PROSPER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE AWARDS ALL KIDS PLAY GRANT THROUGH GATORADE 

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (February 15, 2024) — Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year, Ayden Ames, awarded All Kids Play with a Gatorade Player of the Year Community Grant to help accomplish the All Kids Play mission of transforming lives through youth sports by providing youth sports access to kids across the United States from low-income backgrounds.

Sports have seen a double-digit decline over the past decade, largely due to tighter budgets in communities, but young people that participate in sports are found to be happier, healthier and better students. As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner.

“The Gatorade Player of the Year award highlights student-athletes who set an example both on and off the field,” said Kara Darling, Assistant Marketing Manager for Gatorade Player of the Year. “The grants give these athletes a chance to donate to organizations like, All Kids Play, that positively impacts the youth in their own communities.” Jason Schmitz, Executive Director and Founder of All Kids Play added, “Gatorade has been a great partner to All Kids Play over the years as we work to provide student-athletes from low-income backgrounds across the country with high-quality youth sports experiences through which they can learn life-long skills that will benefit them in all aspects of their lives. It is an honor for All Kids Play to receive a Gatorade Player of the Year Community Grant and only fuels our commitment to working even harder to transform lives through youth sports.”

All 610 Gatorade State Player of the Year recipients are awarded a grant to donate to a social impact partner of their choosing. Each Player of the Year can also submit a video about why their organization is deserving of one of 12 Spotlight Grants, which awards an additional $10,000 to the organization. To date, Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $4.9 million across more than 1,900 organizations.

Gatorade has a longstanding history of serving athlete communities and it’s ambition is to continue doing more to create positive change. Most recently, Gatorade announced its Equity in Sports commitment, a multi-year initiative to help everyone have equal opportunities to play sports and realize their potential.

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow the conversation on Twitter #GatoradePOY. For more on Gatorade Player of the Year Community Grants, the Gatorade Player of the Year, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit PlayerOfTheYear.Gatorade.com

About Gatorade Player of the Year

Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s most elite high school athletes for their success on and off the playing surface. Gatorade Players of the Year are not only the best in their sports, but they’re also leaders in the classroom and in their communities. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport, touting an all-star group of alumni that includes Peyton Manning, Jayson Tatum, Mallory Swanson and Paige Bueckers. 

About All Kids Play

All Kids Play is a non-profit organization with a mission of transforming lives through youth sports. As a result of the generosity of Gatorade and its Gatorade Player of the Year Community Grants and Gatorade Equity in Sports Community Grants, All Kids Play has been able to provide student-athletes from low-income backgrounds across the United States with access to high-quality youth sports programs through which they can play the sports they love and also learn life skills for future success in all aspects of life.  

In 2024, USA Fencing’s Fencing the Gap initiative will offer its largest sum ever, significantly enhancing access to the sport across diverse communities.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — In a significant stride toward inclusivity, USA Fencing is proud to announce a substantial increase in its commitment to Fencing the Gap. 

This initiative, dedicated to broadening access and introducing fencing to diverse communities, will distribute an unprecedented $42,500 in 2024.

Fencing the Gap was launched at the end of 2022 as a way to bring fencing to more people through scholarships, mini-grants, and incentives for athletes, coaches and clubs.

With the generous backing of All Kids Play, a national nonprofit championing equitable access to sports, plus contributions from the U.S. Fencing Foundation, the funds for 2024 will see a 42% boost from the $30,000 allocated last year.

This year, we’ll be disseminating 22 individual scholarships and 13 mini-grants to clubs working with youth who are people with disabilities, girls, and/or Black, Indigenous, or People of Color. 

Shannon Jolly, USA Fencing’s Senior Manager of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, is the creator of Fencing the Gap and shares his excitement about this new milestone.

“This year’s overwhelming response to Fencing the Gap has been confirmation that we are on the correct path to helping eliminate barriers and grow the sport of fencing,” he says. “Thank you to all of our applicants, as you are the reason for FTG. Most importantly, thank you to our partners at All Kids Play, generous donors and our U.S. Fencing Foundation team, who continuously help make FTG successful. It is our hope that with continued support we can further increase the resources we’re putting into our communities and set a new record in 2025.”

Jason Schmitz, Executive Director and Founder of All Kids Play, echoes this sentiment.

“All Kids Play is very excited about our ongoing partnership with USA Fencing to ensure the continued growth of youth fencing in the U.S. by providing increased access to fencing for underserved student-athletes who are currently underrepresented in fencing”, he says. “All Kids Play and USA Fencing are aligned in our shared belief that the numerous like skills learned in the sport of fencing will propel student-athletes towards future success in all aspects of life. The prestigious recognition of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s 2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Choice Award for the Fencing the Gap Initiative is a great signal that USA Fencing is on the right path with this growing Initiative.”

2024 Fencing the Gap Recipients

Scholarship Recipients

• Auprell Edwards
• Brielle Howard
• Bryella Nicudemus
• Chloe-Marie Mora
• Heaven Blakely
• Isi Ma’at
• Jabreel Green
• Jesse Pablo
• Joziah Taylor
• Karl Ricketts
• Kevin Chase Miller
• London Waller
• Mac Wong
• Margarita Potapenko
• Mariam Abdul-Mutakabbir
• Max Wong
• Oliver Perayra
• Phobiola Georges
• Shelby Johnson
• Tabitha Lawton
• Valentina Mora
• Xavier Griffin

Community Impact Grant Recipients

• Atlanta Fencers Foundation
• Boston Fencing Club
• Bozeman Fencing Association **
• Blair / Invicta 
• Nellya Fencers Club
• PISTE
• SwordPlay LA
• The Fencing Center 

** Clubs approved for more than one initiative

Diverse Coaches Grant Recipients

• Boston Fencing Club
• Long Island Fencers Club
• PISTE
• Salle De Long
• SwordPlay LA