New She Plays, She Wins Program Will Award Up to $10,000 in Prizes
Three-time Olympic gold medalist and professional soccer player, Heather Mitts, has teamed with Total Quality Logistics (TQL) and the TQL Urban Race to support a new initiative called She Plays, She Wins. The program will recognize female student athletes, ages 13-24, in the Tri-state.
Students submit their best video or essay answering the following question: How have sports positively impacted your life and how do you think they will affect your future? Ten prizes of $1,000 each will be awarded to student athletes whose essays or videos receive the most votes. The $1,000 prizes will be awarded in the form of a $1,000 voucher for team uniforms or a $1,000 educational scholarship for the student, made payable to the school they attend.
“I’m extremely proud to be the 2014 ambassador for the new She Plays, She Wins program. Participation in sports is incredibly beneficial for young women and I am thrilled to play a part in encouraging the female student athletes from my hometown,” said Mitts.
According to the Greater Cincinnati Northern-Kentucky Women’s Sport Association, the valuable lessons and benefits that accrue from girls participating in sports are priceless.
“Besides gaining confidence, self-esteem, and pride, girls who engage in sports are 82% less likely to get involved with drugs, 80% less likely to have an unwanted pregnancy, and three times more likely to graduate from high school,” said Cammy Dierking, co-chair of the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Women’s Sports Association.
To enter She Plays, She Wins, students must submit their videos or essays through the official She Plays, She Wins Facebook page. Submissions will be accepted through Friday, June 20, 2014 at midnight in three age brackets: 13-15, 16-19, and 19-24.
ABOUT SHE PLAYS SHE WINS
She Plays, She Wins recognizes female student athletes in the Greater Cincinnati region and raises awareness among parents and the community of the many valuable lessons and benefits that girls experience from participating in sports. The program will award ten $1,000 prizes to student athletes whose videos or essays receive the most votes. All submissions must be done through the She Plays, She Wins official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ShePlaysSheWins . For a complete list of contest rules, visit the Facebook page or email ShePlaysSheWins@tql.com
ABOUT THE TQL URBAN RACE
TQL Urban Race is a downtown obstacle course race in Cincinnati, Ohio. Runners race approximately 4 miles through the streets of downtown, dominate 12 insane obstacles along the way, and then celebrate at a post-race party with live music, food, and beverages. TQL is one of the nation’s largest logistics providers and created this event to reflect the culture of the company – competitive, challenging, daring, but ultimately very rewarding for those who are willing to put in the hard work. A portion of the proceeds go to the Reds Community Fund and the Marvin Lewis Community Fund. Both organizations provide opportunities for at-risk youth in the community through sports and education.
ABOUT HEATHER MITTS
Heather Mitts was born and raised in Cincinnati. She attended St. Ursula Academy and went on to play soccer at the University of Florida. Mitts won an NCAA championship, a silver medal in the Women's World Cup, and is one of only four players in US Soccer history to win three Olympic gold medals. She played for the US National team 136 times before retiring in 2013. She is a new mom and holds an annual soccer camp in the Tri-state where campers have the opportunity to train with and learn from one of the greatest players in the women’s game. This year’s soccer camp will be held at NKU on July 19. For more information, visit http://www.heathermitts.com/#!soccer-camp/c1vwc .