INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 10, 2014 – Through the partnership of USA Gymnastics and Right To Play, a global organization that uses sport and play programs to educate and empower children facing adversity, 34 USA Gymnastics member clubs have received grants to support charitable activities to celebrate National Gymnastics Day. Each of the clubs is creating an event for children who currently do not have access to gymnastics to mark this year’s National Gymnastics Day, Sept. 20.

Representing 26 states, the 34 clubs that received the grant are listed below.

    Arizona
    Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics & Dance Center, Phoenix, Ariz.
    Hot Spot Gymnastics, Casa Grande, Ariz.

    California
    The District Gymnastics Academy, Indio, Calif.
    Fallbrook Gymnastics Club, Fallbrook, Calif.

    Colorado: TIGAR Gymnastics and Cheer, Wheat Ridge, Colo.

    Florida
    Defy Gravity, Groveland, Fla.
    North Central Florida YMCA, Gainesville, Fla.

    Georgia: BIO Gymnastics and Athletics Unlimited, Cumming, Ga.
    Iowa: Iowa Gym-Nest, Iowa City, Iowa

    Illinois
    Peoria Elite Gymnastic Academy (PEGA), Peoria, Ill.
    Jump Start Gymnastics & Kids Activity Center, Peoria, Ill.
    Sokol Tabor, Berwyn, Ill.

    Indiana: Lafayette Area Gymnastics Club, Lafayette, Ind.
    Louisiana: All Star Gymnastics, Harvey, La.
    Maine: Waterville YMCA gymnastics, Waterville, Maine
    Michigan: Branch Gymnastics of Battle Creek, Battle Creek, Mich.
    Minnesota: Richfield Gymnastics Club, Richfield, Minn.
    North Carolina: Superior Gymnastics, Morrisville, N.C.
    New Mexico: Gym Magic, Las Cruces, N.M.

    New York
    Glens Falls YMCA, Glens Falls, N.Y.
    Wendy Hilliard Foundation, New York, N.Y.
    Watertown YMCA Twisting Starz Gymnastics, Watertown, N.Y.

    Oklahoma: Aim High Academy, Tulsa, Okla.
    Oregon: Eastern Oregon Gymnastics Academy, Pendleton, Ore.
    Rhode Island: Renaissance Gymnastics Academy, East Providence, R.I.
    Tennessee: Tumblebees of Tennessee, Jacksboro, Tenn.
    Texas: Piney Woods Gymnastics Training Center Inc., Longview, Texas

    Utah
    Black Diamond Gymnastics and Sports Center, Park City, Utah
    Volonte T & T, Kaysville, Utah

    Virginia: Paragon Training Center, Fredericksburg, Va.
    Vermont: Head Over Heels Gymnastics, Rutland, Vt.

    Wisconsin: Infinite Gymnastics, Brown Deer, Wis.
    West Virginia: Princeton Gymnastics, Princeton, W.Va.
    Wyoming: Legacy Gym, Rock Springs, Wyo.

These clubs, along with others around the country, will hold activities and celebrations at their facilities to mark National Gymnastics Day between Sept. 20-23.

Right To Play and USA Gymnastics share the mission of positioning sport and play as pathways for educating children and youth to overcome adversity in disadvantaged communities. This year’s goal is for the events to incorporate a game or activity using gymnastics skills to teach a life lesson. Play-based learning is a critical piece of Right To Play’s mission.

Right To Play is a global organization, using the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity. Through playing sports and games, Right To Play helps over one million children learn through play to create better futures, while driving lasting social change in more than 20 countries each week. Right To Play programs focus on activities that promote health, conflict resolution, basic life skills, education, self-esteem, dignity and respect. Founded in 2000 by social entrepreneur and four-time Olympic gold medalist Johann Olav Koss, Right To Play is supported by an international network of more than 300 professional and Olympic athletes from more than 40 countries. For more information, visit www.righttoplayusa.org.