Phoenix, AZ -- (SBWIRE) --06/10/2011 -- Today, 32 percent of United States youth are considered obese or overweight. One of the main factors behind this rising trend is the steady decline of team sports participation over the last decade. This is why Sanderson Lincoln has teamed up with Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Volvo to present Doug and Wolf’s Gear Up for Kids equipment drive, to provide sports equipment to the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix.

Each year, the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix offers over 10 sports leagues, including soccer, flag football, basketball, and volleyball, to local kids. This adds up to over 18,000 hours of physical activities and nutritional programming to help youth stay fit and healthy.

However, these activities offer more benefits than just exercise. Kids who play sports get better grades and are 57 percent less likely to drop out of school. Athletes are also 92 percent less likely to be involved in drugs, and female athletes are less likely to have an unwanted pregnancy than non-athletes.

Sanderson Lincoln is proud to be a co-sponsor of the 3rd annual Doug and Wolf’s Gear Up for Kids drive.

Through June 23, new or used sports equipment can be dropped off at the Sanderson Ford main showroom. Equipment needed includes soccer balls, volleyballs, baseballs, basketballs, footballs, baseball bats, catcher’s gear, helmets, ball bags, and much more. This equipment is essential to the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix and any donations will help keep these programs running and Phoenix youth off the streets.