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Sport For Good Highlight

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

AFH Sport for Good Highlight: National Women’s Soccer League

Over the years, so many inspiring women’s soccer players have made an impact with Athletes for Hope. As the NWSL season kicked off this past weekend, we wanted to tell you who we are rooting for. 

Orlando Pride defender and former USWNT player Megan Montefusco has been a vital member of Athletes for Hope. In her role as a Community Outreach Coordinator for Athletes for Hope, Montefusco recruited many collegiate and professional teammates to join Athletes for Hope to make a difference.

She also helped bring AFH University to her alma mater UCLA. As an AFH athlete, Montefusco has participated in CHAMPS On-Demand and Hospital Heroes visits, volunteered with Marathon Kids in Boston, helped children stay active during the pandemic, promoted self care for the Mental Health Champions Club. Montefusco has continuously made a difference in children’s lives and allowed AFH to help even more communities. 

One of Montefusco’s teammates that she recruited, Orlando Pride midfielder Viviana Villacorta, has given back to kids in the Orlando community, making a virtual CHAMPS visit to Palm Beach County PE. 

Bev Yanez made her head coaching debut this weekend for Racing Louisville versus the Orlando Pride and has always been a great mentor for other athletes.

Yanez, a former NWSL player and assistant coach, has continuously advocated for athlete mental health. She is an AFH Mental Health Ambassador for the Whole Being Athlete program and has participated in multiple AFH panels about athlete mental health and life after sports. 

Chicago Red Stars & USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher has been a longtime AFH Athlete, mainly specializing in visiting children in the hospital. Naeher has enjoyed her many Hospital Heroes visits and even helped AFH and partner Starlight Children’s Hospital deliver festive hospital gowns to Comers Children’s Hospital. The star goalie and her sister also created a video for CHAMPS giving kids a fitness game to play at home during the pandemic. 

Defenders Lauren Barnes of the Seattle Reign FC and Katie Lind of the Houston Dash joined AFH podcast Conversations with Women in Sports for Women’s History Month with Goal Five’s Lindsey Jones. They discussed the value of female role models in soccer and business, the growth of professional women’s soccer, and equal pay and treatment across gender in sports. 

As the NWSL begins its 12th year with a new media deal and more hype than ever before,  we are rooting for all of the amazing players in the league who are making a difference.

AFH University Service Recognition

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

February 2024 | Student-Athlete & Team of the Month

Each month we ask our AFH University campus liaisons for nominations of student-athletes and teams who excelled in service. Through our monthly nominations, we can acknowledge all of the good our student-athletes and teams are doing in their communities.

During February, our Student-Athlete and Team of the Month award winners demonstrated consistency in volunteering with various causes in their communities.

February Student-Athlete of the Month

Ckelby Givens

Our February Student-Athlete of the Month is Ckelby Givens from Southern University football. Ckelby was nominated by his peers because of his desire to change the stigma of mental health across his campus.

“Ckelby was eager to join the mental health panel focused on Black history to discuss his upbringing, experiences and the absence of discussions aimed at dismantling stigma within his community. His goal is to alter that narrative on the Southern University campus.“

In episode 1 of the AFH University Mental Health U panel series, Ckelby joined other student-athletes from Southern University and Davidson College to discuss the mental health resources the student-athletes use on & off of campus, the importance of having people you can talk to, how the stigma of mental health is changing, and more. Watch episode 1 here.

Ckelby is honored to be named February’s Student-Athlete of the Month and is excited to continue spreading mental health awareness across his campus and beyond!

February Team of the Month

Howard Women’s Lacrosse

The February Team of the Month is the Howard women’s lacrosse team. The team was nominated by their peers for their consistent time spent volunteering at a local elemntary school where they are helping bring leadership skills, physical fitness and mental health lessons to children through the CHAMPS program.

“Howard women’s lacrosse has been visiting DCPCS – Brightwood Campus to conduct CHAMPS sessions. They have done four sessions with 2nd and 4th graders to discuss courage and honesty. The consistent visits have been invaluable to the children at the school and the women on the team have attended with such excitement and commitment.“

The Howard women’s lacrosse team has historically been involved in service throughout the Washington, D.C. community. The team has participated in MLK Day of Service volunteer opportunities, packaging meals at local food banks, distributing food and clothing to those less fortunate, creating cancer awareness dedication games, and more!.

Aside from community service, the women’s lacrosse team are passionate about using their voices to make a difference. Several team member have participated in AFH University mental health panel series to bring awareness to athlete mental health, the stigma of mental health in the Black community and the mental health of women both in and out of sport.

The team is happy to receive this award and recognition from their peers as they get ready for more community service opportunities in March!

2023 Play for Good Honoree Spotlight

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

Play for Good Honoree Spotlight: Mia Hamm

Ahead of AFH’s 2023 Play for Good Gala, we are proud to spotlight this year’s three honorees. In this edition, get to know the soccer icon, AFH Founding Athlete behind AFH’s inaugural Mia Hamm Founders Award. We look forward to further honoring Mia on Wednesday evening.

This soccer star’s accolades precede her in more ways than one, but humility is at the core of Mia Hamm’s disposition. 

Olympic gold medals, World Cup trophies, United States soccer records, and FIFA World Player of the Year awards are just a few of the ways Hamm cemented herself as one of the best to ever step on the pitch. 

But her contributions to the world off the pitch are what make her so special. 

Spectators today can attend a U.S. Women’s National team game and spot Mia Hamm jerseys throughout the crowd despite her international play retirement in 2004. As culturally significant as they come, she helped usher in a generation of female soccer players that have seen success in the past decade. 

As an Athletes for Hope Founding Athlete, Hamm’s impact stems beyond her playing days. She founded the Mia Hamm Foundation, a national organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for families in need of a marrow or cord blood transplant and the development of opportunities for young women in sports.

As Hamm once said, “the vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking.” Her dedication to sport and charity are examples of Hamm’s pure motivation to positively impact whatever team she’s a part of. 

Her soccer all-star games have become national events with icons from throughout athletics participating in the matches. The Celebrity Soccer Challenge has saved numerous lives, and in honor of her brother, who passed away from complications surrounding a rare blood disorder, she is stamping a legacy that transcends soccer. 

As a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Hamm has 17 years of professional excellence that back her being one of the best female athletes of all time. Yet she is not worried about the records and awards. 

She cares about what is next- helping save lives in any way she can. 

For the next little girl who doesn’t think she is good enough to play a sport she loves, or for the next patient in need of a marrow transplant, Mia Hamm serves as an example of what is possible when athletes use their platform for good.

A celebrated soccer career has been followed by years of service to support those in need. An aura of confidence has always surrounded Hamm, and few were as confident in Athletes for Hope as the soccer star. 

Through her continued dedication she has become a staple in sports philanthropy, and the giving space in general.

Congratulations to Athletes for Hope 2023 inaugural Mia Hamm Founders Award Honoree, Mia Hamm. 

AFH News

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

AFH Supports APA Foundation’s “Where We Play” Mental Health Event in Baton Rouge

On November 11, 2023, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF) brought its inaugural Mental Health: Where We Play event to Baton Rouge.

The APAF is the philanthropic and educational arm of the American Psychiatric Association. The Foundation promotes awareness of mental illnesses and the effectiveness of treatment, the importance of early intervention, access to care, and the need for high-quality services and treatment through a combination of public and professional education, research, research training, grants, and awards.

The event was an extension of their ongoing Mental Health Care Works campaign that raises awareness around the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders, showcases the efficacy of seeking help, and encourages individuals to start conversations and take action.

Photo of AFH staff, AFH student-athletes, APAF members, and others who attended the 'Where We Play' event.

Athletes for Hope staff and AFH student-athletes attended the event held at The Country Club of Louisiana for a luncheon that brought together doctors, mental health professionals, coaches, and collegiate athletes to discuss and raise awareness of the unique mental health challenges experienced by athletes.

Participants spent time discussing athlete mental health topics including performance anxiety, coming back after an injury, the impact of social media, burnout, and more. The conversations were authentic and honest, showing the human side of mental health challenges that even the most accomplished athletes face.

AFH Athletes Deja Griffin of Southern soccer, Ali Newland of LSU softball, LSU beach volleyball coach Katie Dickens, and Janice Miller, mental health advocate and mother of Arlana Miller all took turns speaking on athlete-specific mental health experiences.

Deja Griffin gave details about her freshman year injury which caused her to sit out from two years of playing and how it impacted her mental health as well as her motivation to continue school. Ali Newland shared her insight on the state of youth sports and how the “pay to play” mantra has limited sport access for disadvantaged youth.

Photo of Deja Griffin (right) and Ali Newland (left).

“There has always been conversations about mental health. The difference is people willing to listen.”

Dejas Griffin, Southern Soccer

The event concluded with Louisiana State Senator Cleo Fields stating that he felt motivated to do more in the mental health space, with a goal of adding additional mental health counselors in Louisiana colleges beyond LSU.

We are proud of our student-athletes who continue to engage in difficult conversations, knowing that their lived experiences as collegiate athletes can help to shape the next generations and we are thankful to our mental health partner, APAF, for giving them a space to share their stories.

AFH News

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

What We’re Reading

November 4 – November 17, 2023

Every day, athletes all over the world are doing incredible work in their communities by giving back, creating opportunities for those less fortunate, and making connections that will last a lifetime.

There is so much good going on in the sports community! From new scholarships, baseball glove donations, men’s mental health, and more, here are five articles the AFH team has read over the past two weeks that you may have missed.

“Buffalo’s Damar Hamlin will use his foundation to award $1,000 scholarships in honor of 10 medical professionals who tended to him when he suffered a cardiac arrest on the field earlier this year.”

Read the full article on buffalobills.com.

“I’m happy to announce that I will be donating approximately 60,000 youth gloves to every elementary school in Japan,” Ohtani said. “That comes out to around 20,000 elementary schools. I’m hoping the kids can spend their days happily with a lot of energy through baseball.”

Read the full article on apnews.com.

“While spending a Wednesday evening jumping into a sandpit (the CanU kids’ favorite activity, said Reimer) or delivering hampers might seem like small gestures, both Reimer and Hutchinson-Campbell agree that the impact of CanU on the kids is immeasurable.”

Read the full article on umanitoba.com.

“Hardwick said men often suppress their emotions especially when balancing the challenges of work and family life. “For me, the healthier we are as individuals, the healthier we are going to be as dads, as workers, and as people who coach football or whatever we’re into.”

Read the full article on wishtv.com.

“Undisputed featherweight boxing world champion Alycia Baumgardner and Mayor Danny Sanchez hosted a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway for 75 local families on Nov. 9 at her alma mater, Fremont Ross High School.”

Read the full article at thenewsmessenger.com.

Mental Health Athlete Spotlight

Posted: Updated: by Hannah Bronkema

Overcoming the mental battle

As an athlete, injuries are the risk you take to play the sport you love. The physical side of recovery is exhausting and physically challenging, but even more so mentally. I saw the lowest of lows when recovering from knee surgery, something no one could have prepared me for. It felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

No one seems to talk about how the little victories are the most rewarding when they deal with recovery. I was so close to calling it quits multiple times, but I was a competitor and would not let a brace and crutches stop me from chasing my dreams. I sat on the sidelines as I watched my teammates succeed. But I failed to realize that I was finding success that related to my journey, not anyone else.

I was unprepared for what to do when my mind got the best of me, and the negative thoughts came pouring in at a rate that was faster than I could control.

There was no rule book on how to handle relearning how to walk when my brain said, “Just do it, it shouldn’t be that hard.” time and time again. I was unaware of how to adjust to the new player I was when I stepped back onto the field. I was ecstatic to get back to playing, only to step on the field and want to hang up the cleats for good because I had been losing the mental fight.

I was not the player I was, and I was expecting to be when I returned because I had pushed my body so hard for nine months; that I physically felt ready. I had failed to prepare my mind. My mind was still in month four or five of recovery by the time I got the green light to play. I stepped on the field and let the mind game control me, and it showed.

As athletes, our minds go 100 miles a minute, just like their bodies. We spend more time in our heads than on the playing field. There is no excuse for not being taught how to train our minds before our bodies. I am a college athlete and still am unable to keep my mental game as sharp as my physical game. It can be exhausting, challenging, and degrading at times, but as an athlete, I know that athletics has taught me more than I could ever learn, so why give up? At what cost is it too much? Athletes deserve so much more than what they have received.

We have the tools to succeed physically, but many lack the tools to succeed mentally. The mental health of athletes is a conversation that needs to happen more often than it does. Many of us grew up playing sports for one thing, the love of the game.

The love of the game should not have to fade as we start to play at a higher competition.

The game will bring out the greatest; and sometimes the worst in each athlete. Remember when the worst comes because it will, that it does not last forever, and you are more than your sport.

To every athlete, no matter how long the days feel, how lonely the nights get, and how tired you become from the feeling of fighting an uphill battle, you are not alone, and you are loved.