The history of awarded US Rugby Foundation grants
Throughout the years, we have had the opportunity to support some great organizations and projects. Below is a history of grants we have awarded that are in addition to our current programs. These projects align with the US Rugby Foundation pillars
2023
The Foundation, for another year, has provided high school scholarships to two promising student/athletes, Connor Bender and JW Sarkees, to attend Nelson College, an all-boys high school in Nelson City, New Zealand. Nelson College is the oldest state secondary school and the school where rugby in New Zealand was started.
In late 2023 the US Rugby Foundation provided a $7500 grant for a study entitled “The Implications of the Lack of Sports Medicine Care in Community-Level American Rugby”. This study, led by Dr. Katie Hunzinger, PhD, ACSM-CEP, CPT, aims to better understand concussion knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions among American rugby stakeholders. Athletes older than 18 years old and currently involved in American community-level rugby are eligible to participate in the study.
Through a $5,000 grant, over three months, from US Rugby Foundation, The Foundation has agreed to fund the building of website features on the PNW website. These features will include a build-out of their Hall of Fame, an e-commerce shop, and other content additions.
The US Rugby Foundation has agreed to provide Rugby Washington with a $10,000 dollar grant over ten months. This grant with spread through the 2023 and 2024 seasons and aims at funding a variety of support services to Rugby Washington.
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The US Rugby Foundation awarded grant of $10,000 to Girls Rugby, a non-profit dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young athletes through rugby.
In June of 2023 the US Rugby Foundation had the opportunity to provide Rookie Rugby Cleveland with a $5000 dollar grant to help spur the organizations growth. Through the dedication of the Rookie Rugby Cleveland staff, they've used this grant to help galvanize youth athletes through social media.
In March 2023 at the US Rugby Foundations Annual General Meeting, USA Youth & High School presented a cohesive plan around their coaching platform development. YHS has received a $100,000 grant to help fund their now live, free coaching platform.
In 2023, a further grant was given to Ellensburg Youth Rugby to help fund a state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard to complement the field finished in 2021. This grant, focusing on innovation and inclusivity, has helped further fostered a thriving rugby culture in Ellensburg.
2022
The Foundation provided high school scholarships to two promising student/athletes, Oliver Kirk and Max Doerfler, to attend Nelson College, an all-boys high school in Nelson City, New Zealand. Nelson College played in the first-ever rugby match in New Zealand and its highly acclaimed rugby program continues to this day
The support and launch of up to 20 new single school high school programs through out the United States.
The US Rugby Foundation awarded a grant to the United States Women’s Rugby Foundation to create the Kathy Flores Coaching Resource Library. The library will be a virtual instructional resource for coaches of women’s rugby
The US Rugby Foundation helped to send promising players Miles McCormick and Andrew Alves to the world-renowned Stellenbosh Acadamy of Sport in Stellenbosh, South Africa through our Pathways to Excellence Fund
The US Rugby Foundation granted Memphis Inner City Rugby $5,000 to help defray costs and to keep these valuable programs running and to provide these young men and women the opportunity to play the game and learn the valuable lessons that come from playing rugby, and being on a rugby team
The Foundation awarded a $3,000 grant to the Seattle Rugby Club to help offset costs for a Crusaders Coaching Clinic.
2021
The US Rugby Foundation granted Girls Rugby $22,000 to help create programs in more states, introducing the sport to girls throughout the United States.
The North America Youth Rugby Referee Program was created to give opportunities for developing youth referees to travel to tournaments around North America and work with local and National referee coaches. The organization is a non-profit and 100% of the donations and sponsorships go directly to the expenses of sending a group of youth refs, a referee coach, and at least one chaperone to youth rugby events in North America
Through the Make a Pitch program, Ellensburg Youth Rugby received rugby height goal posts, corner padding, field flags, goal post pads, two Match Day Tents, 20 rugby balls (10 size 5 balls, 10 size 4 balls), and a permanent pitch sign.
