Vote for IQA to Win $25k Grant, Support Muggle Youth Quidditch
Fans
Posted by: Stephanie_J
May 13, 2011, 11:49 AM
The International Quidditch Association has been accepted as a candidate for the Pepsi Refresh Project. The organization is eligible to win a $25,000 grant to start youth Quidditch programs in elementary and middle schools - but they need your help to win!
Fans are encouraged to vote every day for the IQA at RefreshEverything.com/Quidditch.
If won, the grant will allow the IQA to promote the youth program across the U.S., provide equipment for the schools, and host games. Help spread the word!
16 Comments
1921 Points
I hate to be a spoilsport, but there are so many more worthy candidates for that money. The idea of youth Quidditch may be fun, but books and other things are much more important—just look at the other possibilities on the site.
738 Points
Although it is certainly true that there are other urgent needs worth our support, I’m fine with this effort. It encourages both healthful physical activity and engaging in imaginative, community activity. All good!
32 Points
No thank you. I feel it’s much more appropriate for the Refresh grants to go to organizations that help end poverty and homelessness. Or ones that fund animal shelters. Or ones that keep community libraries open. Or… actually, really anything but this.
2394 Points
Yeah if you’ve been on the refresh website, c’mon there are so many more ideas that could do with that money, in comparison this is a little ridiculous. Kids can play Quidditch any time they want for cryin out loud!
1642 Points
Voted ! and good luck !
Well Izziewitch, tonights, and KiwiMcl, there are alot of more worthy candidates. Like the high school band that wants new uniforms. Just one band. Versus 50 schools that could have a new sports team.
Kids can’t play quidditch whenever they want, a full set of equipment costs a couple hundred dollars and covering costs for a college team to come train them helps too. Showing kids a new idea is important. As human beings we need to do more than just survive, we need to thrive too. Whimsy and fun is a human need as well. There’s no point in struggling to live if you don’t have a reason to live too, and organizing a team costs money, money that a lot of poorer schools don’t have. This is a very worthy cause and more worthy than quite a few of the “causes” that are currently ranked ahead of Quidditch.
18714 Points
It probably wont get the money but I’ll vote. I wish some school played where I live, I would love to see that.
4852 Points
Omigosh! Thats amazing!!!!!!!!!!!
139 Points
Well, I think it is great! And I think J.K. Rowling would like it too!!!! <3
1921 Points
*13ansky, whatever.
I don’t disagree with your idea that we need whimsy and fun; I just think there are more $$valued ways to arrive at those than Quidditch.
10471 Points
I can’t believe they’re actually making Quidditch a real live sport! I’ll help out as much as I can and I just hope one day I can play Quidditch! =]
239 Points
To vote you have to register an account! That’s sort of stupid! :PPP
@lovelizzycriz, you can login through facebook to vote. You can also vote by texting 105970 to 73774.
@izziewitch. Like what? the IQA has an existing network of hundreds of teams and thousands of players that are willing to teach Quidditch to kids at little or no cost (except to cover their own costs like traveling). They can build and buy equipment and bring it to the schools and create long standing mentor relationships. If you’ve ever done anything business or organization related, you’ll know that 25k is really not that much in the grand scope of things. For example, alot of the entries are proposing to use the money for a single playground, or a single vehicle. With the IQA’s infrastructure and huge volunteer work force, they can start teams at 50 SCHOOLS. At 500 bucks a school, that is a dirt-cheap method of starting new sports programs.
Quidditch gets kids active who might otherwise never join a sports team and it’s not easy to start a team all by yourself. Many who have tried have failed. having free equipment and an experienced team to help you through the process will improve the lives and communities of thousands.
Can you recommend a better way to start long-lasting, mentored programs at 50 schools with that budget? Maybe you should make an entry yourself.
79302 Points
Just soooo silly.
948 Points
It’s great that people are taking Quidditch seriously!
I hate to be a spoilsport, but there are so many more worthy candidates for that money. The idea of youth Quidditch may be fun, but books and other things are much more important—just look at the other possibilities on the site.