Disney Jr. & ESPN Pact with Every Kid Sports

ESPN and Disney Jr. have partnered with the nonprofit organization Every Kid Sports for a new preschool-focused initiative that will benefit from the grants distributed through the Fall 2025 Every Kid Sports Pass.

The average cost for preschool sports registrations in the U.S. is estimated to be about $80 per sport per season. The new collaboration between ESPN’s Take Back Sports initiative, the Disney Jr. Let’s Play! campaign and Every Kid Sports will aim to increase access to sports programs through grants for kids between the ages of 3 and 7.

Registrations for the grants are now open for qualifying families with kids in that age range from Los Angeles, Fresno, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham and New York.

“I am honored to join ESPN and Disney Jr. to encourage preschoolers to get out and play,” said Jess Sims, ESPN college sports reporter, Good Morning America contributor and fitness export. “With youth sports participation declining, due in part to an increase in registration fees, this program will ensure that young kids have the chance to play and experience the incredible benefits and important life lessons that come from playing sports.”

Other celebrity sports starts who have joined the campaign as ambassadors include Jesse Palmer, an ESPN college football analyst and former NFL quarterback, and Sydney Leroux, a forward for Angel City F.C. of the National Women’s Soccer League.

“We’re thrilled to team up with Disney Jr. and ESPN to bring the magic of play to preschoolers from income-restricted families,” added Eleana Fanaika, executive director of Every Kid Sports. “This collaboration is about more than sports—it’s about joy, confidence and creating those first unforgettable moments that spark a lifelong love of being active and connected.”