ANNOUNCING THE CALL TO GET GIRLS ACTIVE! -
2008 GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards presented by Gatorade®
THE WOMEN'S SPORTS FOUNDATION AND GATORADE® PROVIDE
$50,000 IN GRANTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS THAT ENCOURAGE GIRLS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO GET AND STAY ACTIVE
Deadline to enter and participate is July 18, 2008, at GoGirlWorld.org/Ambassador
NEW YORK, N.Y., November 30, 2007– The Women's Sports Foundation and The Gatorade Company today announced a $50,000 grant program for female high school teams that demonstrate leadership in motivating girls to actively engage in sports and physical activity. Applications and program details for the 2008 GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards are now available at www.GoGirlWorld.org/Ambassador.
“There is nothing more powerful than high school athletes serving as role models for younger girls in their community,” said Dr. Marj Snyder, Women's Sports Foundation Co-CEO. “Through the GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards program, we hope to inspire even more high school athletes to become involved by teaching and motivating others about the benefits of being active.”
Twenty high school teams throughout the country will be selected to receive a $2,500 grant based efforts to positively motivate other girls to get and stay active. Grants can be used for team uniforms, travel and equipment. Entries must be completed and submitted by July 18, 2008. Grant recipients will be announced in September 2008.
“Whether it's coaching a sports team or teaching an after-school fitness group about the importance of teamwork and leadership, high school leaders have an incredible opportunity to have a lifelong impact on the physical and emotional well-being of younger girls by empowering them to be active,” said Matt Knott, Vice President of Marketing for Gatorade. “Through our continued support and partnership with the Women's Sports Foundation, Gatorade is reaffirming what our brand is all about – celebrating the value of sport and inspiring more kids and teens to experience the rewards of physical activity.”
To apply for the GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards and qualify to receive the $2,500 team grants, participants must be female students enrolled in ninth – 12th grade and affiliated with a school, amateur, community or nonprofit organization. In 2007, the GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards impacted more than 11,000 girls through local programming initiatives led by high school female athletes.
A snapshot of this past year's winning programs include:
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Marysville High School Lady Monarchs Basketball Team (Marysville, Ohio): Organized an elementary school basketball program with help from the local YMCA and area elementary schools.
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City Honors High School Centaurs Volleyball Team (Buffalo, N.Y.): Reached out to middle school girls to teach them the fundamentals of volleyball through a series of sports clinics.
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Sage Hill School Hot Shots Soccer Club (Laguna Beach, Calif.): Members of the soccer team created the “Hot Shots Soccer Camp,” for tween girls from low-income families. The week-long camp focused on teaching them the fundamentals of soccer as well as the importance of teamwork and leadership.
About the Women's Sports FoundationFounded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization seeking to advance the lives of girls and women through sport and physical activity. The Foundation's Participation, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership programs are made possible by gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations. The Foundation is located in Nassau County, N.Y. For more information, please call the Foundation at (800) 227-3988, browse through this website or visit www.GoGirlGo.com.
About GatoradeGatorade® Thirst Quencher, the nation's leading sports drink, is backed by 40 years of research. Gatorade is scientifically formulated and athletically proven to quench thirst, replace fluids and electrolytes and provide carbohydrate energy to enhance athletic performance. The Gatorade Company is part of QTG (Quaker, Tropicana, and Gatorade) and is a division of PepsiCo, Inc. For more information, please visit www.gatorade.com.