Weaver Lake Elementary School Kidstop students partner with Gopher athletes to raise funds

Kidstop students at Maple Grove’s Weaver Lake Elementary School are spending their summer learning “Fit is Fun.” In the process, they are raising funds to make a difference for others around the country.

 Kidstop is partnering with the University of Minnesota Gophers this summer to raise funds for Sports Gift. This charity organization distributes sports equipment to communities in over fifty countries all over the world to help provide sports to impoverished children. The charity was founded in 2002 by Keven and Claire Baxter in Dana Point, California.

 Gopher athletes have joined Weaver Lake Kidstop students in raising funds for Sports Gift. They are already halfway to their goal of raising enough funds to donate 1,000 pieces of equipment this summer. The Gophers joined Kidstop students in a car wash fundraiser and are sponsoring an athletic equipment collection drive. Students are continuing to come up with fundraising ideas throughout the summer. Together, the students and Gopher athletes will continue their community service efforts into August by spending an afternoon packing food at Feed My Starving Children.

 A final presentation also will be held Aug. 13 at Weaver Lake Elementary School as the Kidstop students and Gopher athletes visit with the Sports Gift founders via Face Time video conferencing to present the funds they have raised. Gophers participating in this program have included athletes from the football, wrestling, volleyball, baseball, softball, tennis, track & field, and swimming & diving teams.

 Kidstop is a quality, year-round, school-age care program offered for kindergarten through 6th graders to meet the childcare needs of parents in Independent School District 279.