Florida Track & Field Gatorade State Player of the Year Caitlin Collier of Bolles recently awarded the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation with a Spotlight Grant as a part of the Gatorade Play It Forward initiative.
Gatorade’s Play it Forward program aims to assist youth sports programs in funding by empowering Gatorade Player of the Year recipients across the country to award local or national sports organizations with grants that help young athletes reap the benefits of sport.
After Collier won the Gatorade Florida Track & Field Player of the Year award and selected the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation to receive a $1,000 grant, she then went on to submit an essay to be considered for an additional Spotlight Grant, which she was awarded. Gatorade awards 12 Spotlight Grants of $10,000, one for each sport recognized by the Player of the Year program.
“Gatorade is proud to award the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation with a Gatorade Play It Forward spotlight grant on behalf of Caitlin Collier,” said Forrest Johnson, assistant marketing manager for Gatorade Player of the Year. “The connection and role that the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation has had in Caitlin’s life truly came through in her essay, and we look forward to seeing the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation continue to positively impact the youth of their community.”
All 607 Gatorade State Player of the Year recipients are awarded a grant to donate to the organization of their choosing. Each Gatorade Player of the Year is then given the opportunity to submit an essay about why their chosen organization is deserving of a Spotlight Grant.
“We are so pleased that Caitlyn chose the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation” founder MaliVai Washington said. “Her support of MWYF will allow us to provide more support for the 200-plus youth who attend our programs. We wish her all the best at Stanford University.”
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