Past projects 2
Track and Field Training Equipment
Funded Mar 4, 2025Thank you so much for your donation. It came at just the perfect time, as our season began just yesterday. I anticipate being able to use these training materials for many seasons to come. We continue to grow our program and find increased success. Make sure to watch for our team at the Oregon State championships this year. You will see us there, and hopefully being hearing about us! Thank you again for your support in our training, and our team.”
With gratitude,
Coach Vann
The Brave Athlete: Supporting Adolescent Female Athletes Through Book Clubs
Funded Feb 3, 2024This past spring I have been meeting with a group of 10 girls from two different middle schools in the area. All girls are part of our Roosevelt Middle School Track and Field Cluster team. We meet weekly during lunchtime, eat together, and discuss topics that are outlined in the books you have helped purchased.
Specific topics discussed include identifying personal athletic strengths, which in general girls have a very hard time doing, training and competing when on your period, how to mentally prepare for competition, identifying what is and is not in your control as an athlete, and how to handle situation when people (parents, teammates, coaches) make comments about your body. The girls have done an extraordinary job exploring these topics, asking questions, and supporting their peers.
The impact has been nothing short of significant. The girls have gotten to know one another in a more supportive way off the track and field. They have been able to share similar stories, provide feedback, and give advice to one another. They bonded in a way that girls rarely have opportunity to. In addition, I have been able to build relationships with them. Most of these girls will end up attending Roosevelt High School, where I work as a School Psychologist. I also hope to coach these girls someday. Being able to build relationships ahead of time, the girls now know who I am when they arrive in high school. I will be a familiar face that they can go to for support. They also know they will have a coach that values them as female student athletes.
As we head into the summer, I will be coaching a handful of our high school female student athletes into Nationals. As part of that training we will be working through the "Good For a Girl" book together. During the spring season these five female student athletes read Melody Fairchild's book, and are ready for the next step. I'm excited to walk through this book with them, while we are simultaneously working towards some big Track and Field meets.
I can't thank you enough for this opportunity. The books will be used for years to come, as I continue to work with female student athletes, and encourage them to own their strengths, speak up with they feel needed, and embrace all that makes them confident females.”
With gratitude,
Coach Vann