The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dave Krache Foundation helps kids get in the game
Organization helps cover equipment, recreation fees.
When Allison Giddens’ father, Dave Krache, died suddenly in 2009, she and her mom brainstormed ways to honor his memory.
“We thought about a scholarship, but that wasn’t really him,” said Giddens. “But he was a sports fanatic and the kind of person who’d help other people and never take any credit.”
At the same time, Giddens was volunteering with a Kennesaw softball team whose coach told her about so many kids who wanted to play but couldn’t afford the recreational and equipment fees.
“It can get so expensive that a parent may opt not to let their kid play,” said Giddens, who co-owns an aerospace machine shop in Kennesaw and lives in west Cobb. “We thought it would be cool to create an organization to help kids play sports when parents can’t pay the fees.”
That idea launched the Dave Krache Foundation in August 10 years ago, and since then, the organization has helped more than 1,025 kids to get in the game.
“Anyone can apply, but we also use coaches, team moms, social workers, teach- ers and community liaisons to verify and vouch for fam- ilies,” said Giddens. “From there, we look at our budget and see what we can do to help bridge that gap. We’ve seen fees range from $90 to $250 per season, and foot- ball and cheer are astronomically high. A helmet now can cost up to $300.”
Last year, the foundation expanded its board and outreach, establishing relation- ships with sports leagues giving grants to specific organi- zations. “We can say, ‘Here’s $1,000; use it when a kid says I want to play but can’t pay,’” said Giddens. “We can become that bridge.”
The foundation raises money through a variety of fundraisers, all run by
volunteers. It also relies on a strong base of donors, supports and family foundations. Wherever the funds come from, Giddens said, the foundation keeps them in the community where they originated.
“That used to be just Kennesaw where we started, but we then evolved across Cobb and metro Atlanta,” she said. “Now we’re as far north as Gainesville and south as far as Peachtree City.”
Giddens’ commitment to the community recently earned her an inaugural “Follow the Leader” award from the city of Kennesaw. The honor was created by the first class of the Kennesaw Leadership Academy who wanted to honor local leaders who have made a difference. As part of the award, academy participants will volunteer to support the foundation.