Speakers at the event were (from left) President of Miller Sports & Entertainment Michelle Smith, Larry H. Miller Co. Chairman of the Board Steve Miller, first lady Abby Cox and Gov. Spencer Cox, Olympic bobsled pilot Kaysha Love, and Chief Impact Officer for the Daniels Fund Luke Ragland. They shared the stage with mascots from RSL and the Utah Royals, the Utah Dirty Sodas and the Salt Lake Bees.
Miller Sports & Entertainment, the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation and the Daniels Fund are creating the Utah Youth Sports Giving Day campaign, a statewide effort to expand access to youth sports programs.
The campaign was announced at a press event at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on June 5.
The two-week campaign will run Sept. 12-26. It’s designed to rally individuals, businesses and community groups to pledge their support to nonprofits that are working to expand access to youth sports. Among other entities supporting this program are America First Credit Union, SME Industries, Mountainland Supply, the Forever Young Foundation, the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, the Huntsman Family Foundation, Maverik, Ken Garff for Good, the Boyer Co. and the Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation.
The goal is to generate $3 million in total support, with the partners committing $1.5 million in matching funds.
“Youth sports is more than just building an athlete. Sports help build character and confidence. This campaign is designed to help more people all across the state, to give young people opportunities to experience the joy, connection and growth that comes from being a part of a team.”
Michelle Smith, President of Miller Sports & Entertainment“Youth sports is more than just building an athlete,” said Michelle Smith, President of Miller Sports & Entertainment. “Sports help build character and confidence. This campaign is designed to help more people all across the state, to give young people opportunities to experience the joy, connection and growth that comes from being a part of a team.”
The campaign mirrors a similar effort launched in Colorado in 2024 by the Daniels Fund to expand access to organized sports. That program has raised $9 million and helped to support 240 nonprofit organizations in the state. That has helped with equipment and uniform purchases for athletes, program growth and support of new facilities.
“The average cost to a family for one child in a primary sport was over $1,100,” said Luke Ragland, chief impact officer of the Daniels Fund, which was started years ago by the late Bill Daniels, an original owner of the Utah Stars ABA basketball team in the 1970s. “From uniforms to soaring league fees, this is a signature moment of generosity in our communities — helping young athletes who don’t struggle with ability as much as with access.” |  Each speaker was given a commemorative “participation trophy” by event organizers. |
“As a foundation and as a family, we are always asking how we can help our communities thrive,” said Steve Miller, chairman of the board at the Larry H. Miller Co. “We’re proud to support this campaign because we know that when young people have the opportunity to play sports, it's an investment that strengthens kids, families and communities across Utah.”
Two-time Olympian bobsled pilot and world champion Kaysha Love, who grew up in West Jordan, said sports inspired her as a youth, encouraging her to reach out for new things.
“I started bobsled just six years ago, and I’ve gone to the Olympics twice and won a world championship,” she said. “Sports taught me discipline, resilience and gave me the passion to keep working at it even when the road gets hard. This is what Utah is all about — giving — and I’m very excited to lend my support to Youth Sports Giving Day.”
Utah first lady Abby Cox told the audience that she played softball as a young girl, riding her bike off the family farm and into town at least two or three times a week to play.
Utah native Kaysha Love, a two-time Olympian and world champion bobsled pilot, says sports were a defining part of her childhood, teaching resilience, discipline and passion, even when the going gets tough.
“The power of that opportunity — to be able to participate in sports — was huge,” she said. “I started playing in the Junior Jazz basketball program and I had a dream to be in the WNBA. While that obviously didn’t happen, what I did learn is incredible leadership skills that this generation of kids need more than ever. They can have a chance to be outside with other humans, and we’re in trouble if we raise a generation of kids who don’t know how to connect with each other.”
Gov. Spencer Cox also loved playing sports as a youth, and he said sports “are one of the most powerful ways to help young people build confidence. Utah Youth Sports Giving Day is the opportunity for all of us to come together and help ensure every child has a chance to play.”
Organizations interested in participating in the Utah Youth Sports Giving Day can sign up at utahyouthsportsgivingday.com. Registration closes Sept. 1. Beginning Sept. 12, Utahns can donate to any registered youth sports nonprofit organization. Those organizations can register at that website, where public donations and sponsorships can also be made.
Abby Cox said she wants to see Utah donations beat Colorado’s totals, saying “if it’s a competition between Utah and Colorado, my money’s on us.”
