Our Squad Is Our Greatest Gift
Meet One of 1,600 Women Mentors Making a Difference
Sometimes you meet someone like Celeste Bell who is so inspiring that you think she’s Superwoman. She is a passionate, goal-driven leader and athlete who has lived many lives - and doing good for Play Like a Girl is at the top of her agenda.
Celeste is an HR executive for multinational ad agencies, has been a ladder-climbing professional for various sports organizations including the LPGA, NBA & MLB, and is a record-breaking distance runner who has run 66 full marathons -- across all 50 U.S. states and on every continent. And most raised money to benefit girls we serve, by the way!
Celeste is also a dedicated mentor, leader and former chairwoman of the Play Like a Girl Board of Directors. Most importantly, her impact in the lives of girls we serve is unmatched.
In fact, she will tell you that she didn’t get to where she is today without her own tribe of strong women coaches, mentors and role models who have guided her throughout different stages in her life.
[bctt tweet="“It’s so important to have another voice...to have someone to lean on. Throughout all of my different experiences, there was always one person who I identified and leaned on who I felt wanted the best for me, were open and honest, and wanted to see me succeed.”" username="iplaylikeagirl"]
Because of her own life experiences with barrier-breaking women, Celeste recognizes the importance of strong female leadership and mentors for girls and young women -- especially those in their vulnerable adolescent years.
She uses her role as a Play Like a Girl mentor to help middle school girls build confidence, establish goals and learn to identify and strengthen their own superpowers. This year, she also led Play Like a Girl’s first-ever virtual speed networking event in collaboration with one of her own role models, her boss and glass ceiling-breaker, Val DiFebo, CEO of Deutsch New York.
Our greatest gift this year has been the time, support and dedication of women (and a few good men!) like Celeste. Thanks to our partnership with LinkedIn, our girls get to learn from over 1,600 women professionals from across the nation in our free virtual mentoring program, Meet + Mentor.
To the entire Play Like a Girl SQUAD, whether you stepped up as a mentor, donor or partner this year: THANK YOU!
Without you, our programs would not be possible.
Learning in a COVID World
Access to Technology is More Essential Now Than Ever Before
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed -- and even deepened -- the impact of the digital divide among girls across the globe. With the world’s mass transition to virtual learning, access to technology, including hardware devices, software, and WiFi access, has become more important now than ever before.
Students without access to these essential resources have proven to be less engaged in the classroom, thus decreasing educational and career opportunities and deepening income inequities.
At Play Like a Girl, we believe every student should be afforded the same learning opportunities. So, we’re doing something to change that. We’ve partnered with the Frist Foundation and AmazonSmile to deliver much-needed resources, including iPad Minis, laptops and WiFi hotspots to girls in need. Additional funding from partners like Gilead Sciences helps connect these girls with positive women role models and mentors through our virtual mentoring program, Meet + Mentor.
Meet the Watsons
As a mother of three young girls, Angie Watson wants to give her daughters opportunities that she didn’t have in her youth.
“Dreaming was a luxury that we didn’t have," she said. "We didn’t realize you could have a dream and that you could achieve it. We were never told you can be whatever you wanted to be.”
Despite graduating with honors, her guidance counselor told her she couldn’t go to college because she didn’t have her parents’ support.
[bctt tweet="“When I became a mom, especially to three girls, I wanted them to fully believe that the sky’s the limit. I don’t want them to feel limited because of finances that you can’t achieve your goals, because that’s not right and it’s not fair.”" username="iplaylikeagirl"]
Sadly, she said, education is not free, which is frustrating when you’re limited.
“Financially, we’re unable to do all the things I want to be able to do with and for my girls,” she said. “That’s why programs like this mean so much.”
Not only are her two oldest daughters, Dasani and Arianna, participants in Play Like a Girl’s program, but recently, Dasani was awarded a laptop and Arianna a tablet through Amazon’s #DeliveringSmiles initiative.
Although both girls were given school-assigned laptops, the devices are limited and must be given back at the end of the semester. Their new devices will allow the girls to pursue their passions and interests year-round. For Dasani, that means learning how to code and keeping in touch with the study group she started. For Arianna, it’s pursuing her interest in weather science and participating in Play Like a Girl’s virtual Meet + Mentor program whenever she wants.
Access to technology does much more than keep the Watson girls connected to the outside world; it gives them the opportunity to pursue their passions and expose them to new growth opportunities.
“I want to help them achieve their goals," she said. "All I really want for them is to know that they can dream and there’s no limit -- that they can feed their passion and they can be whatever they want to be and that they can be happy and fulfilled.”
GRL PWR Yoga Club
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the globe, stress and anxiety around the virus have risen right alongside them. Concern about the virus and its risks is becoming palpable in many homes and workplaces.
Between event cancellations, travel restrictions, distance education, social distancing, everyday personal concerns, and more, nearly everyone of us will feel the effects of this public health crisis in some way.
Grab Your Mat! In this online course led by Abby Blair of Inner Light Yoga, middle school (grades 5-8) girls will get to learn about and practice yoga.
We will learn about mindfulness and explore new ways to move our bodies. While we build our muscles, we will also learn how to listen to our bodies.
GRL PWR Yoga Club runs on Zoom on Tuesdays from 3 – 4 p.m. CT starting October 6 through December 8.
Mothers, sisters and women of all ages are welcome to join this free weekly virtual class. Invite someone.
Zoom link provided upon registration.
Join the weekly yoga class here.
GRL PWR Yoga Club
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the globe, stress and anxiety around the virus have risen right alongside them. Concern about the virus and its risks is becoming palpable in many homes and workplaces.
Between event cancellations, travel restrictions, distance education, social distancing, everyday personal concerns, and more, nearly everyone of us will feel the effects of this public health crisis in some way.
Grab Your Mat! In this online course led by Abby Blair of Inner Light Yoga, middle school (grades 5-8) girls will get to learn about and practice yoga.
We will learn about mindfulness and explore new ways to move our bodies. While we build our muscles, we will also learn how to listen to our bodies.
GRL PWR Yoga Club runs on Zoom on Tuesdays from 3 – 4 p.m. CT starting October 6 through December 8.
Mothers, sisters and women of all ages are welcome to join this free weekly virtual class. Invite someone.
Zoom link provided upon registration.
Join the weekly yoga class here.
GRL PWR Yoga Club
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the globe, stress and anxiety around the virus have risen right alongside them. Concern about the virus and its risks is becoming palpable in many homes and workplaces.
Between event cancellations, travel restrictions, distance education, social distancing, everyday personal concerns, and more, nearly everyone of us will feel the effects of this public health crisis in some way.
Grab Your Mat! In this online course led by Abby Blair of Inner Light Yoga, middle school (grades 5-8) girls will get to learn about and practice yoga.
We will learn about mindfulness and explore new ways to move our bodies. While we build our muscles, we will also learn how to listen to our bodies.
GRL PWR Yoga Club runs on Zoom on Tuesdays from 3 – 4 p.m. CT starting October 6 through December 8.
Mothers, sisters and women of all ages are welcome to join this free weekly virtual class. Invite someone.
Zoom link provided upon registration.
Join the weekly yoga class here.
GRL PWR Yoga Club
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the globe, stress and anxiety around the virus have risen right alongside them. Concern about the virus and its risks is becoming palpable in many homes and workplaces.
Between event cancellations, travel restrictions, distance education, social distancing, everyday personal concerns, and more, nearly everyone of us will feel the effects of this public health crisis in some way.
Grab Your Mat! In this online course led by Abby Blair of Inner Light Yoga, middle school (grades 5-8) girls will get to learn about and practice yoga.
We will learn about mindfulness and explore new ways to move our bodies. While we build our muscles, we will also learn how to listen to our bodies.
GRL PWR Yoga Club runs on Zoom on Tuesdays from 3 – 4 p.m. CT starting October 6 through December 8.
Mothers, sisters and women of all ages are welcome to join this free weekly virtual class. Invite someone.
Zoom link provided upon registration.
Join the weekly yoga class here.
GRL PWR Yoga Club
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the globe, stress and anxiety around the virus have risen right alongside them. Concern about the virus and its risks is becoming palpable in many homes and workplaces.
Between event cancellations, travel restrictions, distance education, social distancing, everyday personal concerns, and more, nearly everyone of us will feel the effects of this public health crisis in some way.
Grab Your Mat! In this online course led by Abby Blair of Inner Light Yoga, middle school (grades 5-8) girls will get to learn about and practice yoga.
We will learn about mindfulness and explore new ways to move our bodies. While we build our muscles, we will also learn how to listen to our bodies.
GRL PWR Yoga Club runs on Zoom on Tuesdays from 3 – 4 p.m. CT starting October 6 through December 8.
Mothers, sisters and women of all ages are welcome to join this free weekly virtual class. Invite someone.
Zoom link provided upon registration.
Join the weekly yoga class here.
GRL PWR Yoga Club
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the globe, stress and anxiety around the virus have risen right alongside them. Concern about the virus and its risks is becoming palpable in many homes and workplaces.
Between event cancellations, travel restrictions, distance education, social distancing, everyday personal concerns, and more, nearly everyone of us will feel the effects of this public health crisis in some way.
Grab Your Mat! In this online course led by Abby Blair of Inner Light Yoga, middle school (grades 5-8) girls will get to learn about and practice yoga.
We will learn about mindfulness and explore new ways to move our bodies. While we build our muscles, we will also learn how to listen to our bodies.
GRL PWR Yoga Club runs on Zoom on Tuesdays from 3 – 4 p.m. CT starting October 6 through December 8.
Mothers, sisters and women of all ages are welcome to join this free weekly virtual class. Invite someone.
Zoom link provided upon registration.
Join the weekly yoga class here.
GRL PWR Yoga Club
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the globe, stress and anxiety around the virus have risen right alongside them. Concern about the virus and its risks is becoming palpable in many homes and workplaces.
Between event cancellations, travel restrictions, distance education, social distancing, everyday personal concerns, and more, nearly everyone of us will feel the effects of this public health crisis in some way.
Grab Your Mat! In this online course led by Abby Blair of Inner Light Yoga, middle school (grades 5-8) girls will get to learn about and practice yoga.
We will learn about mindfulness and explore new ways to move our bodies. While we build our muscles, we will also learn how to listen to our bodies.
GRL PWR Yoga Club runs on Zoom on Tuesdays from 3 – 4 p.m. CT starting October 6 through December 8.
Mothers, sisters and women of all ages are welcome to join this free weekly virtual class. Invite someone.
Zoom link provided upon registration.
Join the weekly yoga class here.
GRL PWR Yoga Club
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the globe, stress and anxiety around the virus have risen right alongside them. Concern about the virus and its risks is becoming palpable in many homes and workplaces.
Between event cancellations, travel restrictions, distance education, social distancing, everyday personal concerns, and more, nearly everyone of us will feel the effects of this public health crisis in some way.
Grab Your Mat! In this online course led by Abby Blair of Inner Light Yoga, middle school (grades 5-8) girls will get to learn about and practice yoga.
We will learn about mindfulness and explore new ways to move our bodies. While we build our muscles, we will also learn how to listen to our bodies.
GRL PWR Yoga Club runs on Zoom on Tuesdays from 3 – 4 p.m. CT starting October 6 through December 8.
Mothers, sisters and women of all ages are welcome to join this free weekly virtual class. Invite someone.
Zoom link provided upon registration.
Join the weekly yoga class here.