Grants available for student-athletes, coaches and team
BERKELEY, Calif.-The National Interscholastic Cycling Association is pleased to announce the launch of the NICA Booster Fund program. The fund was established with $30,000 raised at the NICA Awards Banquet in January this year and will provide micro-grants to individual student-athletes, coaches and teams from underrepresented areas and disadvantaged backgrounds with the goal of increasing participation in NICA leagues.
The Booster Fund provides direct support, through individual micro-grants, to offset expenses directly related to participation in NICA league and team activities. By covering these expenses, the fund also provides indirect support for NICA leagues, and helps to ensure the sustainable development and funding of league staff, programs and activities, by actively assisting in the expansion of league ridership.
NICA founder and executive director, Matt Fritzinger, said “This is a tremendous milestone towards fulfilling the NICA vision to enable every American teen to strengthen body, mind and character through participation in high school mountain biking.”
Applications for the first round of grants offered through the fund are being accepted March 20 through April 3. Up to $15,000 will go to as many as 30 student-athletes, coaches and teams in the NICA spring racing leagues, which this year are Northern California, Southern California, Washington and Texas.
Applications are made directly to NICA, and those from student-athletes require a coach‘s reference. Recipients will be notified by April 13. Further information and the grant application are at: http://www.nationalmtb.org/
About The National Interscholastic Cycling Association
Founded in 2009, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) develops high school mountain biking programs for student-athletes across the United States. NICA provides leadership, services and governance for local leagues to produce quality mountain bike events, and supports every student-athlete in the development of strong body, strong mind and strong character through their efforts on the bike.
NICA exists by virtue of generous donors and sponsors, including the founding national sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components, as well as Easton Foundations, JEEP, SRAM, Trek Bicycles, Clif Bar & Company, Primal Wear, GU Sports, Kinetic, Maxxis, adidas Eyewear, CamelBak, Crank Brothers, Dirt Rag, Feedback Sports, Fort Lewis College, Fox Racing Shox, Mountain Bike Action, QBP, Ritchey Designs, WTB and Yakima. For more information on NICA visit www.nationalmtb.org or call 510.524.5464.