SportsMom: Sports, Scholarship & Sisterhood

Sports are often viewed as ‘extra-curricular’ and what we do in our ‘spare’ time for ‘fun.’ And while that is true for many, sports can be a powerful pathway for an athlete to continue their education and lift them out of a difficult situation. Yet we know not everyone has equal access and opportunities to pursue this path.

Consider the statistics. Young girls are two times more likely than boys to drop out of sports in middle school. And by college, only 44% of athletes are women and a mere 14% are BIPOC women. Look closer, and only 9% are Black women. Why does this matter? Because the result of participation can be empowering: Among women executives in C-level positions, 94% played sports.

That’s why I’m serving on the board of the SportsMom Foundation and would love to have your backing. On October 30th, 2022, I will be running my first marathon - the Marine Corp Marathon – to raise $20,000 for the foundation.

 

 

 

 

The SportsMom Foundation (SMF) was formed last year by sports moms (and dads!), athletes, advocates, and executives. We’re committed to level the playing field for girls in under-resourced communities that want to play, compete and excel in collegiate sports but need the athletic and academic support to help get them there.

 

 

 

 

I know the current class of recruits personally. Jayda, Jamia, London, Layla, Emorean, Shayla and Kymia are amazing young women on and off the court/field, and I feel so fortunate to be a small part of their individual journeys. We’ve already seen early success with some receiving college scholarship offers, and we have just kicked off the mentorship programming to build skills, confidence and make life-long connections beyond the sport.

Your contribution through this campaign will go directly to support these athletes’ needs to participate in activities such as club sports, athletic training, academic tutoring and more. If we reach our fundraising goal, the Foundation can support at least five more girls with programming opportunities in the next year!!

For me, this is personal. I would not be where I am today without the lessons and opportunities sports provided me - as a player, teammate, camp counselor, coach and now as a mom. Basketball enabled me to graduate from college debt free, which would not have been possible for my family otherwise. It helped me grow confidence, develop leadership skills, and, most importantly, understand and value teamwork. And with still too few women coaches across sports, being part of an organization that fosters lasting mentorship between women athletes is key for me. The ups and downs and struggles and successes of the game are with me each day, whether I'm making breakfast for the kids or giving a presentation to the Board of the company for which I currently work.

You can learn more about the Foundation here. THANK YOU your support!!