LIDS Foundation Announces Inaugural "Tip The Hat" Awards

INDIANAPOLIS, March 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The LIDS Foundation has announced Our Military Kids, Inc. as the first ever grand prize winner of its "Tip the Hat" Award. The Tip the Hat Award is the LIDS Foundation's largest annual grant, awarding a total of $70,000 to three worthy organizations whose causes align with the mission of the foundation. Our Military Kids, Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in McLean, Va., whose mission is to provide grants to children of deployed National Guard and Military Reserve personnel, and to children of severely injured service members from all branches and components of service. The grants cover fees for sports, fine arts, and tutoring programs that nurture and sustain the children during the time a parent is away in service to our country or at home recovering from severe injury. The organization earned $50,000 to further its cause of supporting healthy and active youth programs for military children. To find out more about Our Military Kids, Inc., visit www.ourmilitarykids.org.

Two additional charities were also each awarded a $10,000 grant. The two charities were Play Ball Indiana and PlaySmart, Inc. Play Ball Indiana, a branch of MLB's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program, is a nonprofit based in Indianapolis, In., whose mission is "to build good character, foster responsible behavior, encourage development of baseball and softball skills, encourage the enjoyment of healthy competition and teamwork, and build the values of honesty, fairness, integrity, inclusion and commitment to excellence." For more information on Play Ball Indiana, visit the organization's website at www.playballindiana.org. PlaySmart, Inc. is a nonprofit based in Tampa, Fla., whose mission is "to help kids reach their academic and life potential through sports." For more information on PlaySmart, Inc., visit the organization's website at www.playsmart.org.

"We are extremely pleased to award these very deserving organizations with these grants," said Ken Kocher, Board President of The LIDS Foundation. "We are confident that these funds will be used to help young people across the country lead more healthy and active lives."

ABOUT THE LIDS FOUNDATION AND ITS MISSION STATEMENT

The LIDS Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, recognizes that today's youth are tomorrow's leaders. With a mission to support young people in our communities, the Foundation works to engage them in sports-related activities. These activities promote active and healthy lifestyles as well as leadership and growth opportunities. The LIDS Foundation turns this belief into action primarily through offering resources, be it in the manner of time, expertise, funds, or materials, to nonprofit organizations whose goals and values align with those of the LIDS Foundation.

To find out more about the LIDS Foundation, visit www.lidsfoundation.org.

SOURCE LIDS Foundation