Catalyst Endowment Fund Awards Grants to Expand Youth Access to Sports Enrichment Programming

As in many aspects of society, economic inequality plays a significant role in young people’s access to athletic opportunities. While Connecticut’s wealthier suburban communities often boast of numerous youth sports leagues and athletic programs, opportunities for kids growing up in the state’s less affluent urban centers lag far behind. 

That may be about to change. 2-4-1 Sports (2-4-1 CARE) is a Hartford-based nonprofit that offers sport sampling and Sport-Based Youth Development to children aged 5 to 14.

The organization started in 2008 as the for-profit 2-4-1 Sports with the tagline Life’s 2 Short 4 Just 1 Sport (2-4-1), It was created in response to its co-founders Steve and Kerry Boyle’s growing concerns about sports specialization in young athletes. In 2021, they formed 2-4-1 CARE to expand the 2-4-1 footprint to communities in need. They also integrated social emotional learning (SEL) into their athletic offerings, creating an evidence-based, research-backed curriculum named TOP Self Sports ("Thinking On Purpose") to improve self-awareness, self-regulation, and collaboration. 2-4-1 TOP Self Sports has become 2-4-1’s signature out of school program, implemented across 18 schools in CREC and Hartford Public Schools, serving more than 3,000 students.

In recognition of its positive impact on students in Greater Hartford, the Catalyst Endowment Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has awarded 2-4-1 CARE a $64,000 grant to help the program expand at one of its existing sites, Hartford’s West Middle Elementary School, and launch at a new site, Hartford Public Schools SAND School.

At West Middle, students will have access to a second and third season of TOP Self to complement the single season currently offered. SAND School students will be able to enroll in three 8-week seasons of 2-4-1 TOP Self Sports. The programs will take place before school 7:25-8:00am, Monday through Friday, free of charge for students in grades K- 5.

School staff and administrators select fifth grade students to become Physical Literacy Pals (PLPs), trained in 2-4-1’s TOP Self approach and coaching skills alongside leadership development and job readiness training. Each session at West Middle and SAND will include six PLPs to support student activities. Each season, up to 48 students and 12 Physical Literacy Pals (PLPs) will be served at each school, potentially reaching up to 240 students in the coming year.

Lastly, this grant will help grow 2-4-1’s partnership with nationally-acclaimed Center for Healing and Justice Through Sports (CHJS).  2-4-1 will bring CHJS to Hartford for two free trauma-informed coaching sessions open to all area coaches and will work with CHJS to create digitized training modules to help more teachers gain access to the TOP Self curriculum.

“We have seen the transformative impact that 2-4-1 TOP Self Sports can have, not only on individual students but on entire school communities,” said Steve Boyle , Executive Director and Co-Founder of 2-4-1 CARE. “By embedding this model into the culture of the school, we cast the widest net possible to engage students in sports in a fun, authentic, and meaningful way. Sports are the perfect platform for teaching social-emotional learning because the emotions kids experience while playing are so genuine and relatable.” Boyle continued, “The innovation of coach training to include SEL practices promoting safety, well-being, connection, and academic learning has the potential to catalyze youth sports in the Hartford region.”

In addition to the grant to 2-4-1 CARE, members of the Catalyst Endowment Fund also approved a $5,000 grant to East Hartford-based nonprofit Set the Pace to support its Courtside Connections 3v3 Summer Basketball League in East Hartford. The league will meet once a week in the evening from mid-June through the first week of August, with a championship tournament ending on the National Night Out Celebration with East Hartford Police Department. Teams will be created with four players on each team in three different age groups with the goal of engaging 100 East Hartford youth.

The program is designed to build stronger relationships between youth and local law enforcement using basketball skill development and competition. East Hartford does not have a Police Activity League (PAL). Set the Pace is offering basketball-based programs with police officers serving as staff and mentors in the hope that other local youth sports organizations will develop their own activities in collaboration with law enforcement.

“We are so grateful to receive this support from the Catalyst Endowment Fund,” said Set The Pace President Alexander Cruz. “The decisions you make dictate the life you live. I moved back to my hometown after spending 10+ years in Providence where I was a coach/mentor/player, and I could clearly see the change that needed to happen. Positive bonds between youth and law enforcement will strengthen the community with the intent of reducing violence and criminal activity. Including law enforcement in these events will start conversations, generate understanding, create connections, and improve the overall culture in our community.”

Established in 1993, the Hartford Foundation’s Catalyst Endowment Fund is a giving circle of generous, civic-minded donors in the Greater Hartford area. Each year, members select a topic with the goal of making one or more grants that will be catalytic in the 29-town region served by the Hartford Foundation. 

This year’s topic was Empowering Future Leaders and Community Builders Through Youth Sports. Throughout 2024, giving circle members learned about the myriad of positive effects of youth sports, including fostering teamwork and leadership skills, promoting physical and mental well-being, and helping to shape resilient, confident, and empowered individuals. Catalyst members learned about the most significant challenges and opportunities to expand access to youth athletic programming. 

"This year's grant recipients are working in vital areas,” said Catalyst Endowment Fund Steering Committee Chair Amanda Aronson “Set the Pace will continue to nurture relationships between young people and law enforcement, while providing both groups with opportunities to stay active in the summer months. 2-4-1 Cares will expand their already deep work with children to create ongoing support throughout the school year. What is particularly impactful about the 2-4-1 programming is that they provide support before the school day begins, which helps attract children to school and feel more connected and settled while there.