Topeka Area Sports Commission hosts tournament for youth in need

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) -The Topeka Area Sports Commission, or TASC hosted its Second Annual Mini-Golf Tournament this morning.

“I brought my son out today for some fun right before school starts,” said Terica Gatewood from Play It Again Sports. “So we’re going to enjoy some Putt-Putt golf. A little competition today, a lot of fun, and just a lot of community and family.”

Families, friends, and colleagues found several games to take part in at Sports Center Monday morning…

“We’re lucky that we have Play It Again Sports as a sponsor,” said Mike Bell, director of TASC. “So they donated things like a disc golf that you throw it in. We also have ladder ball, we’re going to have some corn hole. So it’s not just a mini-golf tournament, it’s a couple of different other fun skills to have.

Through all of the fun and games lies an important purpose.

“What I’m looking forward to the most is playing some Putt-Putt and the camaraderie that goes along with Putt-Putt, and then of course benefiting kids that can use sports equipment, so that they can become young athletes,” said Valerie Peckham, an attendee.

TASC holds the tournament to raise money for sporting equipment it can provide to kids in the community.

“So what we’ll do is quarterly distributions where there is going to be a form online that folks will fill out with their needs,” said Bell. “We look at socioeconomics, we look at different pieces of the community to make sure again, that kids have the gear to play.”

Sports are often looked to as a great equalizer, teaching kids invaluable lessons.

“Sports teaches, especially kids and adults alike so much,” said Gatewood. “It’s great for their health, it’s great engagement with the family. And as a community, we all come out and have community pride here in Topeka.

The donations for this event go to TASC Cares, which provides grants to community sports programs here in Topeka. If you are involved with a program in an impoverished area, you can apply for a grant here.

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