This year, GameChanger launched our inaugural Stay & Play Champions program to support an all-star team of five teen athletes from across the country who are passionate about helping youth in their communities gain access to sports and stick with them. Throughout the year, the champions, in partnership with their associated non-profit and GameChanger, will host events promoting play persistence in their communities.
The Stay and Play Champions demonstrate leadership in community sports initiatives, dedication to reducing barriers for underrepresented athletes, and an ability to communicate their impact. Recently, our champions have received additional recognition for their advocacy.
Maegha Ramanathan, the founder of Girls4Sports, was named to the 2024 Diana Award Roll of Honour. The only charity set up in the name of the late Princess Diana of Wales, The Diana Award recognizes young people from across the world who have demonstrated their ability to inspire and mobilize new generations to serve their communities and create long-lasting change on a global scale.
Jonathan Oaks, a Special Olympics athlete and champion for sports equity, was given the Distinguished Achievement Award from Pittsburgh Public Schools. This award is granted to a student who shows exemplary commitment to a cause they care about and was granted to Jonathan for his efforts to make more equitable environments for students to play sports.
We’re proud of the work our champions are doing in their communities and look forward to sharing their events in the New Year. Read more about all of our athletes and their partner organizations here. Or, to dive deeper into their causes and find tips to better support our young athletes, browse their resources, including: Athlete for Hope’s Adaptive Ally Toolkit, Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Principles of Meaningful Involvement, and Tips to Get a Girl Active from the Women’s Sports Foundation.
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US Patent Nos. 8,731,458 and 9,393,485.
