Partnerships Create Lasting Impact: Rise & Rally grant Brings Volleyball to underserved Ottawa Communities

Maverick Youth Opportunities Fund (MYOF) believes that meaningful community impact is built through collaboration. The success of our Rise & Rally Community Sport Initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved when funders, community organizations, coaches, and volunteers come together with a shared vision.

Thanks to a $10,000 Rise & Rally Grant administered by Volleyball Canada, and funded by the Government of Canada through the Community Sport for All Initiative (CSAI), MYOF was able to remove barriers and increase sport participation rates for under-represented groups.

MYOF partnered with five outstanding community organizations to improve access to quality volleyball programming directly to youth in Ottawa’s priority neighbourhoods.

MYOF proudly worked closely with each community partner, including the Inuuqatigiit Centre, the BGC Ron Kolbus and Don McGahan Clubhouses, the Hunt Club/Riverside Community Centre, and St. Patrick’s High School, to create opportunities for young people to experience the many benefits of sport in a welcoming and inclusive environment within their own neighbourhood.

Over the course of the initiative:

• 248 youth participated in on-court volleyball sessions, hosted by NCCP-trained coaches from Maverick Volleyball Club.
  • 95 per cent of participants were within under represented communities
  • 47 per cent of participants were female; 53 per cent of participants were male
  • The ages of participants ranged from 10 – 17
• 8 community coaches received NCCP-coach education and mentorship building the knowledge and confidence to continue delivering volleyball programming long after the project concluded. A total of 28 e-modules and 33 hours of on-court sessions were completed.
• 61 volleyballs and 25 items of various volleyball equipment totally more than $6,000 worth of volleyball equipment were distributed to community partners.

While these numbers are impressive, the true success of Rise & Rally lies in the partnerships that made them possible.

Our community partners brought invaluable local knowledge, trusted relationships, and an unwavering commitment to the youth they serve. Their staff welcomed our coaches, encouraged participation, and worked alongside MYOF every step of the way to create a positive and engaging experience for every participant.

At the same time, the investment from Volleyball Canada and the Government of Canada provided more than funding—it created an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. By equipping community organizations with coaching knowledge and quality volleyball equipment, the initiative has built local capacity to continue offering volleyball programming for years to come.

This shared approach demonstrates that lasting change happens when organizations combine their strengths. MYOF and the Maverick Volleyball Club contributed its expertise in volleyball, coaching, and youth development, while our community partners contributed their deep connections within their neighbourhoods and their commitment to supporting young people. Together, we created opportunities that neither organization could have achieved alone.

As MYOF continues to grow, partnerships like these will remain at the heart of our work. They allow us to expand access to sport, remove barriers for youth, strengthen communities, and inspire the next generation of leaders.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Volleyball Canada, the Government of Canada, our community partners, coaches, volunteers, and everyone who helped make the Rise & Rally Community Sport Initiative such a meaningful success.

Together, we are building a stronger community through exceptional youth.