New Balance Foundation and Beyond Sport Select Swim for a Dream and Wędka as Futures in Motion Poland Grantees

New Balance Foundation and global sport for social change foundation, Beyond Sport, announced the Polish grant recipients of the international “Futures in Motion” program. Fundacja Swim For a Dream and Stowarzyszenie Dzieciom i Młodzieży WĘDKA im. każdego Człowieka (WĘDKA) have been selected to receive an approximate combined PLN 1,108,030 (USD $300,000) to be utilized over the next three years to strengthen their organizational sustainability and programs advancing youth wellbeing, education, employability and inclusion through sport and physical activity.

Following Australia and Japan, Poland is the third program location for Futures in Motion which launched in early 2025 to invest in brighter futures and resilient communities through sport. The initiative supports organizations championing youth who are typically excluded from sport and the invaluable health and development opportunities that come with it. Polish youth have some of the lowest physical activity levels in Europe, resulting in growing health problems; poor mental health is also of great concern. Meanwhile, safe, inclusive recreational facilities and programs are inaccessible for many groups – especially young women and girls, people with disabilities, refugees, low-income households and those in rural and small towns.

“The launch of Futures in Motion is a milestone moment for the New Balance Foundation. It’s an honor to collaborate with Beyond Sport and this initiative allows us to expand our philanthropic investments into new regions, as well as deepen our existing connections in Europe,” said Megan Bloch, Director of Corporate Philanthropy at the New Balance Foundation. “As part of our strategic plan to increase our giving outside the United States year over year, we are excited to tackle some of the complex issues surrounding positive youth development in these countries, as well as help scale the NGOs that are making a difference for young people. We look forward to seeing the positive impact we can make together.”

Fundacja Swim For a Dream has been promoting youth development and equity in Poland’s Łódź region since 2013. They primarily use swimming to advance physical and mental health, with a focus on social integration and inclusion.

This grant will support expansion of their “Move in the Right Direction” project which seeks to increase access to regular physical activity for children and young people in orphanages, foster care and refugee communities, as well as for youth with disabilities. The project provides free, weekly swimming and gym classes, functional motor skills training, personal development workshops, internships and work placements in sports-related companies. Futures in Motion funding will also facilitate the development of an online training course for coaches on child safeguarding and working with young people with special needs.

WĘDKA Association provides regular football training and empowerment programs in communities across Toruń with limited access to organized sport. Since 2021, they have been increasing youth physical activity levels with a special focus on girls, disadvantaged youth, migrants and young people at risk of social exclusion. This aligns to the city-wide Strategia Rozwoju Miasta Torunia initiative to make sports accessible to all.

This grant will help them strengthen and grow their “Football for Everyone” project delivered in collaboration with the One Passion One Love Association. The project combines free, inclusive sports activities with educational programming to nurture healthy habits, social emotional skills and strengthen relationships for 8-26-year-olds. Funding will also support monthly social football tournaments and facilitate a Junior Coach program, as well as a Youth Council that engages older participants as mentors and leaders.

“At a time of great uncertainty and instability for many young people in Poland, WĘDKA and Swim for a Dream are helping strengthen resilience and self-esteem. The valuable life skills youth are developing will increase their confidence and ability to create their own pathways in life. We’re proud to have Futures in Motion be a part of that journey,” said Fred Fikouhi-Turner, Executive Director of Beyond Sport.”

The Futures in Motion program was both developed and operates in close collaboration with in-country consultants, advisory groups and subject matter experts to ensure both cultural and local relevancy. The program seeks to expand in the coming years to continue helping to strengthen community organizations, ensuring their long-term sustainability and equipping young leaders to drive change. To learn more, visit beyondsport.org/futures-in-motion.

About New Balance Foundation
Since 1981, New Balance Foundation has invested in proven pathways to help young people achieve their goals. Grantmaking focuses on community-led, outcomes-driven initiatives that promote access to sport, educational support, career readiness and overall well-being. They have granted over $165 million to date to trailblazing non-profits across the globe. This includes more than $17 million in donations to 95+ non-profits in 2025 alone. www.newbalancefoundation.org

About Beyond Sport
Beyond Sport is a global foundation that uses sport’s unique power to address the most critical social issues of our time. By championing people, programs and communities that are leveraging physical activity to build opportunity and equity, they are working to create a more inclusive and progressive world. Since 2008, Beyond Sport has raised over $25.8 million to promote sport for social change. To date, the foundation has granted over $15 million to 557 initiatives across 81 countries and 58 sports, in addition to vital capacity-building tools to support long-term impact. beyondsport.org