PUT ME IN INC

Put Me In! (PMI!) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of systemic disadvantage by providing annually renewable financial aid to children of incarcerated parents (CIPs) across the United States, to support their participation in youth sports. Founded in 2020 by Matt Blodgett—himself the son of an incarcerated parent—PMI! emerged from a deeply personal understanding of the challenges faced by system-impacted youth. The need for our program is urgent and profound: Over 5 million children in the United States are children of incarcerated parents—a population facing intense, multigenerational challenges that remain largely invisible to mainstream support systems. Two in three system-impacted families struggle to meet basic financial needs - 70% of these families have children under 18 CIPs face heightened risks of depression, educational challenges, and future justice system involvement - 50% higher rates of mental health challenges - 6x higher risk of academic failure - 70% increased likelihood of incarceration Our goal is to leverage the positive impacts of sports by providing sustained, long-term athletic opportunities that empower CIPs to overcome systemic barriers and achieve their full potential both on and off the field.