league World Series after household emergencies
Introduction
Every Friday, we spotlight the extraordinary stories emerging from grassroots youth sports—tales that remind us why community-powered athletics represent the future of youth development. Today’s Feel Good Friday features eight remarkable fundraising journeys that showcase how platforms like GoFundMe are democratizing access to sports opportunities across America.
From wildfire-displaced baseball camps in California to bicycle theft recovery in Colorado, these stories reveal a powerful truth: when traditional funding falls short, communities step up. We’re witnessing a fundamental shift in how youth sports programs survive and thrive, moving beyond institutional support toward crowd-sourced solutions that reflect genuine community investment.
These eight stories span diverse sports, geographic regions, and challenges—yet they share common threads of resilience, determination, and the unwavering belief that every young athlete deserves their shot at greatness. Whether it’s a 9-year-old boxer defending his national title or a high school track team celebrating their first state championship, each narrative demonstrates how small donations can create life-changing impacts.
The collective fundraising success across these campaigns—totaling over $50,000 raised—illustrates more than individual victories. It represents a grassroots movement reshaping youth sports accessibility, one GoFundMe campaign at a time.
First to Third Baseball Camp: Rising from the Ashes
For twelve years, First to Third has been more than just a youth baseball camp in Altadena, California—it’s been a cornerstone of community service. Owner Darrell Gay has transformed this annual tradition into a comprehensive youth development program offering “high-quality training, scholarships, mentorship programs, youth advocacy, upcoming coaches, and so much more.”
But 2025 brought an unprecedented challenge. For the first time in over a decade, the city denied Gay access to the park where he’s hosted the camp, forcing him to seek alternative venues at significantly higher costs. The timing couldn’t be more challenging, coming as the community continues recovering from devastating LA wildfires.
Rather than cancel the program, Gay turned to GoFundMe, where the community response has been swift and supportive. The campaign has already raised over $3,000 in just days, demonstrating the deep appreciation locals have for Gay’s 17 years of youth service. “The rebound will be stronger and I look to continue to service the community’s youth as I’ve done for 17 years now,” Gay wrote, embodying the resilience that defines grassroots youth sports leadership.
[GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-altadenas-beloved-baseball-camp]
Roosevelt High School Basketball: Excellence Meets Budget Reality
The Minneapolis Public School system’s massive $75 million budget cuts have created an impossible situation for Roosevelt High School’s basketball programs. Just as both the boys’ and girls’ teams are experiencing unprecedented success, they’re unable to afford basic necessities like new uniforms.
The timing is particularly poignant. The girls’ team just made school history by reaching the state tournament for the first time in Roosevelt’s 100-year existence. Meanwhile, the boys’ program has grown so dramatically that the school added B and C-level teams, and their varsity coach earned 2025 Coach of the Year honors. This is success that should be celebrated, not constrained by funding limitations.
The teams are seeking $14,500 for new home and road uniforms across all levels. “Increased participation and success have highlighted wear-and-tear and fit issues with our aging uniform inventory,” the campaign explains. “Your support will help us keep up with the momentum and ensure all players are properly outfitted.”
This story encapsulates a broader crisis in public school athletics, where academic budget pressures increasingly impact extracurricular programs that serve as vital pathways for student engagement and development.
[GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-roosevelt-shine-new-basketball-gear]
Dirt Devo Cyclocross: Rebuilding After Devastating Theft
Sometimes the most heartbreaking youth sports stories reveal the most inspiring community responses. Denver’s Dirt Devo cyclocross team experienced every coach’s nightmare when thieves broke into their trailer Friday night and stole everything—every single bike, all tools, and even the generator.
“These thieves didn’t just steal things,” their GoFundMe campaign states powerfully. “They stole this whole bike team.”
Coach Andrew Harbuck, a constant presence in the cyclocross community who has dedicated his life to teaching the sport’s youngest competitors, is using this devastating setback as a teaching moment about resilience and community support. “The team has always been small, but mighty,” Harbuck wrote. “They are gritty and resilient, and they will overcome. However, the team needs help rebuilding now.”
The community response has been remarkable, with over $3,500 raised toward their $5,000 recovery goal. This story demonstrates how quickly supporters rally when youth programs face existential threats, transforming potential program endings into new beginnings.
[GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-dirt-devo-rebuild-after-theft]
PUMAHS Ultimate Frisbee: Club Team Reaches National Stage
The PUMAHS ultimate frisbee team at Arlington High School in Massachusetts represents thousands of non-varsity programs across America—passionate student-athletes competing at high levels without institutional funding. As a club team, they receive zero dollars from their school, relying entirely on parent volunteers and community generosity.
“We are supported exclusively by a generous and dedicated group of parents and guardians who get us where we need to go, make sure we are well fed and hydrated, and coached by amazing volunteers,” Coach John Rice explained.
Their GoFundMe campaign to cover travel costs for the Ultimate High School National Invite exceeded expectations, raising over $13,000 for their 22-person team. This success enabled them to compete against some of the country’s top programs—a testament to what’s possible when communities invest in student passion projects.
“We have a very dedicated & fun group of players and we can’t wait to play against some of the top teams in the country!” Rice wrote, capturing the excitement that community funding makes possible.
[GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-arlington-pumahs-compete-at-hsni]
Kern Valley Girls Track: Celebrating Historic Achievement
When Kern Valley High School’s girls track team won their first-ever CIF state title, the community knew this monumental accomplishment deserved monumental recognition. The solution? Championship rings funded entirely through grassroots support.
The GoFundMe campaign to purchase commemorative rings quickly reached its $4,000 goal, ensuring each team member receives lasting recognition of their historic achievement. While championship rings might seem like a luxury, organizer Marcie Ellis Bushling understands their deeper significance.
“These rings symbolize not just a victory, but the personal growth and teamwork that come from being part of a sports team,” she wrote. “Our girls have made our school proud, and your support will help foster a sense of community and encouragement for future athletes.”
This story highlights how community funding extends beyond basic needs to celebration and recognition—elements crucial for inspiring the next generation of athletes.
[GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/or-support-cif-rings-for-kern-valleys-historic-win]
Alaska Rush Soccer: Overcoming Geographic Barriers
Youth sports teams everywhere face travel costs, but Alaska presents unique challenges that can seem insurmountable. Limited daily flights, long distances, and premium pricing create barriers that would end many teams’ seasons before they begin.
Mark Meyers understood this reality when organizing fundraising for the Alaska Rush 2012 Boys soccer team’s President’s Cup Regional tournament in Boise. “The location of Alaska can be a barrier on cost for many who need to travel to the lower 48,” he wrote, acknowledging the geographic disadvantage Alaska teams routinely face.
The team received a last-minute tournament bid but couldn’t afford to send everyone without community support. Their GoFundMe campaign not only reached but surpassed the $5,000 goal, enabling the full team to compete at the regional level.
“This is a huge honor and opportunity for the players to compete at the next level, gain national exposure, and create lifelong memories,” Meyers wrote. “With sincere gratitude from our team to you. Many could not have attended this event without your help.”
[GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/get-alaska-rush-boys-to-national-tournament]
Santana Deveaux Boxing: Defending Championship Dreams
Nine-year-old Santana Deveaux from Ohio embodies everything inspiring about youth sports—dedication, talent, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence. Currently competing at the National Junior Olympics in Las Vegas, Santana is defending the gold medal he won last year, seeking back-to-back championships.
“His commitment to training, healthy eating, and supporting his friends in the gym has made him a role model for other young athletes in his community,” his GoFundMe campaign explains. This young athlete’s approach to competition goes beyond personal achievement, inspiring teammates and demonstrating sportsmanship that extends far beyond the ring.
The community response has been overwhelming, with $7,750 raised—far exceeding the $5,000 goal needed to cover competition costs. Santana’s father, Christopher Deveaux, is using this generosity as a teaching moment about paying kindness forward.
“Santana’s journey is about more than just winning medals—it’s about dedication, sportsmanship, and the support of a community that believes in his dreams,” Christopher wrote. “By helping Santana get to the Jr. Olympics, you’re investing in a young athlete’s future and showing him that hard work and commitment truly pay off.”
[GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-santana-compete-at-jr-olympics?cdn-cache=0]
Kaylie’s Softball: A Mother’s Love Meets Community Support
Sometimes the most powerful youth sports stories center on parents willing to do anything for their children’s dreams. Lyndsey Hodson, a single Michigan mother working two jobs, faced an impossible situation when household emergencies consumed the money she’d saved for her daughter Kaylie’s softball World Series tournament.
A broken hot water tank, vehicle brake repairs, and washing machine replacement—all within two weeks—threatened to end Kaylie’s season just as her team earned their biggest opportunity. Rather than disappoint her daughter, Hodson made a difficult decision to ask for community help.
“I’m sucking up my pride asking for help, but there’s nothing I won’t do for my kids,” Hodson wrote on GoFundMe. “Kaylie has put in so much work for her sport, and this is her passion. She deserves to go and shine with her team.”
The community’s response was swift and decisive, with the $1,300 goal quickly met. Now Kaylie gets to compete in the tournament she worked so hard to reach, while learning that communities support families who support their children’s dreams.
[GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kaylie-reach-the-softball-world-series?cdn-cache=0]
The Bigger Picture: Community-Powered Athletics Revolution
These eight stories collectively reveal fundamental shifts occurring across American youth sports. Traditional funding models—school budgets, league fees, and institutional support—increasingly fall short of meeting demand for quality programming and meaningful opportunities.
What emerges instead is a grassroots funding ecosystem powered by community investment and enabled by accessible crowdfunding platforms. Parents, neighbors, local businesses, and extended networks now directly fund the youth sports experiences they value most. This democratization of funding creates more responsive, community-driven programs that reflect local priorities and values.
The geographic diversity of these stories—from Alaska to Michigan, Colorado to California—demonstrates that this trend transcends regional boundaries. Whether facing natural disasters, budget cuts, criminal theft, or simple financial constraints, communities consistently choose to invest in their young athletes’ futures.
Perhaps most significantly, these campaigns total over $50,000 in grassroots funding, representing hundreds of individual donors who believe youth sports matter. Each contribution, whether $5 or $500, signals broader community recognition that athletics provide essential developmental opportunities worth preserving and expanding.
This movement toward community-powered athletics suggests a future where youth sports funding becomes more sustainable, equitable, and responsive to actual community needs. When funding flows directly from community members to local programs, the connection between investment and impact becomes immediate and meaningful.
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