Athens children are able to experience sports without the worry of costs.
The phrase “pay to play” is what Kyle Schussler wants to fundamentally change with his new nonprofit organization Kokua TRY-Sport.
Kokua is a nonprofit organization that strives to give underprivileged children between the ages of 7 and 12 the opportunity to play various sports during a two-week summer camp.
The first camp was held last summer in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and is now in Athens. Some sports the program offers include hockey, baseball and soccer.
Schussler chose to name his organization “kokua” after a Hawaiian word that translates to giving without expecting anything in return because he thought it was fitting for the program’s mission.
“I played sports my whole life so hockey has always been my passion. I grew up in western Canada so it’s kind of ingrained in our culture,” Schussler, a second-year graduate student studying sport science and assistant Ohio Hockey coach, said. “So it was one of those things where we always had those opportunities, and for us it was just important to give back.”
Andee Scaife, chief officer of operations at Kokua and OU 2015 alumna with a bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising, said Athens is the perfect place to expand the program and branch out into other communities.
“Athens is the greatest place and it holds such a … big place in my heart so I know Kyle’s really fallen in love with this area too,” Scaife said. “I think that Athens has given us so much so it’s kind of our turn to give back.”
Schussler added that Athens has many financially disadvantaged families who could benefit from the program, which provides transportation, meals and facility equipment to its participants.
During the summer, the program in Canada had between 20 and 25 children during summer 2015, but Schussler is projecting the Athens camp to have between 60 and 70 children.
“To see the growth already has been huge for us,” Schussler said. “It’s really exciting. So to branch out in Athens and see how many kids are going to be available. It’s fun — it’s really fun.”
Registration forms for volunteers, participants and sponsors can be found online through Kokua’s website and the date for the program is projected to be in the middle two weeks of June, even though approximate dates are still being planned.
Jacob Faiella, a sophomore studying criminology, said he talked to Schussler about the program and he believes providing the opportunity is great for children.
“It’s extremely important because there’s so many kids that are underprivileged who don’t get the same chances as say, someone who has the money to do travel sports or anything like that,” Faiella, who is also a defensemen for Ohio Hockey, said. “I know through experience how expensive it can be so to be able to give a kid an opportunity like that is pretty awesome.”
Faiella has been playing hockey since he was 5 years old and said he has been lucky because his parents helped him pay for the expenses.
“They were so supportive of me — I feel like other kids should be able to get those chances,” Faiella said.
According to the Kokua website, excelling participants will have the opportunity to earn scholarships to play the sport of their interest on a year-round basis at their schools or city recreation centers, but it is not limited to that.
“Whatever they choose and however they want to pursue it we are fine with,” Scaife said.
Schussler said many people have been interested in getting involved with the program through donations, coaching and facilitating the camp, including collegiate coaches, athletes and some of Schussler’s past hockey teammates from all over the country.
Schussler said the best part is being able to facilitate all aspects of Kokua.
“You are not refined by just one area so being able to do all those different things,” Schussler said. “The creative aspect, being able to branch out where we want to and do everything from that front has been really special so that’s definitely the best part about it.”
Additionally, Scaife said she enjoys being able to hear people’s excitement when she tells them about the program.
Pioneering the program has been important to both Scaife and Schussler as they continue to expand other avenues for Kokua.
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“I mean it’s extremely important especially in the Athens community there’s so many underprivileged kids,” Faiella said. “Not many people are able to try hockey or even any of the other sports so just for him to be able to help out people like that I think is pretty cool.”
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