Presented in partnership with Chautauqua Striders and Fredonia State Athletics, the event brought together 9- to 12-year old girls from the Brocton, Dunkirk, Forestville, Ripley and Chautauqua Lake school districts. Participants rotated through six sport stations, including soccer, lacrosse, tennis, softball, volleyball, and cheerleading — led by 120 women collegiate student-athletes who volunteered as mentors and role models.

“Research shows that girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys by adolescence, often due to confidence gaps, limited exposure, and the absence of relatable role models,” said Katie Castro, UWCHQ Director of Advancement. “By pairing young participants with college athletes and giving them the opportunity to try multiple sports in a single morning, Girls in Sports works to interrupt that trend.”

Event feedback reflected strong impact. Ninety-nine percent of participants surveyed rated the event as excellent or good, and 99 percent said they would recommend Girls in Sports to a friend. The same percentage reported that the experience inspired them to want to play a sport at school or in their community. Additionally, 17 of the collegiate athletes expressed interest in continuing their involvement as future mentors.

School chaperones described the day as one of the highlights of the school year, noting that the interaction between young athletes and collegiate mentors was both special and inspiring.

Student-athlete volunteers echoed that sentiment, sharing that adapting activities so every girl could participate — and simply watching the girls have fun — were among the most fulfilling parts of the day. “Helping girls learn the sport reminded me why I started playing,” one student-athlete said.

For many of the 124 participants, the event marked their first time stepping onto a collegiate athletic facility — an experience organizers hope expands not only their athletic interests, but their sense of possibility.

United Way of Chautauqua County continues to host Girls in Sports annually as part of its broader commitment to expanding youth opportunity, promoting health equity and strengthening community resiliency — ensuring young people have access to the support and experiences they need to thrive.

United Way of Chautauqua County mobilizes the community to help every person and family improve their lives. For more than 100 years, United Way has been the trusted nonprofit and a pillar — strengthening the systems families rely on and expanding solutions that create lasting change.