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(Wilmington, DE. – August, 2023) — Delaware native and Gatorade Delaware Basketball Player of the Year, Emma Kirby, awarded Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware with a $10,000 grant to help accomplish our Greater Newark Club Girls Basketball team, the WeR1 Lady Sharks. 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. Gatorade Play It Forward empowers Gatorade Player of the Year recipients across the country to award local or national sports organizations with grants, so they can further Gatorade’s mission to fuel the future of sport for all athletes. After Emma won the Gatorade Delaware Basketball Player of the Year award, she then submitted a short video to be considered for one of the 12 Spotlight Grants of $10,000. “As with all Gatorade Player of the Year award winners, Emma has demonstrated exemplary character,” said Kara Darling, Assistant Marketing Manager for Gatorade Player of the Year. “Her short video illustrated the role that Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware has had in fostering that character. Our vision is that organizations like the Boys & Girls Club continue to positively impact the kids of the future.” “Emma has been a member of our club for the last 3 years and during that time, she has grown on and off the court. She has been a key student athlete in our program and has taken the time to pour in to our younger athletes, helping them to develop and grow. Emma has shown that with consistent, hard work, you can accomplish anything. We are forever grateful the Emma chose us to be the recipients of this grant.” Says Amber Hickman, Area Director for Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware. All 608 Gatorade State Player of the Year recipients are awarded a $1,000 grant to donate to the organization of their choosing. Gatorade State Players of the Year may also submit a short video explaining why the organization they chose is deserving of one of a Spotlight Grant, which awards an additional $10,000 to the organization. To date, Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $4.2 million across more than 1,600 organizations. Gatorade has a longstanding history of serving athlete communities and is to continue doing more to create positive change. Most recently, Gatorade announced Fuel Tomorrow, a new 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 Play It Forward, 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
As one of the most prestigious high school sports awards in the nation, the Gatorade Player of the Year program celebrates young athletes on their journey to greatness. The Gatorade Player of the Year award recognizes athletes not just for their excellence on the playing surface, but for their commitment in the classroom and impact in their community. For nearly 40 years, Gatorade has honored high school athletes at the top of their game as teammates, building an all-star roster of alumni that have reached the heights of greatness or are well on their way, including Peyton Manning, Abby Wambach, Elena Delle Donne, Paige Bueckers, Nick Singleton and Gradey Dick. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes and community leaders, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power sport
Being a Gatorade Player of the Year means paying it forward for the next generation. Through Gatorade’s cause marketing platform Play It Forward, every Gatorade Player of the Year award winner is empowered to choose a local or national youth sport organization to receive a $1,000 grant from Gatorade. Gatorade State Players of the Year may also submit a short video explaining why the organization they chose is deserving of one of 12 Spotlight Grants, which awards $10,000 to the organization.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware
Since 1931 Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware (bgclubs.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 40 Clubs serve 30,000 children and teens through Club membership and community outreach. Located throughout the state, the Clubs also serve military families at the Boys & Girls Club-affiliated Youth Center at the Dover Air Force Base. Clubs provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. To learn more visit bgclubs.org. Follow us bgclubs.org/facebook, bgclubs.org/instagram, bgclubs.org/twitter