It’s one thing to get girls together to play sports, especially soccer, but it’s another to gather the equipment they need to participate.
40% of girls don’t participate in sports. High school girls have 1.3 million fewer opportunities to compete in sports than high school boys. Girls in low-income areas are six times more likely to drop out of sports than boys.
That’s where Operation Warm’s FLY:FWD comes in.
FLY:FWD, a collaboration with the Philadelphia Eagles, is an initiative aimed at addressing disparities and providing young girls from diverse backgrounds with the equipment they need to participate in sports by providing them with essential equipment for girls’ sports: sports bras.
According to a 2024 Operation Warm Athletic Director survey, 100% of athletic directors agreed that sports bras are essential equipment for girls who play sports, and 86% of athletic directors who received school-wide sports bras in the same survey saw increased interest in their athletic programs.
To celebrate Women’s Equality Day, the FLY:FWD organization and the Eagles hosted a clinic at the First Last Lounge inside Lincoln Financial Field, hosting Padua Academy, a local school and girls’ Catholic college preparatory school in Delaware, where the inaugural girls’ high school flag football season begins in September.
The girls were welcomed by more than 20 volunteer Eagles staff members on Monday morning and worked in various team workstations on group bonding activities ranging from untying human knots to “She Says” (similar to Simon Says). The girls also came up with choreography to celebrate, singing and dancing.
At the end of the workshop, every participant was given two Eagles sports bras.
Sports bras have made a difference in the world of girls’ sports. 86% of girls surveyed in the 2024 Operation Warm Impact Report said that receiving a sports bra would make them “more comfortable playing sports or being active.” 83% agreed that receiving a sports bra would make them more interested in or more likely to play sports.
“The Eagles approached us about this partnership and we’re all so excited to be a part of it. We appreciate your support,” said Heather Connolly, VP of Partnerships at FLY:FWD. “Please tell your friends and neighbors about FLY:FWD. We’re so grateful you all were here today.” – Written by Liam Wixer