• by Danielle Oster , August 6, 2024

Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade youth members were met with a star-powered reception for Gatorade’s “Get Fit for School” event hosted alongside the Miami Dolphins.

In addition to watching the Dolphins train up close, middle schoolers participating in the event also received an unexpected hand-off: Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa helped pass out Gatorade-branded backpacks filled with sports equipment and school supplies.

"Giving back to the community and supporting youth is so important to me and my family," Tagovailoa said in a statement, adding that providing the students with supplies would “get them ready to win the upcoming school year."

“Get Fit For School” was designed to support Gatorade’s “Equity in Sports” initiative dedicated to removing barriers to youth participation in athletics. In addition, the sports equity program partnered with Dick Sporting Goods’ Dick’s Foundation’s “Sports Matter” program to support youth sports participation further through a $10,000 grant to the Miami Marlins Foundation and the Miami Police Athletic League – two organizations that help prioritize youth access to sports by removing financial barriers and minimizing entry costs for youth sports programs for underserved areas of South Florida.

Throughout the summer, PepsiCo's Hispanic Employee Resource Group, Adelante, led fundraising efforts to benefit nearly 500 students across the sunshine state through Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade, and the Universal Orlando Foundation Boys & Girls Club, as well as supporting local Miami schools in partnership with the nonprofit organization Jhoslen's Angels.

Athletic participation and academic performance are not entirely separate concerns, as there are some demonstrated links between the two. According to a San Diego University article entitled “The Benefits of Youth Sports in Child Development” citing Project Play statistics, participation in athletics is associated with higher academic achievement, including test scores up to 40% higher than counterparts; higher GPAs; lower dropout rates; and a greater likelihood of attending college.