LET’S PLAY! ESPN AND DISNEY JR. TEAM UP WITH EVERY KID SPORTS TO GET PRESCHOOLERS IN THE GAME

(BURBANK, Calif. – June 23, 2025) ESPN and Disney Jr. are encouraging preschoolers to get in the game through a new preschool-focused initiative with national nonprofit Every Kid Sports which provides access to sports grants for families who are facing financial hardship. As part of ESPN’s “Take Back Sports” initiative and the “Disney Jr. Let’s Play!” campaign, this groundbreaking collaboration marks the first time preschoolers will benefit from the grants that will be distributed through the Fall 2025 Every Kid Sports Pass and is part of Disney’s commitment to bringing happiness to kids, families and communities.

Registrations for the grants are now open for qualifying families with kids between the ages of 3-7 from Los Angeles, Fresno, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham and New York. Please visit https://everykidsports.org/letsplaysports to review qualifications and submit an application.

The average cost for preschool sports registrations in the U.S. is estimated to be $80 per sport, per season. New data suggests that as kids grow older (between the ages of 6-18), sports will cost more than $1,000 per year, per kid, according to the Aspen Institute. Through ESPN and Disney Jr.’s collaboration with Every Kid Sports, Disney is committed to increasing access to sports programs for the next generation.

Jess Sims, ESPN college sports reporter, “Good Morning America” contributor and fitness expert, kicked off the campaign live on “Good Morning America” this morning.

Sims said, “I am honored to join ESPN and Disney Jr. to encourage preschoolers to get out and play. With youth sports participation declining, due in part to an increase in registration fees, this program will ensure that young kids have the chance to play and experience the incredible benefits and important life lessons that come from playing sports.”

Other celebrity sports stars who have joined the campaign as ambassadors include Jesse Palmer – ESPN College Football Analyst and former NFL quarterback, and Sydney Leroux – forward for Angel City F.C. of the National Women’s Soccer League.

Eleana Fanaika, executive director, Every Kid Sports said: “We’re thrilled to team up with Disney Jr. and ESPN to bring the magic of play to preschoolers from income-restricted families. This collaboration is about more than sports — it’s about joy, confidence, and creating those first unforgettable moments that spark a lifelong love of being active and connected.”

About ESPN’s Take Back Sports
Take Back Sports is a youth initiative led by ESPN designed to get and keep kids playing sports. With only 38% of kids playing sports on a regular basis, we believe it’s time for parents, coaches and kids to take back sports and make it fun again. ESPN and The Walt Disney Company are working in tandem with our league, business, and community partners to make the youth sports system more accessible so that kids across the country have the opportunity to play and keep playing. Sports forever starts today. To learn more about Take Back Sports, visit TakeBackSports.org. 

About “Disney Jr. Let’s Play!”
Disney Jr. Let’s Play!” is a multiplatform global campaign designed to inspire preschoolers to experience the joy of play through Disney Jr.’s beloved characters and stories. Spanning original content, consumer products, music, live events, community activations and more, the campaign is part of Disney’s commitment to delivering happiness to kids, families and communities. Backed by clinical expertise from the Child Mind Institute about the importance of play in preschool development, the “Disney Jr. Let’s Play!” campaign taps into the playful spirit of Disney Jr. favorites like “Bluey,” “Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends,” “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and “SuperKitties,” which are all available to stream on Disney+.

About Every Kid Sports
Every Kid Sports is a national 501(c)(3) organization that is supporting life through access to youth sports. Since 2010 they’ve been removing the financial barriers that impede a kid’s confidence and community building, cultivation of social skills, and the numerous physical, mental, and emotional benefits of sports participation. To learn more, visit everykidsports.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
ESPN
Garrett Cowan
garrett.cowan@espn.com

DISNEY JR.
Erica McCearley
erica.mccearley@disney.com