24.3 C
New York
Monday, July 14, 2025

Bay Space teen founding father of Girls4Sports, Maegha Ramanathan, to obtain prestigious Billie Jean King Youth Management Award at ESPY’s


DUBLIN, Calif. (KGO) — A Bay Space teen is headed to the ESPY’s this week to obtain the celebrated Billie Jean King Youth Management Award.

The nonprofit Girls4Sports began in 2021, shortly evolving into the world’s largest youth led group combating gender inequality in sports activities. We sat down with the 17-year-old founder who shared how this dream started.

“As I used to be getting older particularly round once I was 13 years outdated I observed that increasingly more ladies had been dropping out of the swim staff that I used to be a part of as a result of they had been receiving sexist feedback. Emphasizing feminine inferiority in sports activities and after receiving such feedback myself I used to be pushed to discovered Girls4Sports,” stated Maegha Ramanathan, founding father of Girls4Sports.

The nonprofit holds two to 3 camps a 12 months and has served near 40,000 undeserved ladies within the final 4 years. Making all this potential are their 1,500 volunteers.

Luz Pena: “How would you describe Girls4Sports?”

In a circle, seven members of the Girls4Sports nonprofit described it as: “Inclusive, group, inspiring, passionate, motivational, empowering, cooperative.”

MORE: San Jose’s ‘Saturday Evening Lights’ soccer program for teenagers hailed successful

We met them in Dublin on the native park the place they held their newest camp.

“We test within the children round 9-9:15 a.m. That happens at these three tables over there. We do age teams 4 by 12,” stated Shreeya Kamboj, a volunteer with Girls4Sports.

“Now we have sports activities like badminton and tennis, and we lately received the grant, in order that we hope to start out introducing sports activities like pickleball and paddle ball with new tools that we get,” stated Shreeya Rao Lalam, a volunteer with Girls4Sports.

That grant is price $10,000 and is coming from a prestigious nationwide sports activities award.

Luz Pena: “What went by your thoughts once you realized that you just received?”

“Once I learn the e-mail saying that I received the Billie Jean King Youth Management award, it was completely surreal. I could not consider my eyes. However, actually, the factor that I considered was why I began Girls4Sports: to realize a mission like this the place ladies can consider in themselves and discover management,” Ramanathan stated.

MORE: 11-year-old East Bay woman heading to Little League Legacy Baseball Sequence in Pennsylvania

Girls4Sports has expanded its attain to 30 chapters in 20 states.

“Within the Bay Space we have held about 10 to twenty camps previously 4 years. These camps are cost-free. We train a wide range of sports activities, together with tennis, badminton, volleyball, soccer and monitor and cross nation. Educating ladies to seek out sports activities that they’ll fall in love with and change into keen about, as a result of they have not obtained publicity previously,” Ramanathan stated.

Luz Pena: “What’s your dream for Girls4Sports?”

Maegha Ramanathan: “I need to see Girls4Sports internationally, as a result of — particularly in third world international locations — entry to sports activities may be very restricted. I need to ensure now we have sports activities camps there as nicely.”

All their work with a collective purpose to open doorways for ladies to play sports activities in every single place.

Copyright © 2025 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Articles