Redemptive Non-Profit

Last April, I did an internship with an organization called Empower Sports. Empower Sports is a non-profit organization that aims to enrich the lives of athletes with diverse challenges through sports and exercise. The organization hopes to promote kindness, build character, and develop relationships that will last a long time. Empower Sports believes that athletes of all ages should have an opportunity to participate in the games that they love, regardless of their physical or mental abilities.

I heard about Empower Sports from the coach of the middle school girls’ basketball team in my district. She told me that she had been volunteering with the organization for over 5 years, and that it was incredible, and I should consider it for my internship. Upon looking into the organization and its values, I found that it was exactly the kind of thing I was looking for and would love to be a part of. Empower Sports hosts sporting events for people of all ages who have a mental or physical disability that prevents them from participating in a true competitive sport. They work with children and adults to help them stay active and enjoy games that they love. This seemed perfect for me, an athlete who loves all kinds of sports and loves helping people.

Empower Sports focuses heavily on finding volunteers to connect with their participating athletes. My first official task was to find 10 friends to volunteer on a Wednesday night for a basketball practice that was being held at the elementary school in my district. It is very important to the organization that they make people aware that people with disabilities can enjoy the same things we enjoy, just maybe not at the same speed or competitiveness.

The organization also employs some of their athletes who otherwise may not be able to find a job in the real world. They complete tasks that can be done by anyone, and this gives them a sense of accomplishment and joy by completing a job. Empower Sports is a truly redemptive organization because they focus not only on bringing people joy through playing sports, but they focus on providing a source of income, even if it is only a little, to people who otherwise may be treated like less-than in a harsh society.