Sport has taught me perseverance and patience.

Debbie enjoys being in motion, which is why running suits her. After her father passed, she started running to process her grief. Over the years, she ran farther and faster, ultimately running a marathon in three hours and 28 minutes. Sports has taught Debbie to work towards goals, and also to be kind to yourself during setbacks.

Athletics and movement create freedom to be the best version of yourself.

Linda grew up in Portland playing soccer through high school where her team earned third in state her senior year. She always felt soccer was about connecting to relationships and community. Linda has continued her love of the sport through coaching both of her boys’ soccer teams from kindergarten through 4th grade.

Sport teaches me about connection to others and myself, and it teaches me to be present in the moment.

Chrissy became involved with the foundation after being told about a connection between MAF and De La Salle High School – another organization she is involved in. She loves finding new things to do in the Portland area: local shops and events, restaurants, and hikes!

It’s not what happens to you, but how you react that matters – Epictetus

Born and raised in Chico California, Jenny now resides in Portland and cherishes her love of running. An athletic achievement of Jenny’s is qualifying for and then running the Boston Marathon, no small feat indeed.

Sport teaches me to remain humble in victory and gracious in defeat.

Brian, originally from Tucson, AZ, developed a passion for soccer at six. He’s an ardent fan of University of Arizona Wildcats basketball. With diverse interests like gardening, travel, and collecting African art, Brian’s also a geography enthusiast, naming nearly every world capital. His upbringing instilled a love for the outdoors, hiking, and sports, which he continues to pursue along with his exploration of new destinations, having checked off Peru and Croatia from his travel list.

Sports has taught me teamwork and perseverance.

Sport teaches me how to be a good team player while also taking personal responsibility.

Diane, from Middlefield, Ohio, proudly recalls her greatest sports achievement: being named captain of her high school cross country team. Despite not being the fastest, she earned the respect of her teammates through her dedication and leadership. In her free time, Diane thrives on any DIY or craft project. She also has two Boston Terriers named Riley and Darby.

Sport has taught me discipline, fair play and connection to fellow man.

An accomplished baseball player in his youth, George was a winning pitcher in the 1957 High School Legion World Series Opener and was also inducted into the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) Sports Hall of Fame. He considers himself analytical, a good listener, and finds that he gets more tolerant as he grows older.

“Do the right thing.”

Jacob is originally from California but has lived in the Pacific Northwest most of his life. He grew up in Southern Oregon on a ranch and began playing sports with his parents’ encouragement, with his first sport being wrestling in the 2nd grade. Jacob continued his enjoyment of athletics through the years with boxing, baseball, running cross country, and rodeo.

Sport gives me confidence and gratitude.

Jacqui’s journey in athletics started at age three when she began skiing with her family and when she began racing at age seven, she never looked back. In the winter you can find her on the slopes still as a ski coach for Lakeridge High School, but the rest of the year she’s either biking, working on her new house, or spending time in Black Butte.

Julia hails from Fort Smith, Arkansas, the gateway to the ‘wild west.’ Growing up, she cherished Friday Night Lights, cheering on her big brother, #42, as a star running back. Proud of her ability to still surf, she became involved through her daughter’s participation in the Youth Grant Initiative. A memorable encounter with Mia Hamm during the Olympics led to a heartwarming gesture of gifting Mia’s soccer boots to a neighborhood girl in need.

Julie is an avid adventurer who has hiked on six continents. She became involved after learning about their scholarships in a spin class and has since enjoyed volunteering on a scholarship review team. Her proudest athletic achievement is completing a marathon and surpassing her personal goal, while enthusiastically supporting faster, multi-marathon runners.

Synchronized swimming is part of who I am.

Julie’s father taught her to swim in Crescent Lake, OR, and she’s loved the water ever since. As a youth she participated in water ballet and swam during high school and college. At MAC Julie discovered synchronized swimming and has competed at the national level. She’s also musical and played oboe in the high school band and orchestra.

Logwone grew up with a passion for baseball, finding immense joy in the sport as a child. He was captivated by the legendary Ken Griffey Jr., whose talent and charisma made him a favorite to watch. Inspired by Walter Payton’s extraordinary contributions both on and off the field, Mitz admires the way Payton made a lasting impact on his communities through dedicated philanthropy.

Always give people the benefit of the doubt.

Ryan enjoys doing anything creative — whether it’s artwork or just projects around the house. When he’s not chasing his kids around, he finds time to read, exercise, and utilize his creativity in all aspects of his life. Ryan holds a private pilots license and hopes to get back in the air again soon.

Sport teaches me…that the process (practice, teamwork) can be more rewarding than the outcome  (win/lose)

Shannon Conrad, from Bismarck, ND, was active on the swim team in junior high and high school, earning awards for most improved, team spirit, and serving as team captain. She has a passion for contemporary/lyrical/modern dance, choreographing in college and while living in China, making her an “international choreographer.” In her spare time, Shannon enjoys volunteering at the MAC, international travel, and is obsessed with passionfruit, ever since discovering passion fruit flavored toothpaste in Brazil.

Sport has taught me teamwork, the power of inclusion and self-confidence.

Tennis was the sport Sydney enjoyed most in her youth, which was primarily spent in Southern California. Her family told her it was a lifelong activity and she’s found that to be true. For Sydney, tennis continues to be a great way to stay active, maintain friendships and think strategically.

 Sport teaches me “It is what it is.”

As someone who participated in sports all through his youth, Tom now finds that his greatest enjoyment of in sports comes from living vicariously through his kids. When he isn’t at work or watching athletics, he is on his John Deere tractor plowing his seven acres of horse property while wearing his 1986 vintage Oregon State hat.

Everybody dies, but not everybody lives

Traci was born and raised in Portland Oregon and shares her many years experience in the local philanthropic world. When asked who her favorite sport or player was she enthusiastically responded with “Michael Jordan, of course!”

Sports teaches me how to have balance.

Athleticism hasn’t always come naturally to Maryam, but that didn’t stop her from pursuing sports. Today, Maryam uses that same determination to get her through her spin classes. She understands that sports are just as much mental as they are physical and it’s just a matter of finding your balance.

Athletics makes me feel inspired.

Lisa, originally from South Dakota, can best be described by three words: focused, adaptable and exuberant. She loves to travel and wander globally, has visited 38 countries, and is still counting. You can often find Lisa outdoors hiking, biking, running, climbing, diving, skiing or surfing. Her words to live by: “If not me, who? If not now, when?” – Hillel

          Athletics has instilled confidence in me while pushing me to break out of my comfort zone.

Carolina, a Florida native and proud FSU alum, grew up as a competitive dancer, gaining confidence and resilience. Her career in nonprofit communications and advocacy reflects her belief in the transformative power of sports, education, and community to help young people strive into their full potential.