Highland Park Boys Lacrosse Financial Aid Policy
Purpose:
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines and procedures for providing assistance to players of families with financial hardships with the opportunity to participate in Highland Park Boys Lacrosse.
Background:
Highland Park Boys Lacrosse, Inc. (“HPBL”) is a 501c3 non-profit organization that serves the Park Cities communities of University Park and Highland Park in Texas. Players who reside in the Highland Park School District are eligible to play with HPBL. It is the mission of the HPBL Club to provide a fun, safe and instructive lacrosse program for all players. Many of the players will develop and achieve success as a member of one of our highly competitive teams.
HPBL understands that households and individuals may suffer financial difficulty from time to time. Financial hardship can present challenges to meeting primary needs, much less discretionary activities. HPBL acknowledges the role of youth sports in the personal, physical and emotional development of a youth or high school teenager. It is the philosophy of HPBL Board that no player should be turned away from recreational sports activities due to cost or affordability. As a fiduciary, HPBL manages the expenses of the club to deliver a quality program at a reasonable cost. Although we manage the program such that the collective program fees meet the expenses and capital needs of the club, HPBL will consider various forms of payment arrangements to ensure that all players can participate.
General Considerations:
- All approved Financial Aid expires each season (spring, fall and camps).
- Financial Aid recipients should expect to pay a minimum of $100 per season.
- This policy applies to all HPBL events/programs. It does not include uniform and equipment orders, Travel Costs, Performance Course, or HP Select programs.
- Player must consistently attend practices and games.
- {C}{C}Player must comply with the Player Code of Conduct.
- Payment arrangements may include volunteerism in support of HPBL, and fundraising outside of the committed amounts made by the parent/guardian. Examples of the aforementioned:
- Sourcing HPBL donations from corporate sponsors.
- Participating in HPBL supported fundraisers and agreeing to meet minimum fundraising goals.
- Volunteer work as needed and determined by the HPBL Board.
Process:
1. To be considered for a financial aid arrangement, the parent or guardian of a HPBL youth or high school athlete must submit a letter to the President of the HPBL Board requesting consideration with the reasons for the request. The financial aid request will be kept confidential. Only the Board will have knowledge of the request.
2. The letter must include the following:
- Player’s name.
- Parent’s name, address, phone number and e-mail address.
- Grade.
- Reason for the request.
- Programs impacted (Fall, Spring, Summer Camp, etc.).
- Proposed payment plan – if any.
3. Upon receipt of the letter, the President will review with the HPBL Board.
- The President will present the financial hardship request to the Board.
- The HPBL Board will vote to approve, counter or deny the request. An official quorum of the Board must be present to determine financial hardship requests.
- The President will communicate the Board’s decision and any related payment plan by letter or email to the Applicant.
Monitoring:
The Applicant shall make payment, if any, as stipulated in the decision letter, to HPBL via check or credit card (if available). Payment can be mailed to our Treasurer.- The President shall report to the Board the status of all Financial Aid approved arrangements on a regular basis.