The Women's Sports Foundation® Celebrates 10th Anniversary of the Sports 4 Life Program, Announces Largest Funding Pool and Grant Class Since Inception
The Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Sports 4 Life program with a historic $500,000 grant pool distributed to 50 organizations across 22 states and Washington, D.C. This initiative, co-founded by ESPN and supported by Gatorade, aims to empower Black, African-American, Hispanic, and Native American girls through sports.
The program has funded 254 organizations since its inception, providing $2.8 million in grants to nearly 90,000 girls participating in over 40 sports. This year's milestone was amplified by a special donation from WNBA legend Sue Bird in partnership with CarMax. The grants cover a wide range of sports, including figure skating, flag football, and skateboarding.
According to WSF's research, Sports 4 Life has had a significant impact on participants, with 97% of girls agreeing they would persist in reaching their goals and 92% reporting improved grades. The program continues to expand its reach, with 35 of the 50 community organizations being new recipients this year.
La Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) sta celebrando il 10° anniversario del suo programma Sports 4 Life con un fondo storico da 500.000 dollari distribuito a 50 organizzazioni in 22 stati e Washington, D.C. Questa iniziativa, co-fondata da ESPN e supportata da Gatorade, mira a dare potere a ragazze nere, afroamericane, ispaniche e native americane attraverso lo sport.
Il programma ha finanziato 254 organizzazioni dalla sua nascita, fornendo 2,8 milioni di dollari in sovvenzioni a quasi 90.000 ragazze che partecipano a oltre 40 sport. Il traguardo di quest'anno è stato amplificato da una donazione speciale della leggendaria giocatrice WNBA Sue Bird in collaborazione con CarMax. Le sovvenzioni coprono una vasta gamma di sport, tra cui pattinaggio artistico, football con bandiera e skateboard.
Secondo la ricerca della WSF, Sports 4 Life ha avuto un impatto significativo sulle partecipanti, con il 97% delle ragazze che concorda sul fatto che continueranno a perseguire i loro obiettivi e il 92% che riporta un miglioramento nei voti. Il programma continua ad espandere il suo raggio d'azione, con 35 delle 50 organizzazioni comunitarie che sono nuove beneficiarie quest'anno.
La Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) está celebrando el 10° aniversario de su programa Sports 4 Life con un fondo histórico de 500,000 dólares distribuido a 50 organizaciones en 22 estados y Washington, D.C. Esta iniciativa, cofundada por ESPN y apoyada por Gatorade, busca empoderar a chicas negras, afroamericanas, hispanas y nativas americanas a través del deporte.
Desde su inicio, el programa ha financiado 254 organizaciones, proporcionando 2.8 millones de dólares en subvenciones a casi 90,000 chicas que participan en más de 40 deportes. El hito de este año se vio ampliado por una donación especial de la leyenda de la WNBA Sue Bird en asociación con CarMax. Las subvenciones abarcan una amplia variedad de deportes, incluyendo patinaje artístico, fútbol bandera y skateboarding.
Según la investigación de WSF, Sports 4 Life ha tenido un impacto significativo en las participantes, con el 97% de las chicas de acuerdo en que persistirán en alcanzar sus objetivos y el 92% informe una mejora en sus calificaciones. El programa sigue ampliando su alcance, con 35 de las 50 organizaciones comunitarias siendo nuevos beneficiarios este año.
여성 스포츠 재단(WSF)은 스포츠 4 라이프 프로그램의 10주년을 기념하여 22개 주와 워싱턴 D.C.의 50개 조직에 50만 달러의 역사적인 보조금을 배포합니다. 이 이니셔티브는 ESPN이 공동 설립하고 Gatorade가 지원하며, 흑인, 아프리카계 미국인, 히스패닉, 아메리카 원주율 소녀들에게 스포츠를 통해 힘을 실어주고자 합니다.
이 프로그램은 시작 이래로 254개 조직에 자금을 지원하여 90,000명 가까운 소녀들에게 280만 달러의 보조금을 제공하였습니다. 올해의 이정표는 WNBA 전설 수 새드의 특별 기부로 더욱 강조되었습니다. 보조금은 피겨 스케이팅, 플래그 풋볼, 스케이트보드 등 다양한 스포츠를 포함합니다.
WSF의 연구에 따르면, Sports 4 Life는 참여자에게 상당한 영향을 미쳤으며, 97%의 소녀들이 자신이 목표를 달성하는 데 계속 노력할 것이라고 동의하고 92%가 성적 향상을 보고합니다. 프로그램은 계속해서 범위를 확장하고 있으며, 올해 50개 지역 조직 중 35개가 새로운 수혜자입니다.
La Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) célèbre le 10ème anniversaire de son programme Sports 4 Life avec un fonds historique de 500 000 dollars distribué à 50 organisations dans 22 États et Washington, D.C. Cette initiative, co-fondée par ESPN et soutenue par Gatorade, vise à donner du pouvoir aux filles noires, afro-américaines, hispaniques et amérindiennes à travers le sport.
Depuis sa création, le programme a financé 254 organisations, fournissant 2,8 millions de dollars de subventions à près de 90 000 filles participant à plus de 40 sports. Le jalon de cette année a été amplifié par un don spécial de la légende de la WNBA Sue Bird en partenariat avec CarMax. Les subventions couvrent une large gamme de sports, y compris le patinage artistique, le football américain avec drapeau et le skateboarding.
Selon les recherches de la WSF, Sports 4 Life a eu un impact significatif sur les participantes, avec 97 % des filles convenant qu'elles continueraient à atteindre leurs objectifs et 92 % rapportant une amélioration de leurs notes. Le programme continue d'élargir sa portée, avec 35 des 50 organisations communautaires qui sont nouvelles bénéficiaires cette année.
Die Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) feiert den 10. Jahrestag ihres Sports 4 Life-Programms mit einem historischen Zuschussfonds von 500.000 Dollar, der an 50 Organisationen in 22 Bundesstaaten und Washington, D.C. verteilt wird. Diese Initiative, die von ESPN mitbegründet und von Gatorade unterstützt wird, zielt darauf ab, schwarzen, afroamerikanischen, hispanischen und amerikanischen Ureinwohnern Mädchen durch Sport zu stärken.
Seit ihrer Gründung hat das Programm 254 Organisationen finanziert und 2,8 Millionen Dollar an Zuschüssen an fast 90.000 Mädchen vergeben, die an über 40 Sportarten teilnehmen. Der Meilenstein in diesem Jahr wurde durch eine spezielle Spende von WNBA-Legende Sue Bird in Partnerschaft mit CarMax verstärkt. Die Zuschüsse decken eine breite Palette von Sportarten ab, darunter Eiskunstlauf, Flagfootball und Skateboarding.
Laut WSFs Forschung hat Sports 4 Life einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Teilnehmerinnen, wobei 97% der Mädchen zustimmen, dass sie weiterhin ihre Ziele verfolgen werden und 92% von besseren Noten berichten. Das Programm bleibt dabei nicht stehen und erweitert seine Reichweite, wobei 35 der 50 Gemeinschaftsorganisationen in diesem Jahr neue Begünstigte sind.
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Co-founding Partner ESPN, National Partner Gatorade and the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF®) honor 10 years of this powerful initiative by awarding a historic
WNBA legend Sue Bird honors the Foundation's 50th anniversary with a special donation in partnership with CarMax to the Sports 4 Life program.
Sports 4 Life embodies WSF's 50-year legacy as it has worked to build a more equitable future for girls both on and off the field of play, especially where disparities persist. WSF's latest research report, "Thriving Through Sport: The Transformative Impact on Girls' Mental Health," illuminated that participating in supportive sport environments positively impacts girls' mental health, yet girls who identify as white are more likely to participate in sport than their non-white peers. The data clearly shows that getting more girls of color in the game is paramount to helping them live healthier, more enriched lives. That is why WSF is proud to amplify that since inception, Sports 4 Life has funded 254 organizations across 40 states,
"For 50 years and counting, a simple belief has fueled our mission at the Women's Sports Foundation – when girls play, they lead and we all win," said WSF CEO Danette Leighton. "The impact we have been able to make with this powerful initiative wouldn't be possible without the shared vision of our co-founding partner ESPN, the continued support of Gatorade, and thanks to this year's donation from Sue Bird and CarMax, we are able to celebrate its 10-year milestone by reaching even more girls in communities who lack sport access."
This year's grant recipients cover a gamut of traditional, non-traditional and adaptive sports opportunities for girls, including figure skating, flag football, and skateboarding. Thanks to Bird's contribution, five of the grants will go to community organizations who specialize in teaching basketball, a sport she built a legendary career in and continues to invest in today.
"Even if girls don't go on to become professional athletes, participating in sport at a young age helps build necessary skills that will benefit them throughout their lifetimes," said Bird. "That's why I am proud to support WSF's Sports 4 Life program as it continues to eliminate barriers to sport for BIPOC girls, surrounding them with a community to learn from and be inspired by."
The program has had a profound impact on those who participate, particularly in perseverance, education and leadership. According to WSF's Communities at the Forefront report, which collected and analyzed data from Sports 4 Life grant recipients,
"ESPN is proud to celebrate 10 years of Sports 4 Life and its impact on young girls of color nationwide," said Kevin Martinez, vice president of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. "When we created Sports 4 Life with the Women's Sports Foundation, we understood that girls of color were disproportionately excluded from opportunities to play sports. Today, we are proud of how innovative grant making is shifting the narrative, and we are committed to continue investing in young girls of color through Sports 4 Life so that they can enjoy the many benefits and gain leadership skills that come from playing sports."
Thirty-five of the 50 community organizations are new to Sports 4 Life funding, further expanding the reach of this powerful initiative. Helping girls of color play, compete and lead – in sports and beyond – for a decade, the program has had a generational impact with many of the participants from the inaugural class now holding leadership positions at the organizations who encouraged them to #KeepPlaying. Read more about their stories here.
"As a multi-year partner of the Women's Sports Foundation, and supporter of Sports 4 Life, Gatorade celebrates the 10th anniversary of the program and its impact on girls across the country," said Jennifer Schmit, senior director, Gatorade Community Marketing & Impact. "We are aligned with WSF in believing in the transformative power of sport and are committed to creating more opportunities for girls to play – and stay – in sports."
Learn more and meet our 2024 grant recipients here.
About the Women's Sports Foundation
The Women's Sports Foundation exists to enable girls and women to reach their potential in sport and life. We are an ally, an advocate, and a catalyst. Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, we are one of the first organizations to recognize the powerful connection between sports access, equity, and society. WSF has been changing the game for 50 years through its research, advocacy, and community programming, investing over
About ESPN Corporate Citizenship
ESPN believes that, at its very best, sports uplift the human spirit. Its corporate citizenship programs use the power of sport to positively address society's needs through strategic community investments, cause marketing programs, collaboration with sports organizations and employee volunteerism, while also utilizing its diverse media assets. www.espn.com/espn/citizenship
About Gatorade Portfolio
The Gatorade Portfolio, a division of PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), is a connected performance and wellness ecosystem built to fuel all athletes and exercisers. Bringing together Gatorade, Fast Twitch, Propel, Evolve and Muscle Milk, the Gatorade Portfolio is the most complete offering in the category today, with a broad range of personalized solutions at every stage of the athlete journey. This integrated system of brands is built on Gatorade's 59-year history of studying athletes and is fueling the future of athletic performance and wellness by delivering solutions across hydration, protein, energy, and all-day nutrition to fuel consumers, no matter how or why they sweat. For more information and a full list of product offerings, please visit www.gatorade.com.
Media Contacts:
Kandice Miller
Women's Sports Foundation
479.409.7779
KMiller@WomensSportsFoundation.org
John Manzo
ESPN
586.713.9347
John.Manzo@espn.com
Meaghan Levenstein
Gatorade
804-216-3679
Meaghan.Levenstein@pepsico.com
View original content:SOURCE Women's Sports Foundation
FAQ
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