Eager to Play, Connect, and Learn

Happy January!

We're sprinting into the new year and have some exciting updates to share with you.

"These Girls Matter ... They Matter a Tremendous Amount"

This fall, CBS Sports came out to a BAWSI Girls playground to film a story on BAWSI Co-Founder Brandi Chastian.

In the video, Brandi talks about the importance of giving back to her community and coaching the next generation of girls and young women.

"These girls matter, they matter a tremendous amount ... and I want them to know there's someone out there that really cares about them" explains Brandi.

Check out the heartwarming video that gives a snapshot into the BAWSI vibe, 'Moments that Matter with Brandi Chastain, Presented by Zelle'.

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Sky High BAWSI Attendance

Can you believe it's 2022? We can't.

Our fall 2021 season flew by faster than a TikTok trend. We are back on campus despite a wide range of school reopening plans across the 6 school districts we work within. In the fall, we reached over 420 BAWSI Girls and over 120 BAWSI Rollers across 16 sites in the South Bay.

Our enrollment and attendance numbers returned to pre-pandemic rates for both Girls (84% average attendance) and Rollers (82% average attendance). This demonstrates an eagerness to play, to connect, and to learn that will propel us into this spring season.

Off the Sidelines, Into the Game

This fall, we dove head first into our middle school expansion at Renaissance Academy at the Fischer Campus.

First sport: basketball. With free clinics and an emphasis on connected coaching, we doubled girls basketball participation in the fall.

And while winning was not our main focus, the 8th grade basketball team made it to the playoffs for the first time in school history.

What's next? Soccer AND volleyball. We started the first week of the new year with P.E. takeovers and free clinics to encourage ALL girls to join a team.

Save the Date!

Mark your calendars and join us in-person on May 6th, 2022 for the BAWSI Gala! Keep a close eye on your inbox as more details are coming soon.

Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Lauren Mulhern

A former D1 tennis player at Colorado State, Lauren had already graduated and started her career in zoology taking care of baby monkeys in Belize and other zoos prior to 2016. Then, needing a shift, Lauren took a chance on BAWSI. She changed careers and moved across the country to join the BAWSI Athlete Leadership Team.

"Working at BAWSI helped with a lot of growth professionally and personally ... it's a great place to learn teamwork with a very diverse group," explains Lauren.

Her work with BAWSI inspired her to jump straight into the Masters in Sports Management program at the University of San Francisco. While there, Lauren continued to work on BAWSI playgrounds and make a difference in the lives of BAWSI Girls and Rollers.

Now, Lauren works for Special Olympics as a Program Manager where she oversees sports programs within Northern California schools. Similar to her work with BAWSI, Lauren loves "bringing sports to a population that wouldn't otherwise have access."

It's All About Community

We are so grateful for this community for helping us hit our end of year fundraising goal.

BAWSI would not be what it is today without you. Thank you for your endless generosity!

Join our online community – we post updates, stories from the playgrounds, coach takeovers, and more.

To make an online donation, please complete the secure form.

BAWSI is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization (federal tax ID #55-0897084)

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