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ESPN and Disney Jr. Join Forces to Bring Sports to Kids in Need
Disney is continuing its incredible commitment to helping kids thrive through the power of play! ESPN and Disney Jr. are teaming up once again to expand access to youth sports for preschoolers, inspiring healthy, active play both on our screens and in communities across the country.
Now entering its second year, this fantastic preschool-focused initiative—spearheaded by ESPN’s “Take Back Sports” and “Disney Jr. Let’s Play!”—is collaborating with national nonprofit Every Kid Sports. Together, they are providing vital grants to help income-restricted families cover the cost of youth sports registration fees for children ages 3–7, ensuring more kids can experience the benefits of sports early in life.
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Last year’s inaugural run was a massive success! More than 1,200 families across eight U.S. cities received grants supporting access to 22 different sports. Incredible enough, 50% of those participating families noted that it was their child’s very first time playing a sport! The initiative also hosted its first free “Let’s Play” sports clinic in East Los Angeles last fall, welcoming over 70 preschoolers and kindergarteners.
This year, the program is getting even bigger. The initiative will expand to include free preschool sports clinics in several new select markets, including:
- Oakland
- Chicago
- Fresno
- Los Angeles / Inland Empire
- Philadelphia
- …and more!
These clinics are designed to introduce young children to multiple sports in a completely fun, low-pressure way while connecting families directly to valuable youth sports resources right in their neighborhoods.
Registrations for this year’s grants—which will be fulfilled through the fall 2026 Every Kid Sports Pass—are officially open for qualifying families.
If you live in one of the following metro areas, you can apply now:
- Los Angeles & Fresno
- San Francisco
- Houston
- Chicago
- Philadelphia
- Raleigh-Durham
- New York
To tie the initiative back to the magic of storytelling, Disney Jr. is launching a brand-new programming collection designed to inspire an early love of sports, active play, and teamwork.
“Me & Mickey: Let’s Play Sports”—a collaboration between Disney Jr., ESPN, and the Positive Coaching Alliance—will officially debut on Monday, June 29, on Disney+, Disney Jr. (at 6:25 a.m. EDT/PDT), and Disney Jr. On Demand.
An extension of the incredibly popular “Me & Mickey” vlog series, this collection of 10 shorts features Mickey, Minnie, and the rest of the gang laughing, playing, and working together as a team. The shorts are perfect for little ones, introducing them to preschool-friendly sports techniques like kicking a soccer ball and playing catch.
“Play is such an important part of every child’s development… We can’t wait for kids to learn the joy of playing sports through watching Mickey and the gang.” — Alyssa Sapire, Head of Disney Jr. Original Programming and Strategy
Kevin Martinez, vice president of ESPN Corporate Citizenship, echoed that excitement, noting: “At ESPN, we believe sports can make a meaningful difference for kids from an early age, helping build confidence, teamwork, and sportsmanship.”
Every Kid Sports Executive Director Eleana Fanaika added, “This collaboration is about more than sports — it’s about joy, confidence, and creating those first unforgettable moments that spark a lifelong love of being active and connected.”
What sport is your little one most excited to try out?
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