Academy Sports + Outdoors Treats Local Kids to Shopping Spree

ZANESVILLE, OH – A local business gave back to some area children this week.

Academy Sports + Outdoors in Zanesville invited the children of Big Brothers Big Sisters out to see the new store and have a shopping spree.

Denny Andonov, the Store Director for Academy Sport + Outdoors, says each child received a $100 gift card to get whatever they wanted to help kick start their summer.

“One of the things we like to do when we open a new store in a new area, is to give back to the community.” Andonov said. “And Big Brothers Big Sisters is an organization that we work with nationwide and it’s always fun to give back to the littles.”

On top of the shopping spree for the Littles, Academy Sports + Outdoors also donated an additional $2,000 to BBBS to further support their mission.

Katie Lupsor, the Executive Director for Big Brothers Big sisters, says she is blown away by the support Academy Sports has shown them.

“We got the call and it’s just everything we expected and then some.” Lupsor said. “They’ve not only let 30 Littles go shopping with their Big today, they’ve also given us a very generous donation to help support additional families who couldn’t make it today. That means the world. Amid the economy right now, people are all struggling, especially the families we serve, so it’s especially important to find that support.”

Some of the items the Littles picked out during their shopping spree ranged from Stanley Cup tumblers and sneakers to basketballs and baseball bats.