CYO Athletics

Bishop Roger Gries Good Shepherd Fund

The Bishop Roger Gries CYO Good Shepherd Fund was established in 2007 to provide financial support for children in poverty to enable them to participate in CYO sports.

CYO has given away more than $550,000 to member organizations to provide access to CYO sports to youth in need in the Diocese of Cleveland.

CYO recognizes that the "pay to play" trend in youth sports programs is a divisive force that reduces the opportunity of children in poverty and persons of color who cannot afford to play and participate. CYO is committed to never turning any child away due to a lack of funding and to forming partnerships with CYO programs in need to support their participation in CYO.

The Bishop Roger Gries CYO Good Shepherd Fund provides supplementary funding for student participation, sports equipment, uniforms, facilities, and leadership training for CYO member programs. CYO seeks and welcomes donations that enable us to provide sports participation opportunities for children and programs in need.

The fund allows us to continue to build on the CYO legacy for all children for generations to come. Please donate today.

Congratulations to the following 2024 member recipients who received money from the Bishop Roger Gries Good Shepherd Fund at the leadership conference to help their programs!

• Mary Queen of Peace-Cleveland
• St. Francis de Sales-Akron
• St. Hilary-Fairlawn
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel-Cleveland
• St. Thomas Aquinas

Application Deadlines 

• Grant requests can be made for $500 dollars to $4,000 dollars.  Applications are due to CYO Athletic Office by May 1, October 1 and March 1, for the upcoming grant cycle which begins on 7/1.   
• Emergency applications can be made to the CYO Athletic Office. These will be considered on a case by case basis relevant to the context of the request and the funds available for distribution.  

If you are interested in applying to the Bishop Roger Gries CYO Good Shepherd Fund please download the application below. Completed application may be mailed or sent as an email attachment to:

Mary Ann King, Athletic Administrator
Diocese of Cleveland CYO Athletic Office 
7911 Detroit Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44102

Download Application

Grant Confirmation Form

CYO members receiving a grant must complete the Grant Confirmation Form no later than 60 days after you receive the grant funds.  If the form is not completed by the deadline, the CYO member may not be eligible for consideration in the following grants.

Grant Confirmation Form

Donations

If you would like to make a donation to the Bishop Roger Gries CYO Good Shepherd Fund, click the button below or contact CYO Athletic Administrator Mary Ann King.

Donate Here