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- Track Star Gabrielle Wilkinson Teaches Youth Abouy Wellbeing and Leadership
Track Star Gabrielle Wilkinson Teaches Youth Abouy Wellbeing and Leadership
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Number 72
Track Star Gabrielle Wilkinson Teaches Youth About Wellbeing and Leadership
Featured Focus:
Athlete-Driven Impact, Touth Development, Education
Scope of Impact: Local
Professional track and field athlete Gabrielle Wilkinson made a visit to Schwenksville Elementary School in Pennsylvania to meet students as part of the Athletes for Hope's CHAMPS program. Here’s what you should know:
A local connection: A Pennsylvania native, Wilkinson returned to her home state to directly interact with the fourth-grade students she had previously met online, making the experience deeply personal and impactful.
Championing holistic well-being: Wilkinson emphasized the critical importance of both physical and mental health, encouraging students to develop self-awareness, care for themselves, and understand what constitutes positive leadership.
Empowering the next generation: Beyond the classroom session, Wilkinson also spent time with the school's Girls on the Run team, actively mentoring and inspiring young female athletes through her own example of dedication and success.
There is so much to like in this initiative! The longstanding commitment from Gabrielle Wilkinson for Athletes For Hope is commendable.
We can’t imagine how special it must have been for these students to see her in-person after the initial online exchanges. Whether they like it or not (sorry Charles Barkley), athletes are role models for kids, and this type of encounter can have a tremendous impact on their young lives. We Wilkinson’s willingness to not only give back, but do so at a local level.
Last but not least, the holistic approach shared through this initiative continues a trend that we’ve seen in sports for many years now. The mental health aspect is as important as the physical aspect, and sports can be a great vehicle to put it front and center for kids from an early age.
YOUR NEXT PLAY:
Professional athletes don’t forget where they come from. From Damian Lillard’s ties to Oakland to Cristiano Ronaldo’s commitment to his native town in Portugal, there’s no limit to the potential meaning, and impact, that can be created through local connections.
When you’re considering partnering with athletes, a great place to start is by reaching out to those who are already a natural part of your community,
Details on the track star’s history, stats, motivation, and journey to becoming an elite athlete. | A national nonprofit that brings athletes together to educate — and inspire them — to channel their energy for a common goal: to make a difference in the world. | The AFH program connects underserved schools with AFH athlete facilitators, who use physical fitness to teach mental health and leadership skills. |
NBA All-Star Damian Lillard seeks to make college more attainable for kids in the Bay Area. | The Philadelphia Eagles’ player shared a powerful mental health message at the Super Bowl, challenging outdated notions of masculinity and toughness. | How SEL education improves social and emotional skills, academic performance, mental wellness, healthy behaviors, school climate and safety, and lifetime outcomes. |
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