Olympic gold medalist Erica Wiebe surprises West Humber Collegiate Institute girls' wrestling team with their grant. Watch the video at playtexplayon.ca/grant-program-recipients
TORONTO, Feb. 21, 2017 /CNW/ - From Campbell River, B.C. to Summerside P.E.I., thirteen girls' high school sports teams in need of funding received new uniforms, equipment, and gear to help their teams play on. Playtex® Sport® created the first PlayON™ Canada Grant Program to help address the inequality between girls' and boys' athletic teams in high school. Nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of Canadian girls say they are unable to participate to their full potential in high school athletics, and one-third (34 per cent) say that boys are offered better athletic opportunities. Among the reasons girls cited for inequality in high school sports are less support from school administration, non-existent girls' teams, less team funding, lower-quality coaching, equipment and facilities, and old uniforms.
"The Playtex® PlayON™ Canada Grant Program is about celebrating Canadian girls who play high school sports and giving their teams the resources they need to play to their full potential," says Jill MacKinnon, Brand Manager, Edgewell Personal Care. "After reviewing more than 215 deserving grant submissions from high schools across Canada, it's clear that there is a real need for increased funding for girls' high school sports teams, and we are proud that the PlayON™ Grant Program can help address this issue head on."
The grant requests submitted by students and coaches spanned the need for uniforms and equipment to team travel costs and facility rentals, from a range of high school sports, including field hockey, curling, weightlifting, and volleyball. The girls' wrestling team at Toronto's West Humber Collegiate Institute had their grant moment captured on video when they were surprised with new singlets and boots by Canadian and Olympic champion wrestler Erica Wiebe, who herself began wrestling in high school in Grade 9
"My first introduction to wrestling was in Grade 8 gym class. I thought it was really fun and was devastated to learn our Grade 7/8 wrestling team was only for boys. I resolved that in Grade 9 by joining the co-ed team," says Wiebe. "One of my mentors recently told me, 'challenges invite us to take giant steps long before we might become giants. With each obstacle, you must find a way to pursue your passion and be your best self.' I believe in that message and I believe that girl athletes in high school should cultivate a squad of empowered, positive individuals to help them reach their dreams."
The grant-reveal video can be viewed at playtexplayon.ca/grant-program-recipients. Each time the video is shared before July 15, 2017, Playtex Sport® will add $1 to the Playtex® PlayON™ Canada Grant Fund – up to a maximum of $25,000. The Playtex® PlayON™ Grant Program is open to all high school girls' sports teams in Canada in need of funding. The call for submissions for the second Playtex® PlayON™ Grant Program will begin in summer 2017.
The recipients of the 2016 Playtex® PlayON™ Canada Grant Program are:
To learn more about the grant recipients, visit playtexplayon.ca/grant-program-recipients. Canadians can also join the conversation about girls' high school athletics in Canada on Instagram and Twitter @playtexplayon and on Facebook at facebook.com/PlaytexPlayOn/ using #PlayONca.
About the Playtex® Sport® Research
In May 2016, Playtex® Sport® commissioned Triple Scoop Premium Market Research to survey Canadian women about their high school sports experience. Statistics are based on data collected from 701 Canadian women aged 13-24.
About Playtex® Sport®
Playtex® Sport® Combo packs, Playtex® Sport® Pads and Playtex® Sport® Liners are available alongside the popular Playtex® Sport® Tampons at major drug, mass and grocery retailers across Canada – prices range from $4.99 to $8.99 (suggested retail prices). For more information on Playtex® Sport®, visit PlaytexPlayOn.ca or follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @PlayOnCanada or Facebook at Facebook.com/PlaytexPlayOn.
About the Playtex® Feminine Care Brand
The Playtex® Feminine Care brand believes that nothing should hold women back, including their periods. That is why Playtex® Sport® and Playtex® Gentle Glide® tampons are the only tampons that feature a 360° Protection® tampon design to fit the life women want to live. Developed for women who lead busy and active lives, Playtex® tampons offer multiple levels of absorbencies to give women confidence and freedom in everything they do.
About Edgewell Personal Care
A leading manufacturer of health and beauty products around the world, Edgewell Personal Care is a division of Edgewell Holdings, Inc. Edgewell Personal Care markets products in more than 100 countries worldwide under the Banana Boat®, Hawaiian Tropic®, Playtex®, Playtex Sport®, Playtex Gentle Glide®, o.b.®, Stayfree®, Carefree®, Skintimate® and Schick® brands.
SOURCE Playtex Sport
Graziella Fadel/Alexandra Muszynski-Kwan, Paradigm Public Relations, 416-413-5191/416-413-5112, [email protected]/[email protected]
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