Lincoln CLC honored for launching Get in the Game at local schools

July 8, 2025

Lincoln Community Learning Centers (CLC) students are experiencing life-altering changes by adding nets and shoes to their list of learning tools.
 
The Community Health Endowment of Lincoln (CHE) honored Lincoln CLC this summer with the inaugural Place Matters Pioneer Award. CHE recognized Lincoln CLC for its work championing youth fitness activities over the past two years. The Get in the Game project has helped students reap physical fitness benefits, learn lifelong skills and form new friendships.
 
Kate Bolz, president and chief executive officer of CHE, said it was an easy decision to present Lincoln CLC with the award. The CHE Board of Trustees wanted to highlight organizations that have addressed health concerns in the city. Improvement in youth fitness is one of the top priorities for CHE, which would like Lincoln to become the healthiest community in the nation.
 
“Watching the neighborhood come together at the games organized by the Get in the Game project has been inspiring,” Bolz said. “It’s great to see excited kids, new referees, proud parents and excited administrators come together at games! We hope the model inspires others to be involved in youth fitness, and we know that the sense of fun and community will help more people join in.”

 
Lincoln CLC Director Nola Derby-Bennett said she and her co-workers were happy that their efforts were making a difference. They became concerned after reviewing 2023 data that showed a correlation between poverty rates and youth fitness levels in Lincoln. They wanted to make youth sports more accessible and spark a love of physical fitness, which prompted them to launch Get in the Game at 20 CLC sites.
 
“We are so thrilled to see the measurable impact of this initiative!” Derby-Bennett said. “In such a short time, we have seen students excel in sports in which they have never before participated. We have heard and seen school staff and parents come together to support their students. It has been a lot of fun to see how the school communities have embraced these opportunities.”

 
Get in the Game supports students in grades K-5 by providing athletic equipment and covering costs for transportation, coaches and referees. Basketball and soccer leagues began in the 2023-24 school year and volleyball took flight last year. Students can also compete in running activities with classmates and friends.
 
LPS Interim Superintendent John Skretta, Tracy Edgerton of Lincoln Community Foundation and Denise Pearce of Lincoln Parks and Recreation are tri-chairs of the Lincoln CLC Board of Directors. They have been pleased with how Get in the Game has played out.

 
“Our LPS students have benefited tremendously from the CLC initiative to establish youth sports leagues!” Skretta said. “These formative experiences give young people the opportunity to learn about teamwork, to experience competitive success, and to derive the wonderful sense of team unity that comes from being able to learn, grow and thrive together. We are so grateful for the leadership of our CLCs and lead agencies to provide our students with these powerful developmental experiences.”
 
“This initiative is another great example of what our CLCs have done for years – responding to the real needs of our children, families and neighborhoods with creativity and heart,” Pearce said. “By grounding the program in data from the Place Matters report, our CLC team identified cost as a significant barrier and launched this initiative to ensure youth sports are accessible to all children across Lincoln.”

 
The idea for Get in the Game came after CHE and Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department released their Place Matters 5.0 report, which included information about access to healthy food, life expectancy rates, poverty levels and youth fitness scores. CLC sites were available in many areas that had lower youth fitness levels, which meant a breakthrough was possible.
 
“As we reviewed the Place Matters map for youth fitness and compared that map with the CLC elementary school locations, it was clear that we had a unique opportunity to very directly impact each of the areas that showed high need,” Derby-Bennett said. “That data was absolutely critical to the development and implementation of this project.”
 
Bolz, Edgerton and Skretta said it was heartwarming to watch what happened next. Pilot programs for basketball and soccer became instant hits at their schools, and the volleyball league experienced the same type of popularity. Many teachers, parents and classmates cheered for students at games, and players displayed social skills like perseverance, confidence and leadership.
 
“I am so proud of the staff at the Lincoln CLCs for their innovative response to the Place Matters data,” Edgerton said. “The Get in the Game project will continue to help local families thrive by making youth sports more accessible in our community. By encouraging participation in activities like basketball, soccer and running, the project empowers our kids to grow their confidence and stay active. The smiles on their faces and cheers for their fellow students are truly a winning combination.”
 
“It’s very encouraging that the Place Matters report can help inspire data-driven change in our community,” Bolz said. “What’s even more inspiring is how data analysis, philanthropic funding, strong leadership and enthusiastic kids, coaches and parents came together for a real win for our community.”
 
“We see direct correlations to our Strategic Plan goals for student well-being and outcomes, knowing that by engaging and involving our students in these activities, we foster an improved sense of belonging for participants and better academic outcomes through increased engagement,” Skretta said. “It’s win-win-win with the CLC sports league initiative!”

 
Bolz said nets and shoes are helping everyone reach their goal of improving youth fitness levels across Lincoln.
 
“The Get in the Game project is an inspiring example of how sports can bring together youth, parents and neighborhoods to promote physical fitness and community connection,” Bolz said. “And, it’s a lot of fun.”
 
Visit clc.lps.org to learn more about the lifelong skills that students gain from Lincoln CLC activities throughout the year.
 
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