Interest|The Payback charity association helps families who can no longer afford their children’s hobbies. Sports celebrities are also involved.
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The Payback charity association helps families who cannot afford their children’s hobbies.
The association was founded in Lahti in 2021 on the initiative of six families.
Payback also has well -known sports influencers.
Still More parents have difficulty paying their children’s sports hobbies due to the rise in living expenses, says several experts who know the subject.
For example, hockey, one of the country’s favorite sports, has lost nearly 2,700 licensed players since the 2019-2020 season. One of the major reasons for the invoice is the expensive hobby costs of the sport.
However, the threat does not look at the species.
For example, the mother of two school -age children, who suddenly died last summer. The mother does not want to appear under her own name for the sake of stamping. His identity is known to the editorial.
In the tragedy experienced by the family, one side story was the boys’ basketball hobby. It was in danger of ending.
“I became a single parent, and above all, before my husband’s death, I began to study alongside work. Even though my husband also worked, we already had challenges to cope with boys’ basket fees, ”Mom says.
“After my husband’s death, the wall came across. My money was no longer enough for boys’ hobbies, even though it was the most recent things I wanted to compromise on. ”
Relief Financial challenges were found last fall when the mother of the family contacted Payback a charity.
The support association, founded by ordinary citizens, paid a total of EUR 1,000 for the remainder of the season.
“I can’t overemphasize the feeling of relief that came about. Hobbies are everything for my children in everything – in many ways, ”Mom says.
“The continuation of hobbies has also been important for boys,” the therapeutic effect that facilitates sadness. “
Tomi Skinnari (left) is one of the background forces in helping low -income families.
Payback was founded in Lahti in 2021.
“There was a common concern in the background of how families generally survive the hobby costs of their children. Then Ville Rönkö The idea was born whether we could do something for this major social problem, ”the founding member of Payback Lahti ry Tomi Skinnari sort out.
“We decided to set up a charity association and put ourselves in favor. The ultimate idea was that all children should have an equal opportunity to exercise and sports – regardless of the family’s financial position. ”
In the same breath, Skinnari emphasizes that children should be able to choose their own species wherever possible.
“The starting point should be that the child should at least try the very species that he or she has genuine passion. Let the children be happy and dreamed, even if the sport is not the parents’ favorite, ”he says.
“Too often, parents choose a sport for children. Such is not the case. ”
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“The most important thing would be to understand that sports are very important to prevent the exclusion of children and adolescents.”
Communality A few sports celebrities have also been linked to the association that emphasizes meaning – some through the sponsor, some through events.
The sponsorships are former Golf Star Mikko Ilonenformerly in tennis Emma Laine and former NHL guard Karri Rämö. For example, the front characters of the Apulanta band have also put their own cards Toni Wirtanen and Sipe Santapukki.
Now Friday Payback Lahti is hosting a charity seminar in the city, where coaches are talking about, for example Markku Kanerva and Erkka Westerlund as well as the former Susijeng credit player Shawn Huff.
“Helping children and young people is important to me. I have seen the challenges of different young people nearby, and sports hobbies are of course help for them and in the process of human growth, ”Huff says.
“Sports can provide young people with a safe environment for growth, and in sports they can realize themselves. I want to be involved in the activity where the deeds are essential instead of speeches. ”
Former golf star Mikko Ilonen is involved in the Payback Association. Here he is on the Padel field.
Payback Has collected support for charity events and galas, and with partnership visibility. The golf event bearing the name of the association has already been held four times.
Payback has now made positive support decisions in about 30 different sports, for a total of EUR 135,000.
“The average subsidy amount per family has been between 375 and € 400,” says Skinnari.
The background of the association does not raise their salary. The association does not directly support families, but distributes money against the invoices sent by the clubs.
“The number of applications has recently increased significantly,” says Skinnari.
“During the first year of operation, we made support decisions for EUR 14,000 and last year for € 47,000. These are, of course, small amounts in the whole, but an important example of the fact that even ordinary people have the opportunity to influence. ”
There are several associations that help families with poor families in Finland. One of the most well -known is Hope ry, which distributed 2024 support for over 3,300 children for a total of € 750,000.
“There are different assistants, which is important, but the activity is still quite fragmented. It would be sensible to combine the forces, ”says Skinnari.
“The most important thing would be to understand that sports are very important to prevent the exclusion of children and adolescents.”
Shawn Huff wants to help young people.