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Breaking Barriers for Girls – Playtex Sport Play On Canada Grant Program #PlayOnCA #ad

February 23, 2017 /

I am a spokesperson for Playtex Sport and as such I have been compensated. This is my opinion and my story and it is truthful. 

Raising fierce girls is a privilege and a duty. One I am grateful for, most days. Girls are change agents. They are keepers of the future, dreamers, teachers, doctors, explorers, scientists and athletes. When we raise girls we change the world together. Unfortunately for girl athletes, barriers often stand in the way of success. That’s why I love that Playtex Sport is working hard at breaking barriers for girls with their Playtex Play On Canada Grant Program.

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Did you know 72% of Canadian girls say that they’re unable to participate to their full potential in high school sports?  That’s almost three quarters of Canadian girls who say barriers to participation in high school sports include inability to afford uniforms, transportation or athletic fees. And in fact 48% say that boys have more choices when it comes to high school sports.

I am the Mom of two athletic girls, ages 12 and 15. One is in high school and the other will be headed there in another couple of years. My daughters do extracurricular sports from horseback riding and skiing to martial arts. This summer both of my girls are scheduled to grade to their adult probationary black belt. And this year my youngest daughter made the girls school basketball team. Watching her grow and be part of a team sport has been wonderful.

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For us, being fit and athletic and building strong bodies is every bit as important as building strong minds. We strive to do a lot of family sports together. I am conscious of communicating to both my girls that healthy living and sports are part of life every day, including the days when you have your period and menstrual cramps.

In the blink of an eye my younger daughter will be heading to high school. Because she never met a sport she didn’t like immediately, I am certain she will join as many team sports as she can squeeze into her already busy schedule. As parents we will support her with that.

But it worries me when I read that boys’ sports teams typically have better opportunities than girls do. There are multiple barriers to success for girls in high school sports and that’s just wrong.

 

Girls have just as much right to do sports as boys do. Canadian female athletes are world class. Remember the Olympics? Our Canadian female athletes dominated many sports. For many of these young women, I am sure their love of sports began at school. I believe that schools, private companies and parents all play a part in making sure girls achieve success in any field, or sport they choose.

Breaking barriers when it comes to high school sports is vital to making sure girls have all the opportunities available.

Playtex Sport gets that. That’s why they launched their Play On Canada Grant Program in August of 2016. Now, after several months of contest entries Playtex Sport is ready to reveal all 13 of the recipients of the Play On Canada grant.

 

Thirteen high school girls’ teams representing a wide range of sports from wrestling to swimming, soccer, basketball, weightlifting, rugby, field hockey, curling and volleyball are the recipients of these grants. The winning teams come from all over Canada, from Campbell River in BC, to Summerside, PEI. Grant applicants requested all kinds of different items but the majority of those requests were for new uniforms and gear.

Playtex Sport has partnered with Canadian Olympic champion wrestler Erica Wiebe to surprise one of the first grant recipients. West Humber Collegiate Institute girls’ wrestling team received brand new wrestling uniforms. The girls’ reactions have been captured on video. This simple gift of uniforms has potential to transform how each of these young athletes feels about their team. It’s one way Playtex Sport is helping young female high school athletes succeed at breaking barriers.

Uniforms help boost confidence. I’ve seen that look of confidence on a child’s face when they get that first jersey. And I’ve seen how proud my daughter is of the number 48. “I made the basketball team and I play point guard.” It’s one of the first things she tells everyone who calls our home.

Young women need more opportunities to get in the game and persevere despite obstacles. Playtex Sport is helping to make sure that Canadian girls don’t quit or give up because they lack the same opportunities boys have. Through this grant, Playtex helps young female athletes reach their full potential.

Canadians can help increase the 2017 Playtex Play On Canada grant program by an additional $25,000. Simply share this video featuring Erica Wiebe on social media by July 15, 2017 and you can help Playtex Sport to boost girl’s chances. Every share adds $1 to the fund to a maximum of $25,000. Share Now

Breaking Barriers with Playtex Sport and How You Can Help

You can find more information about the 13 recipients of the grant here – www.playtexplayon.ca/

Playtex® is encouraging the conversation about girls’ sports in Canada using the hashtag #PlayOnCA.

Follow along on any of these channels:

Instagram: @playtexplayon
Twitter: @playtexplayon
Facebook: www.facebook.com/playtexplayon

Share this video by July 15, 2017 and Playtex Sport will add $1 to the Playtex Play On Canada Grant Fund-up to a maximum of $25,000 Share Now

I am working with Playtex Sport to share information about the Playtex Play On Canada Grant Fund, and as such I have been compensated. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful. 

Mom of two beautiful active girls, traveller, fitness junkie, social media consultant, and keeper of the sanity.

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23 Comments

  • Jeanette

    February 23, 2017 at 11:10 am

    What a great idea! When I was a kid I didn’t think about it all that much but there were definitely barriers for me. If I want to do certain sports there would not be a girls version of it. I hope we are able to break down these barriers.

  • candy

    February 23, 2017 at 12:22 pm

    Nice to see companies that are supporting kids. All my children were heavily involved in sports. Makes things different when I go to purchase something knowing they are giving back.

  • Amanda

    February 23, 2017 at 3:50 pm

    I am and never was very much into sports – partially because I have two left feet and extremely poor coordination lol and the only reason why I made the baseball team in grade 9 was because there wasn’t enough people who tried out. Even back then, the funding was horrible for girls sports, the boys had jerseys and we didn’t. I didn’t pay much attention to it back then but now that I do, I’m happy to see there are grants like this.

    • Paula

      February 23, 2017 at 4:09 pm

      I was also terrible at sports in high school. I tried out for cheerleading once and was cut because I was NOT GOOD> LOL. Now I have athletic girls so I fully appreciate this grant program and I love what Playtex Sport is doing. Also now I am good at sports as an adult. Well at least I like sports as an adult. I am also way more confident as a 40 something Mom than I ever was as a high school girl.

  • DeBalino

    February 23, 2017 at 6:30 pm

    What an amazing way to empower young girls! I love what this program stands for, and these 13 recipients are going to be given such a great gift. So awesome! 🙂

  • Pam

    February 23, 2017 at 7:01 pm

    I had no idea that so many girls couldn’t partipcaye to their whole potential in high school sports. It’s great that Playtex is doing something about that.

  • Destany

    February 23, 2017 at 11:00 pm

    I never bothered with sports once I got to high school. I was in marching band, so that was my sport! We worked so hard, and it was just as much exercise as conditioning for other sports,

  • Anosa

    February 24, 2017 at 7:18 am

    Encouraging our children especially during teenage days to love and be confident. To let them enjoy what they want and pursue. It’s nice to know Playtex has this initiative too.

  • adriana

    February 24, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    This is awesome! What a great brand. I did gymnastics when I was younger, and then I quit – but my little sister is a VERY competitive gymnast and it’s great to know that other kids who aren’t as fortunate can still do what they love!

    • Paula

      March 2, 2017 at 9:17 pm

      Kelly – it really is. My daughter just finished her basketball season and I thought it was amazing and the team was good. Then it came time for the tournament and somehow things fell through. Not sure what happened but we heard not enough girls could go which I thought was weird because we were never even asked if she could go. No big deal then I see next week the boy’s team being celebrated for going to their tournament with adequate numbers and adequate supervisors and I wondered why the double standard? That was eye opening for me. Not okay.