‘Tis the season for end-of-year awards and honors, and Sports Illustrated Kids is no exception, last week honoring Little League superstar Mo’ne Davis as its Sports Kid of the Year. None other than the First Lady tweeted her congratulations, along with Mo’ne’s hometown Philadelphia Phillies.

You will remember that Davis, a 13-year-old honor roll student from Philadelphia, became a national talking point in August after leading her team, the Taney Dragons, to victory over a team from Nashville, Tennessee, pitching her team to a 4-0 win behind a 70 mile an hour fastball. She is the first girl ever to get the win in a Little League World Series game.

Since then she has appeared on the cover of the regular Sports Illustrated, has starred in a Spike Lee-directed car commercial and has her jersey displayed in baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Sports Illustrated Kids editors said Davis shows that everyone has the ability to make an impact and inspire, no matter their age, gender or race.

For anyone who works in the business of youth sports, whether it’s on the facilities side or the event side, you already know what sports can mean to a youngster, now and in the future. To have Mo’ne Davis become part of the sports dialogue and, more importantly, raise the awareness of youth sports to more girls and boys, well, that brings the message home.

Betsy Ross
President
Game Day Communications