Co-Founders and Colorado State legislators, State Senator James Coleman (D) and former State Representative Colin Larson (R), had worked across the aisle on bipartisan policy, working from different party ideals toward the same common goal: to make Colorado a better place for their friends, families, neighbors, and fellow citizens.
James and Colin had a vision that crossed more than party lines, and aligned on a mutual passion for using their positions in the community to build up their communities in another way: through the concept of giving kids a chance at elite athletics, believing that two sides could come together to help level the playing field.
Together, we win. We not only believe that, but are committed to putting it into action, one student athlete at a time. We hope you’ll join us.
Leveling the Playing Field
The seed for Chance Sports was planted when James – whose son and daughter play competitive sports – was faced with the reality that there were kids on their teams who couldn’t afford to play. And while that was unfortunate for those kids individually, he recognized that it also was unfortunate for the ecosystem of the team – because there wasn’t a complete team without those kids who couldn’t afford to play (based on a lack of disposable income).
Having recognized a problem, James saw a solution: provide scholarships to low income families to allow a more diverse range of participation and opportunity and to elevate the discussion about youth sports as a gateway to future education, engaged citizenship, and community leadership.
James knows personally what an impact a scholarship can make, having received a scholarship himself in grades 7-12. Because of his experience, he went on to volunteer (and later work) to pay that experience forward – something he’s still actively committed to as a legislator. The vision for Chance Sports is a product of his first-hand experience as a student athlete, and that of his children, as a parent and leader.
Colin has a similar passion and commitment to kids and to sports as an equalizer. “Equal opportunity levels the playing field, and makes it about the talent not the access. The reason a kid doesn’t make it [to an elite level of athleticism] shouldn’t be because they didn’t have the opportunity,” says James. And Colin adds, “Breaking down barriers to opportunity is at the core of our DNA, and the fabric and ethos of what we do and why we do it.”
It struck a nerve with James and Colin that, while sports and athleticism have long been a great equalizer, modern changes to the cost to play are building new walls even as we’re tearing down old ones. The mission with Chance Sports is to open doors that have been closed due to a lack of disposable income – to youth that have drive and talent to compete. They bring the preparation and we bring the opportunity to come together so that everybody wins.
Opportunity Meets Preparation
When you give people the great equalizer of opportunity (a chance), people that have different views and backgrounds and life experiences can all come together, stronger, leveling the playing field literally, and giving every kid and every parent a golden opportunity at a stronger foundation in both academics and athletics. So many professional athletes tell incredible underdog stories speaking to how athletics provided a ticket – a chance they wouldn’t have had otherwise – to attend college… And how that ticket ended up being an invitation to an entirely different and better life for them and their families.
The legislators are proud to partner for social impact, and to be able to use their bipartisan influence and networks to amplify and invest in creating opportunities for often under-represented children and families. They have united to unlock potential in, and uplift, student athletes who have all of the qualifications, preparation, dedication, and hard work – and to connect them with a life-changing chance.
Together, we win. We not only believe that, but are committed to putting it into action, one student athlete at a time. We hope you’ll join us.