Boston Athletic Association Awards $125,000 in the spring round of B.A.A. Gives Back Grant Program

May 6, 2025

Boston (May 6, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Ten organizations have received support from the 2025 spring edition of the B.A.A. Gives Back Grant Program and were celebrated at the Welcome Reception for the 129^th Boston Marathon on the Friday of race weekend.

Since the program’s inception in spring 2023, $650,000 has been awarded to organizations across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who align with the B.A.A.’s mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running, in order to build healthy communities.

Nicole Juri, Director of Development at the B.A.A. said, “The ten selected organizations live out the mission of the B.A.A. every day and we are delighted to be able to support their wonderful work in their local communities. Together we can do more and have a greater impact across a wide range of activities, additional programing and support services.”

To date, 45 organizations have benefitted from B.A.A. Gives Back Grants.
The B.A.A. awards monetary grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 through an application process open to all nonprofit organizations that meet the following criteria:

• Organization is a registered 501(c)(3) or a public agency.
• Organization is not political.
• Organization’s program advances the B.A.A.’s mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running, in order to build healthy communities.
• Organization is located in and serves residents of Massachusetts.

The next round of grant applications will launch in the fall of 2025.

Find out more information HERE.

Spring 2025 B.A.A. Gives Back Grant Recipients:
Active Kids & Minds, Inc.
Active Social Communities DBA Volo Kids Foundation
Boston Police Activities League Inc.
Charles River Watershed Association
Codman Academy Foundation
Fast Feet Running and Athletics, Inc.
Franciscan Children’s Hospital
Keep Massachusetts Beautiful
Newton Athletes Unlimited (NAU)
Brookline Recreation Department

Quotes from grant recipients:

Jen Rifkin, Executive Director, Active Social Communities DBA Volo Kids Foundation: “Volo Kids is honored and thrilled to receive a B.A.A. Gives Back grant —it’s a powerful investment in our mission to provide free, high-quality sports programming to girls and kids in under-resourced neighborhoods in Boston and Cambridge. This support will allow us to expand our reach, deepen our impact, and continue building safe, inclusive spaces where all kids can access the power of play.”

Kathleen Tully, Executive Director of Active Kids & Minds: “We are incredibly grateful to the B.A.A. for this support. The grant will directly help us grow our Active Kids & Minds (formerly BOKS) running curriculum and amplify our efforts around the International Day of Play on June 11. We see firsthand the positive mental and physical impact when kids have access to play, sports, and movement. This support allows us to reach more children with the tools they need to move, connect, and thrive.”

Kimberly D. Gleason, CEO, Boston Police Activities League Inc.: “We are honored to be selected as one of this year’s B.A.A. Gives Back Grant recipients. This support helps us continue building strong, trusting relationships between youth and law enforcement through meaningful community engagement. We’re grateful to the B.A.A. for investing in this work and helping us expand our reach and deepening our impact across Massachusetts.”

Emily Norton, Executive Director of Charles River Watershed Association: “We are thrilled and grateful to receive this generous grant from the Boston Athletic Association. Like the Marathon, the Charles River also starts in Hopkinton and makes its way to Boston – but luckily for the runners, they don’t have to follow the 80 windy miles of the Charles. These funds will provide vital support for reducing pollution, increasing biodiversity, and protecting our communities from the weather extremes of climate change.”

Neil Rhein, Executive Director of Keep Massachusetts Beautiful: “We’re grateful to the B.A.A. for this opportunity to grow participation in our Massachusetts Litter Cleanup Crew program. Cleaning up litter while walking, jogging—or even riding a bicycle—is a great way to stay active while making a positive impact on your community.”

Betsy Lynch DiSciullo President, Board of Directors of Newton Athletes Unlimited: “Newton Athletes Unlimited (NAU) is thrilled to have been chosen as a recipient of the B.A.A. Gives Back Grant program. Our programs support athletes with developmental disabilities in our local community and keep them active and engaged throughout their lifetimes. With track and running programs for both kids and adults, this grant will allow us to help our athletes improve their physical fitness and wellness, create intergenerational bonds, and strengthen self-confidence. Always focused on fun, skill development, and building confidence rather than solely on competition, NAU seeks to reduce our athletes’ isolation and improve their social, emotional, and physical health. Running is an important part of the NAU community both through our programs and our biggest fundraising events – the Paddy’s Road Race, the Falmouth Road Race and our dedicated runners who take on the Boston Marathon and fundraise for NAU. We are so proud to have received this recognition from the B.A.A.”

Tim Davis, Director of Recreation, Town of Brookline: “Brookline Rec is incredibly grateful to the B.A.A. Gives Back grant program for this generous support. This funding will help us launch a sports equipment library, enabling low-income families and program scholarship recipients to borrow essential gear needed to participate in our sport programs. This initiative further removes barriers to play and ensures all participants can stay safe and fully equipped, regardless of their financial circumstances. This is another huge step forward as our department invests in equitable access to parks and recreation.”

Boston Athletic Association | Boston, MA 02116 | www.baa.org | media@baa.org

END

ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.) 
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The economic impact of the 2024 Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America produced $509 million in state and local economic activity. The 129th Boston Marathon took place on Monday, April 21, 2025.

The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

Chris Lotsbom
Director of Race Communications & Media
clotsbom@baa.org