Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)

Successful Kids Helping Kid Drive at AAU Gymnastic Nationals

07/29/2022

Through the Kids Helping Kids charity program, AAU Gymnastics raised $8,000 in support of Compass for Kids.

ORLANDO, Fla. (July 29, 2022) – Since 2016, AAU Gymnastics has been dedicated to giving back and making a difference in the world. The AAU Gymnastics Kids Helping Kids charity provides all of AAU Gymnastics a way to show their support and help out in the community. This year, through the Kids Helping Kids charity program, AAU Gymnastics is proud to support Compass for Kids.

“I wanted to create a program where they [young gymnasts] understand that ‘no act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted.’ I live by those words,” says Liz Nichols, AAU Gymnastics National Chair. “I simply wanted the gymnasts to understand that they could make a difference. Giving back and paying it forward is very important for me so having the AAU platform to establish the program has been incredible.”

For the 2022 AAU Gymnastic National Championships that took place June 28 to July 3, 2022 in Springfield, Illinois, AAU chose to support Compass for Kids, a local organization whose mission seeks to provide academic and social-emotional support to empower children and families who have been underserved by the community. Compass for Kids works hard to educate the children and help them grow as individuals in life. The mission is to help the children understand that social, emotional, and life skills are essential to overall well-being and academic success.

“I emphasize it does not matter the amount because every donation counts and makes a difference,” Nichols added. “These funds will support Compass for Kids Summer Programming and help provide school supplies that they might not otherwise have easy access to. Things that we all just take for granted.”

During its 2022 national event, AAU Gymnastics was able to raise $8000 for Compass For Kids this year with AAU clubs and gymnasts bringing in an additional $2000 worth of school supplies and backpacks as well to share with the Compass For Kids. AAU Gymnastcs' donated 100% of sale of its national commemorative pin to the charity as well.

"I am very proud of the program and how our AAU gymnasts, clubs, coaches and families have supported the program through our AAU Gymnastics National Championship. They have made a difference! Of that I am sure!”

Some of the charities that AAU Gymnastics has supported in the past years include: St. Jude, Together We Rise – supporting foster children, FRIENDS – Down Syndrome Organization, Girls on the Run, and Ketia for Kids – supporting children of the military. AAU Gymnastics has sent many children to summer camps with these donations, and they have raised and donated over $38,000 to these organizations through Kids Helping Kids.

For more information about Compass for Kids, visit compassforkids.org. To learn more about AAU Gymnastics, visit aaugymnastics.org. For all of the details for nexy year's 2023 AAU Gymnastics National Championship, click here.