Funding to help ease financial burden of Chicopee youth sports

State Rep. Shirley Arriaga, state Sen. Adam Gomez and multiple Chicopee youth sports organizations celebrate a state earmark to help offset costs.
Photo credit: Chicopee Galaxy Youth Athletic Association

CHICOPEE — A $50,000 state earmark was celebrated on June 25 for the future of Chicopee by ensuring that financial barriers will not prevent children from participating in sports.

State Rep. Shirley Arriaga and state Sen. Adam Gomez were joined by multiple Chicopee youth sports organizations at Rivers Park to recognize and celebrate funding to youth sports organizations for waivers, registration, umpire/referee fees and/or equipment.

Arriaga talked with Reminder Publishing about the earmark she secured on behalf of the state for the youth in Chicopee kindergarten through grade 8. Like so many things, the cost of youth sports continues to rise, she said. This funding helps relieve some of that financial burden while ensuring more children in kindergarten through grade 8 can play, learn and grow through athletics, according to Arriaga.

“This investment is about easing the financial burden on families. Every child deserves the opportunity to participate in a sport they enjoy, yet many families are forced to forego these opportunities because of rising costs and the increasing cost of living that continues to affect us all,” Arriaga stated.

This funding was split evenly among various youth organizations in the city, including Castle of Knights, the Chicopee Galaxy Youth Athletic Association, the Tigers A.C. Club and AJAC.

Reminder Publishing reached out to Chicopee Galaxy Youth Athletic Association for comment, but they did not respond before press time.

Arriaga highlighted the financial benefits, along with the importance of kids participating in sports and the life skills they can gain.

“Youth sports offer more than competition. They teach discipline, responsibility, accountability, teamwork, perseverance and resilience. They help children build confidence, develop lifelong friendships and learn valuable lessons that extend well beyond the playing field,” Arriaga stated.

Arriaga also said she will continue working to secure funding that expands access to youth athletics so that every child — regardless of their family’s financial circumstances — has the opportunity to participate, grow and succeed both on and off the field. She said this is a promise she made during her 2022 campaign and is a result of her personal experiences growing up.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to play, grow, and thrive through sports, regardless of their families’ financial circumstances,” Arriaga said. “I am one of five children, and growing up, my family couldn’t afford for all of us to play organized sports. I didn’t have that opportunity until the eighth grade, while my brother, Mike, was able to play baseball. Our family’s resources meant not every child could participate. When I finally joined an organized team here in Chicopee, I was excited, but I also felt behind. My teammates had years of experience that I simply hadn’t had the chance to gain. I worked hard and caught up, but no child should feel left out because of financial barriers.”

Sports can also be essential to a healthy lifestyle, she argued. “Research consistently demonstrates that physical activity strengthens emotional, physical and mental well-being,” Arriaga stated. “At a time when childhood obesity, asthma, and other chronic health conditions continue to impact our youth, it is more important than ever that we provide accessible opportunities for children to stay active and build healthy habits that will last a lifetime.”