Going the extra mile for kids
A new youth recreation program sponsored by Plan USA in the Dominican Republic supports children's rights to play and helps adolescents develop skills and values.
February 19, 2008
Writing, and talking, about baseball and other sports is nothing new for Allison Ann Otto. After all, she's a former sportswriter and a lifelong sports enthusiast who enjoys baseball, running and every sport in between. She currently works as a freelance videographer who does work for the Travel Channel and Turn Here Media.
Not that long ago, in fact, her knowledge about sports — baseball, in particular — helped Allison to forge a bridge between her world and that of several dozen children in the Dominican Republic, where she had gone to visit one of the children she sponsors through Plan USA, 14-year-old Julio.
Here, in Julio’s community, Allison became aware of the great need in the Dominican Republic for adequate infrastructure and equipment to support children’s need for play and recreation. As one child who approached her stated, “We have youth teams here in San Juan. We just don’t have equipment to play.”
Donate today! Your donation today will help fund the "Kids at Play" program that provides sports and play equipment, safe facilities and supervised training to children in the Dominican Republic. Donate $26 or more and your gift will be matched up to $15,000.
To Allison, this discovery was the key to what she had been looking for — going beyond the individual relationship with her sponsored child to working with communities to address their collective needs.
“Baseball in the Dominican Republic,” says Allison, "is a sport that unites communities and provides a chance for children to have fun and learn how to succeed in a team setting.”
Allison returned to the US with a new goal: mobilizing resources, and finding funding, to provide sports and recreational equipment and playing fields to children in Plan communities.
Kids at Play
Allison’s motivation and drive has paid off. Through her own efforts, she was able to raise over $5,000 to help the “Promoting Child and Youth Participation through Sports and Recreation” program, which has launched in seven communities and will soon be in six more.
The main objective of "Kids at Play" is to promote the development of skills, abilities and values in adolescents and youth through the creation and strengthening of sports and recreational groups. Through participation, adolescents and youth are encouraged to exercise their rights and become actively involved in the decisions that affect their lives.
Making the project a family affair
Allison is not the only Otto involved with Plan. Her brother, Elliott — also an active sports enthusiast and accomplished runner — is doing his own part to support the sports program.
On April 21, 2008, Elliott ran the Boston Marathon to support the program begun by his sister. His goal was to raise $15,000.
How can you help?
Your donation today will help fund this innovative youth program in the Dominican Republic. To support Elliott, Plan will match donations of $26 (that’s one dollar for each mile Elliott will be running) or more up to $15,000.
Donate today to provide sports and play equipment, recreational facilities and supervised training to children in the Dominican Republic. Donate $26 or more and your gift will be matched up to $15,000.
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Not that long ago, in fact, her knowledge about sports — baseball, in particular — helped Allison to forge a bridge between her world and that of several dozen children in the Dominican Republic, where she had gone to visit one of the children she sponsors through Plan USA, 14-year-old Julio.
Here, in Julio’s community, Allison became aware of the great need in the Dominican Republic for adequate infrastructure and equipment to support children’s need for play and recreation. As one child who approached her stated, “We have youth teams here in San Juan. We just don’t have equipment to play.”
Donate today! Your donation today will help fund the "Kids at Play" program that provides sports and play equipment, safe facilities and supervised training to children in the Dominican Republic. Donate $26 or more and your gift will be matched up to $15,000.
To Allison, this discovery was the key to what she had been looking for — going beyond the individual relationship with her sponsored child to working with communities to address their collective needs.
“Baseball in the Dominican Republic,” says Allison, "is a sport that unites communities and provides a chance for children to have fun and learn how to succeed in a team setting.”
Allison returned to the US with a new goal: mobilizing resources, and finding funding, to provide sports and recreational equipment and playing fields to children in Plan communities.
Kids at PlayAllison’s motivation and drive has paid off. Through her own efforts, she was able to raise over $5,000 to help the “Promoting Child and Youth Participation through Sports and Recreation” program, which has launched in seven communities and will soon be in six more.
The main objective of "Kids at Play" is to promote the development of skills, abilities and values in adolescents and youth through the creation and strengthening of sports and recreational groups. Through participation, adolescents and youth are encouraged to exercise their rights and become actively involved in the decisions that affect their lives.
Making the project a family affair
Allison is not the only Otto involved with Plan. Her brother, Elliott — also an active sports enthusiast and accomplished runner — is doing his own part to support the sports program.
On April 21, 2008, Elliott ran the Boston Marathon to support the program begun by his sister. His goal was to raise $15,000.
How can you help?
Your donation today will help fund this innovative youth program in the Dominican Republic. To support Elliott, Plan will match donations of $26 (that’s one dollar for each mile Elliott will be running) or more up to $15,000.
Donate today to provide sports and play equipment, recreational facilities and supervised training to children in the Dominican Republic. Donate $26 or more and your gift will be matched up to $15,000.
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