Every young basketball player dreams of one day having their own signature shoe line when they make it to the big leagues — but the rising cost of athletic footwear can discourage families before the first practice even begins. 

Riverview School, a Title I school that receives federal funding to support low-income families and proudly serves a student body that is 70% English Language learners, is looking to simultaneously support those who want to play basketball and nurture a burgeoning athletic culture. 

Fronted by parent Lisa Volek, the school is sponsoring a GoFundMe that will purchase a new pair of shoes for every seventh and eighth grade girls basketball player with a new pair of quality basketball shoes, looking to both incentivise signing up for new players and increase equity throughout their diverse community. 

“Most schools have an A and B team, for both seventh and eighth grade,” the GoFundMe reads. “Last year we barely filled one seventh and eighth grade basketball team with only 12 girls total.”

The campaign notes that other area programs throughout the area can be four times as large, and how they hope to double participation through the new incentive.

“Many sixth graders played up and many seventh graders played on both teams, leaving little room for substitutes. Most teams’ total rosters were at least four times as large as ours. The Osprey girls were tough and committed, but even Caitlin Clark can’t carry a program alone. With your help we can change that and aim to double participation.”

The website was created on Tuesday with the goal set at $3,000, enough to presumably buy 30 pairs of new shoes. As of Friday afternoon, the website has already garnered $1,100 of donations, enough for roughly 11 shoes.

The GoFundMe sets a goal of growing the program from 12 players last year to 30 this year, mirroring the $3,000 fundraising target.

“A lot of people that have donated so far have been very supportive and excited in explaining their own experience in sports, how much it taught them and their kids,” Volek said. “It seems like the people that have donated are able to recognize the importance sports have.”

Volek, the mother of an eighth grader at Riverview School and wife of Principal Adam Volek, said that exposure to sports at a young age can have immeasurable impacts on kids later in life. She included a survey on women in the corporate world that explained over 90% had played a sport as a child, and over 60% attributed it to helping boost confidence and accelerate life skills. 

“It boils down to a matter of confidence on the court,” Volek said. “Giving them a good pair of quality shoes could boost their confidence so much. Sports are so invaluable in so many different ways as a child, regardless if you play in college or not. Exposure to it early on, and being part of a team has so many benefits.”

Riverview School Athletic Director Julieta Donadino agreed, saying the skills learned on the court will stick with them throughout the rest of their lives. 

“Not only does it offer physical skills, but it gives them life skills like teamwork, communication, discipline, and being responsible that will stick with them for the rest of their lives,” she said. The GoFundMe is available at gofundme.com/f/lace-up-for-the-ospreys-help-riverview-girls-soar.