SINCE 2009
We’ve been growing and delivering more every year since 2009. Our driving principals fuel our passion and keep us focused on what we are here to do every day.
Our
Vision
All Chicago area kids should have access to quality athletic opportunities.
Our
Mission
We are gearing up kids for a better future by providing sports related resources to schools and organizations who lack the funding for successful athletics.
Our
Values
Racial and economic equity
Social justice
Compassion for youth
Community partnerships
2009 _
Tina Sernett Founded The Sports Shed
As a 501c3, The Sports Shed began by using a small storage unit in Vernon Hills for sports equipment distribution.
2011 _
Community partners provide free storage space and host fundraisers
The Sports Shed partnered with other organizations like local sports leagues, businesses, and churches to create more access to resources.
2012 _
Partnership with Chicago Public Schools Begins
With this partnership, The Sports Shed was able to help bring new athletic programs to high schools across the Chicagoland area.
2015 _
Hired Our First Full-time Employee
In the summer of 2015, we were able to bring on a full time program coordinator who helped us grow substantially. We also were able to purchase our first Sports Shed van (the Shed-mobile) that allowed expanded collection efforts and distributed twice as much gear to athletic programs in need.
2017 _
Tennis Grant Funding Opens New Roads to Support Tennis
The Foglia Family Foundation challenged The Sports Shed to find ways to bring tennis opportunities to kids on the south and west side of Chicago. That lead us to a great partnership with XS Tennis Foundation who was opening a world class tennis facility on the south side where the Robert Taylor Project buildings once stood.
2019 _
Moved Into Our Own Shed-Showroom Space On the Southside
The Sports Shed's vision and focus toward racial equity caused us to realize the need to operate within the communities we serve. After hiring Ty Young, a local south side resident who runs youth sports programs, we made it a priority to find a space to call home in Washington park, in the heart of communities in most need.
2019 - Built Our First Basketball Court
By partnering with The Ring of Hope, we were able to turn an empty lot into a community resource!
2020 - Started Our First Teen Golf Program.
2021 -
The Shed Bus
Transportation is one of the most expensive and difficult obstacles our partner organizations face. Our new bus will allow our partners to participate in more areas and for our kids to get to and from events safely.
2022 _
And Beyond …
Big Projects Become Our Focus
The Sports Shed is committed to expanding sporting opportunities for underserved communities. That now includes projects like building basketball courts, hosting community sports events across the Chicagoland area and investing in maintaining community safe havens with ambitions to expand to more communities in need.
Our Dedicated Team
We couldn’t make the impact we do without the dedication of our staff, board of directors and our amazing ambassadors