We believe that every student should have the opportunity to play on a school sports team or participate in extracurriculars, regardless of family circumstances. Taking part promotes wellbeing through feelings of belonging, connection, responsibility and joy.
Nashville Community Connections’ Sports Equity Fund is primarily supported by two Nashville champions of the power of sports – locally-owned Play It Again Sports in the Bellevue neighborhood and Tennessee Titan Jeffery Simmons. Together, we’re eliminating financial and logistical barriers to sports participation and supporting underfunded sports teams at MNPS schools.
Jeff is supporting our work through an initiative tied to his remarkable on-field performance – “Sacks for Sports Equity” promises $980 for every sack recorded. The 2025 NFL season included 12 sacks and resulted in a $12,000 donation through his Give Em A Reason Foundation.
Play It Again Sports has been on the NCC team for several years, and their business model allows us to host drives for gently-used sports equipment and receive store credit for items that individual students or teams need. This option welcomes community participation (host a drive for us!) and is an ideal complement to the flexible spending provided by Jeff’s Sacks for Sports Equity.
“Creating opportunities to play sports aligns with my foundation’s mission by empowering youth with purpose, discipline, and a positive outlet,” said Simmons. “Just like someone gave me a reason to keep playing football in high school, I want to give our youth a similar reason to believe in themselves and see their potential.”
Sports Equity Fund Highlights
- Direct support to students enrolled in the HERO Program to mitigate any barriers preventing them from playing
- Individual sports gear when a student makes a team – this school year we supported baseball and basketball players, track runners, soccer players, a dance team member, football players and a middle school girl joining her school’s first-ever flag football team
- Sports physicals are arranged and paid for (including transportation if necessary), so that students can try out for teams and be cleared to play
- MNPS team support – we’ve purchased new equipment for the Maplewood High School football team and baseball pants, socks and belts for three brand new MNPS middle school baseball teams.
How You Can Help
Host a gently-used sports equipment drive with your team, school or neighborhood! A few of last season’s Lacrosse sticks or a set of too-small catcher’s gear can turn into just-right track shoes for a middle schooler or new team practice basketballs for a team through our partnership with Play It Again Sports. Reach out and we’ll help you to plan!
Be on the lookout for ways to partner with Jeff next season – pledging a donation per sack he makes.
Thank you for being on our team! Students often miss out on sports due to cost and access, while participation improves attendance, mental health, and academic performance. Let’s go!