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LOS ANGELES — Disney Jr. is once again teaming up with ESPN to help little athletes get in the game!
As part of Disney’s commitment to encourage active play, ESPN’s Take Back Sports initiative and Disney Jr.’s Let’s Play! campaign is returning for a second year to expand access to youth sports for preschoolers and kindergarteners.
The effort will once again partner with the nonprofit Every Kid Sports to provide grants that help income-restricted families cover youth sports registration fees for children ages 3 to 7.
Qualifying families can register here.
The initiative made a big impact in its first year, helping more than 1,200 families, with half saying the grant allowed their child to play a sport for the very first time.
More than 70 preschoolers and kindergarteners also took part in a free Let’s Play! Sports clinic in East Los Angeles last fall.
This year, the initiative is expanding with free preschool sports clinics in select areas, including Oakland, Chicago, Fresno, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
The partnership also expands into television programming with “Me & Mickey: Let’s Play Sports,” a collection of 10 shorts featuring Mickey, Minnie and the gang introducing kids to sports techniques like kicking a soccer ball and playing catch.
“Me & Mickey: Let’s Play Sports” debuts June 29 on Disney Jr. and Disney+.
Head of Disney Jr. Original Programming and Strategy, Alyssa Sapire, discussed Disney Jr.’s focus on incorporating these skills into storytelling.
“We work closely with consultants and experts from multiple organizations to help integrate these positive life skills into our Disney Jr. Content,” she said. “We can’t wait for kids to learn the joy of playing sports through watching Mickey and the gang.”
The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Disney+, Disney Jr. and this station.
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