Free Play for Kids Inc.

06/05/2026

The weather holds off. The Riverhawks players show up. And Free to Play kiddos from five schools have an incredible afternoon at Remax Field for MLB Play Ball Weekend!

A lot of kids step out of their comfort zone and learn a new sport including base running, catching, throwing, and batting, alongside a few hard core baseball fans in awe of being on the field — coaches included.

We can’t thank MLB and Play Ball MLB enough for making today happen, alongside the Edmonton Riverhawks and the Edmonton Riverhawks Community Foundation to kick off .

Showing incredible patience with a bunch of excited kids, the players are a hit amongst the kids answering endless questions all day long, closing out with pizza, a giveaway, and a seemingly endless autograph signing session ✍🏻

What a way to get summer started for everyone in attendance — Play Ball! ⚾️

06/05/2026

A really great open and honest conversation between our Founder/Executive Director Tim Adams and Brenden Escott during Inside Sports on 880 CHED under the Global News umbrella. We highly encourage a listen as you wind down tonight before bed. 💤

https://open.spotify.com/show/6ptFc25hiA2MwSseIOLB4e

Tim mentions the importance of our Monthly Donors stating "... you'd be shocked how far we can stretch $5 ... that's going to give a kid a snack everyday for a week after school."

https://www.freeplayforkids.com/donate/monthly

Thanks 880 CHED for the convo! 🎤

Your monthly support ensures every Edmonton child can participate in Free Play programs regardless of family income, background, or circumstance. Through daily afterschool programming at 20+ schools, we're not just teaching sports skills, we're building confidence, creating friendships across differ

06/04/2026

In two minutes, this video will show you exactly what long term funding does for a school.

Not in theory. In real life. In a hallway. On the faces of kids who now know someone believed in them enough to make it permanent. Principal Crystal Sinclair says it best:

"We know in this school we've got this funding for five years, and our kids are chomping at the bit to become part of it."

That's what a five-year commitment does. It changes the energy of a school. Kids in Grade 2 are already watching, already waiting for their turn. The mural on the wall tells them their turn is coming.

This is the Free to Play School Champions model.
One donor. One school. Five years.

Funding that covers free daily after-school care, mentorship, food knowledge, snacks, and social emotional learning through sport for every kid who walks through those doors that wants to join — regardless of what their family can afford.

Your donation doesn't just fund a program. It funds consistency. Safety. Belonging. Every single day for five years.

It puts your name (quietly, if you prefer, just like Grant and Donna) on something that outlasts a sponsorship cycle, a fiscal year, or a campaign. It puts it on a wall. In a school. Where kids walk past it every day and understand that someone in this city believes in them.

We have 23 schools left to find champions for.

Twenty-four communities where the bell rings at the end of the day and too many kids don't have somewhere good to go. If this is the kind of impact that matters to you we’d love to show you which school could be yours.

06/01/2026

It’s a special day for the Jr Wolves soccer pathway powered by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, because alongside the Free to Play after school program, our Jr Wolves soccer teams are competing in a little ball hockey tournament under the big tent next to Rogers Place too!

In grade 4-5-6, kids shouldn’t be specialized in a single sport, but try and tell that to these soccer fanatics who simply don’t have much interest in other sports. That is why we make sure they practice ball hockey once a week and provide unique opportunities to put those skills to work — like at the ICE District Fan Park.

A couple brave souls strapped on the pads to play goal, and these soccer players are putting sticks to concrete with a lot of energy having a lot of fun! A special shoutout to the Edmonton Community Foundation for the opportunity to expand their sports skills that everyone enjoys!

05/28/2026

"This is for every kid we've had the honour of walking alongside, and a promise to walk alongside as many more as we can." — Tim Adams

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, in partnership with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, is proud to announce the 2026 inaugural recipient of the Community Champion Award.

2026 COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD RECIPIENT: Tim Adams

Tim Adams is the Founder and Executive Director of Free Play for Kids, a registered charity in Edmonton, Alberta, supporting more than 4,500 youth each year with opportunities to play, connect with mentors, and develop the social, emotional and mental health skills that last a lifetime.

The Community Champion Award was launched last November to celebrate grassroots coaches, mentors, and sport builders who make sport possible for kids across Canada, recognizing those who strengthen communities through the power of sport.

“These are the people who step up every day to keep kids engaged and thriving—often changing lives through the power of sport,” - Marco Di Buono, President, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.

Tim will receive the Community Champion Award on November 4th at the 70th Order of Sport Awards: Legacy Edition. Read more at the link in bio🔗
___
Le Panthéon des sports canadiens, en partenariat avec La Fondation Bon départ de Canadian Tire, est fier d'annoncer le premier lauréat du Prix du champion communautaire pour l'année 2026.

LAURÉAT DU PRIX DU CHAMPION COMMUNAUTAIRE 2026 : Tim Adams

Tim Adams est le fondateur et directeur général de Free Play for Kids, un organisme caritatif enregistré à Edmonton, en Alberta, soutenant plus de 4 500 jeunes chaque année, leur offrant des occasions de jouer, de rencontrer des mentors et de développer les habiletés sociales, émotionnelles, et de santé mentale qui durent toute une vie.

Le Prix du champion communautaire a été créé en novembre dernier afin de rendre hommage aux entraîneurs, mentors et aux bâtisseurs du sport qui rendent le sport accessible aux enfants partout au Canada, en reconnaissant ceux qui renforcent les communautés grâce au pouvoir du sport.

« Ce sont ces personnes qui s’investissent chaque jour pour que les enfants restent engagés et s’épanouissent, et qui, bien souvent, changent des vies grâce au pouvoir du sport » - Marco Di Buono, président de La Fondation Bon départ de Canadian Tire.

Tim recevra le Prix du champion communautaire le 4 novembre lors de L’Édition Patrimoine des prix de l’Ordre du sport. Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur le lien dans notre bio 🔗

The Order of Sport Awards: Legacy Edition | L’Édition Patrimoine des prix de l’Ordre du sport :
Presenting Sponsor | Commanditaire principal : Everest Funeral Concierge, Everest Curling
Community Champion Award Presenting Partner | Partenaire principal du Prix du champion communautaire : Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Funded in part by the Government of Canada | Financé en partie par le gouvernement du Canada Sport Canada Sport Canada - Français
Thank you to our partners | Merci à nos partenaires: CBC Sports , Canadian National Railway Company , Canadian Museum of History , Porter Airlines
📷: Courtesy of | gracieuseté de Tim Adams

05/25/2026

It's Monday morning and we want to kick off what could be a bit of a rainy week with some smiles from the Ice District Fan Park thanks to EOCF! 🧡 💙

The kids are always excited when they get out of the gym and take play on the road exploring , and these smiles show it. We always have a good time when heading downtown and last week was no exception.

The Community Foundation powers our entire hockey pathway, and these kiddos have a great afternoon playing ball hockey under the big tent next to the big arena. 🙌🏽

05/22/2026

As we get fired up for the World Cup, and the Canada VS Uzbekistan friendly in less than two weeks. we asked some of our Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities Champions who they are cheering for, and what they love about soccer. ⚽️

Our entire soccer pathway is powered by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, including Super Tournament days where over 500 kids from across Edmonton get together to compete against each other playing the beautiful game.

Who are you cheering for in the World Cup ⁉️⁉️

05/20/2026

Unique Opportunity Alert! 🚨

Free Play for Kids is hiring a Sports Program Manager.
What is a Sports Program Manager you ask? Fair.

You will lead the planning, delivery, and growth of Free Play’s Jr. Wolves Program across all Free to Play schools and participants.

This role plays a key part in bringing Free Play’s mission to life by ensuring that every child regardless of background or experience has the opportunity to learn, play, and grow through inclusive, community-driven sport.

Our Jr Wolves program also plays the role of bridging Free to Play after school participants with our Wolves competitive teams, thus playing an integral part of both our Hockey and Soccer pathways powered by Edmonton Community Foundation and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.

https://tr.ee/4VgQRF

Are you ready to change lives for the better across Edmonton?

05/19/2026

The season may be over for the the Edmonton unfortunately, and watching the playoffs might be tough for some of us, but at least we have the World Hockey Championships. In particular, a handful of the Edmonton Oilers playing big roles to cheer for!

Us at Free Play for Kids are partial to our good friend and supporter Darnell Nurse as he logs big minutes for team Canada. Which Oilers are the most fun to watch on these all star stacked teams for you?

We are into the last week of the Spring BHE1 Minor league games, Ice Hockey is on ice, so our entire hockey pathway powered by Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation is a little cool like the spring air in the morning, but won’t be for long as the summer heats up!

If you’ve got a child interested in Ice Hockey, don’t forget about our Learn to Play Hockey program designed to help get kids on the ice.

🧊 https://tr.ee/MMv3Cm 🧊

05/15/2026

Dressing rooms with your team's name & logo on the door.
Medals neatly aligned waiting for a neck to be draped on.
Fans in the stands cheering with handmade signs.

These aren't extras. They're the whole point. 💛

When the details are right, kids don't just participate — they belong. They carry themselves differently. They compete differently. They believe they deserve to be there.

That's what our Jr Wolves Girls Soccer Final looks like, and that's what we're building every single day.

Not just games. Moments. 🐺

These moments, and all the others along our soccer pathway is powered by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities