Tennis Star Madison Keys to Keynote Play Like a Girl Honors
The Play Like a Girl Honors celebrates the contributions of leading women and men in sports and the girls they inspire. And who better to help us do that than Madison Keys, one of the most talented and brightest young stars in the tennis world? Keys will be our keynote speaker for the Honors Gala as well as the recipient of our prestigious Founder’s Award.
It Doesn’t Matter How You Get in the Game
What matters is that you play. Keys has shared that while she became interested in tennis at a young age, the reason why might surprise you. When she was four years old as she watched Wimbledon on television, Keys fell in love with Venus Williams’ dress and asked her parents for one like it. They offered to get her one, if she started playing tennis. Did she ever take them up on the challenge!
Keys began taking lessons regularly at age seven, began competing in tournaments at age nine and moved to Florida at age 10 with her mom and younger sisters to train at the Evert Tennis Academy founded by John Evert. Keys went professional in 2009 on her 14th birthday and went on to defeat Serena Williams 5-1 in a World Team Tennis Match that same year!
After winning the Australian Open in 2015 at age 19 she became the world’s highest ranked teenager. Then in 2016, she became the first American to enter the top 10 women’s rankings since Serena Williams held the spot in 1999. By 2017, Keys was a U.S. Open finalist.
Leveling the Playing Field On and Off the Court
Keys is a big proponent of our mission to level the playing field for girls. She herself was inspired early on by the efforts of the Williams sisters to bridge the prize money gap between men and women in tennis.
In a Refinery 29 article Keys discusses her views regarding gender inequality in sports, “As a whole and across the board, we have to get better, because it’s very obvious that [women] aren’t [treated] equal. Having a platform means that I won’t just sit back and say everything’s okay. I think the biggest thing is addressing [inequality]—not telling [professional athletes] to ignore the issue.”
One Fearless Mission
Keys is making good on that promise to use her platform by teaming up with FearlesslyGirl , an internationally recognized anti-bullying organization dedicated to creating a kinder girl world in schools and communities across North America.
She has spoken about how she herself struggled to belong in high school particularly since she spent so much time on the road with tennis. And still today Keys experiences online bullying, but says since learning how her responses to those negative comments have inspired girls to also speak out she is going to dedicate herself to bringing about change.
Also fueled by her desire to be a good role model for her two younger sisters, Keys hopes FearlesslyGirl “will give me a very unique opportunity to inspire, help, encourage and be a big sister to a whole generation of girls,” she says in a Forbes article on her work with the organization.
Keys to Success
What advice would Keys give our girls as they take their shot? In a TennisMood article she shares these tips:
- “For me every day is a new day and a new challenge. Past doesn’t really matter.”
- “I don’t really focus on other people’s expectations. I only care what my own expectations are.”
- “If you want to grow up and be successful, two things you don’t want to leave home without are hard work and dedication.”
- “Find your motivation—and follow it. I try to stay motivated by always thinking this is what’s going to make me better.”
Join the Party
The Play Like a Girl Honors Gala raises awareness and funds to support our programs for girls in Nashville and across the country. This year’s star-studded event featuring Madison Keys will take place Monday, November 26 at Marriott Hotel Cool Springs in Franklin, Tennessee, just south of Nashville. The event will feature a cocktail hour with cash bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, live music, red carpet and more.
Follow the event on Facebook for updates and other information.
Improving Health Through Sport
Did you know that today’s children may be the first generation to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents? They are actually expected to live five years less due to physical inactivity.
For girls specifically:
- By age 10, girls are less physically active.
- Over one-fourth of girls ages nine to 13 report no free-time physical activity, classifying themselves as sedentary outside of school.
- They drop out of sport at nearly twice the age of boys by age 14.
- Over half of girls quit sports altogether by age 17, making this the least physically active generation ever.
Why? Nearly seven out of 10 girls do not feel encouraged to play.
[bctt tweet="Play Like a Girl calls foul on this trend, making it our mission to ensure every girl reaches her full potential. We’re leveling the playing field because improving health through sport gives girls a passion for active living and the promising futures they deserve." username="iplaylikeagirl"]
Our Girls in Action
Play Like a Girl provides a supportive sisterhood of coaches, teammates and role models to improve the health of girls’ through sport while at the same time building confidence and leadership skills. We’re honored to share just some of the stories of how sport and physical activity are preparing our girls to become unstoppable women.
Lydia, age 8
Lydia attended the Play Like a Girl Camp on Ice with the Nashville Predators and her sister participated in a previous softball camp.
Both the girls loved the camps says mom Melissa, “Play Like a Girl encourages my daughters to step outside their comfort zone. Sports can change girls’ lives.”
Imisi, age 8
Imisi enjoyed attending the Camp on Ice with the Nashville Predators learning, “You may fall, but with practice, you will get somewhere.”
When asked about the benefits of Play Like a Girl, Iyanu, Imisi’s brother says, “It’s good because girls get to play sports they may not usually get to play.”
Trinity, age 10
Trinity attended both the Play Like a Girl Softball Skills Clinic with the Nashville Sounds and Camp on Ice with the Nashville Predators because “[she] wanted to try something new and meet new people.”
Mom Deloria was excited by Trinity’s interest. Deloria believes strongly that “girls are not given the same opportunities in sports as males despite their talent and skill. I hope her [Trinity's] Play Like a Girl experience will encourage her to continue sports and take the lessons she learns here and teach others.”
Jackie, age 11
Jackie and her family drove over an hour so she could attend the Camp on Ice with the Nashville Predators.
Mom Robin wanted Jackie to give it a try because she says, “Play Like a Girl provides the opportunity to connect and have fun with other girls while trying new things.”
Alana, age 10
Alana first attended the Play Like a Girl Softball Skills Clinic with the Nashville Sounds and “Because I had so much fun I wanted to come to the Nashville Predators Women’s Panel next,” she says.
Alana’s mom, Miatta, states, “I love that Play Like a Girl encourages healthy habits and exposes my daughter to sports. We had so much fun at the first camp; we decided to bring a friend to this one.”
Ella, age 13
Ella has attended the Camp on Ice with the Nashville Predators as well as Play Like a Girl Camp with Google & Gatorade. She says the camps, “Teach girls that “playing like a girl” is a good thing.”
Her mother, Tamara, echoes that sentiment, “Play Like a Girl reinforces the importance of activity and sport for girls. It opens their eyes to new possibilities.”
Make your move today; find a Play Like a Girl Sports Club or STEM Camp! Or, to Get Involved by partnering, fundraising, volunteering or donating.
Nashville Young Professionals Organize for Play Like a Girl
Millennials may go down as one of the most giving generations in history, even as young professionals with less disposable income and student loans to pay. In fact, according to The Case Foundation’s Millennial Impact Report in 2014, 84 percent of millennials gave charitably and 70 percent volunteered for a charitable cause. [bctt tweet="Across the world and right here in Nashville, millennials want to make the world a better place, and that’s an example that inspires us and our girls." username="iplaylikeagirl"]
A New Opportunity for Young Professionals in Nashville
As Play Like a Girl invests in the next generation of confident, successful women, who better to help us than today’s confident, successful young professionals? You understand all too well the obstacles girls face to stay in the game through college and as they begin careers.
That’s why we’re starting the Play Like a Girl All Stars, our new young professionals network. The goal is to provide young professionals in Nashville the opportunity to expand their professional network and build leadership skills while supporting our mission to ensure that every girl reaches her full potential by providing them a chance--sometimes their only chance--to participate in sport and physical activity.
Make a Difference Doing What You Know
The Millennial Impact Report also states that 77 percent of millennials are more likely to volunteer when they can use their specific skills to maximize their philanthropic impact. Play Like a Girl All Stars have plenty of opportunity to do just that, “Acting as ambassadors, members of this young professionals network will engage the community through skilled volunteering, fundraising, networking and advocacy opportunities targeting young professionals with an interest or background in sports and/or STEM (science, tech, engineering and math),” says Dr. McKenna Healy, Play Like a Girl Board Member and All Stars Chair.
Giving Back Gives You Even More
Today’s young professionals know that when you give back, you get even more through the impact you make in young lives. Play Like a Girl All Stars will meet young professionals across the Nashville metro area to create innovative cross-sector STEM and sports partnerships, support the alumnae of Play Like a Girl programs as well as learn more about how to get involved in keeping girls in sports and, ultimately, propel young women into careers at the intersection of STEM and sports.
The perks of All Stars:
- Receive invites to exclusive All Stars happy hours, socials and other insider-only events.
- Get active in our summer sports league, top secret boot camps and fitness classes.
- Roll up your sleeves or lace up your shoes to volunteer and fundraise for Play Like a Girl.
- Develop your professional muscle through professional development events with a variety of thought leaders in the sports industry.
- Get featured on our website and social media.
- Have fun!
Start the MOVEment
The Play Like a Girl Honors Gala is known to gather hundreds to raise awareness and funds to support our programs for girls in Nashville and across the country. This year's star-studded event will take place Monday, November 26 at Marriott Hotel Cool Springs in Franklin, Tennessee, just south of Nashville.
Of course, the cost of a single ticket is cost prohibitive for most individuals who might want to attend. But this year, we didn’t want to leave out our young patrons, so we're launching the All Stars Young Professional Network at the Play Like a Girl Honors VIP Reception starting at 5:00 p.m.
The event will feature a cocktail hour with open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, live music, red carpet and more. Plus, young professionals will rub elbows with elite athletes, celebrities and influencers across a variety of industries.
A special $99 early bird ticket is available for young professionals through November 5. This ticket includes entrance to the VIP Reception, the main Honors event and annual All Stars membership for 2019--a value of over $300.
Proceeds from the event will help Play Like a Girl serve 500 Nashville girls in 2019. What’s more, we are currently recruiting members of the All Stars Steering Committee.
All Stars help transform lives on and off the field; bring your game by filling out the Young Professionals Interest Form or getting your early bird ticket to the Play Like a Girl Honors Gala.
Follow the event on Facebook for updates and other information.