JF&CS helps give children and youth in our community the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities to which they wouldn't otherwise have access. The Levelling the Playing Field fund enables us to help provide computers and software, sports equipment, fitness memberships, lessons, clothing for special events such as graduation, and more.

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Leia is a recipient of this type of support. Her mother shares, "she has had a very rough time, not feeling like she belongs anywhere and is often excluded because she’s different. She saw a movie about cheerleading and said she really wanted to do 'that'. After a lot of research, we found an inclusive studio that prides itself on participant diversity, and it has become a safe place for Leia. She is part of a team where she can be an 11-year-old girl, the same as the others. They make competition posters and pins and have sticker wars with their teammates. But it’s so much more - it is a place where she works hard to achieve a goal and has good role models who tell her that she can do it and work with her to make it a reality." 

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This support helps these young people avoid the isolation that often comes with poverty. "None of this reality would be possible without the generous funding from JF&CS," she continues. "Leia is one of 4 siblings, and despite working full-time, the cost was a huge barrier. The money we received removed the barrier for Leia and she gets to “fly” (that’s Leia’s role on the team - she’s a flyer)."