Hi! My name is Julia Malysz, and I am a recent graduate of Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Illinois. I am also the junior women's goalkeeper for USA Team Handball.

Trailblazers in the making!

For the second time since 1981, the United States has made history by qualifying for the Junior Women's Team Handball World Championships. This victory comes from a group of trailblazers in the sport: with an average age of just 17.6 in the under-20 category, our team has shattered this 43-year hiatus. We are determined to prove to the world that this is just the beginning! I have recently had the honor of being selected to further represent Team USA in the sport that I love, and I need your help to see this dream come to fruition.

My story with Team USA:

I have been playing Team Handball for 8 years, starting in 2016 when I joined an after-school intramural club. In-between long-distance travel for training, my father and I would sharpen my goalkeeping skills in our driveway with a makeshift net that he built for me. In the 5 years since my international athletic career took off with Team USA in 2019, my teammates and I have qualified to play on the world's biggest stage this summer: the IHF Women's Junior (U20) World Championship in North Macedonia. This is a monumental achievement for our team, and the first stepping-stone towards my dream of an Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Why do we need your help?

While handball is a popular sport internationally, it has not yet gained momentum in the United States. The US Handball Team is in a minority of handball teams around the world whose nations do not cover their expenditures, and thus rely on external sponsorship. Our team's athletes have all had to fund nearly everything out-of-pocket in order to not only compete, but to train as well — from airline tickets, to accommodation, to travel, and more. My family comes from humble means, and so this has turned out to be more than we can finance independently.

I kindly ask for any donations that would allow me to proudly represent my country on the world stage at North Macedonia this summer, and ultimately, the Olympics. With your help, I will be given the opportunity of a lifetime. Any amount is sincerely and greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your generosity, and GO TEAM USA!