By Cassandra Aman
The Black Women in Sport Foundation (BWSF) has been dedicated to involving Black Women in every aspect of sport in the United States and around the world since 1992.
In 2007 Hershey’s and the Women’s Sports Foundation awarded BWSF a $10,000 GoGirlGo! grant to assist the Foundation in conducting sports mentoring clinics in three metropolitan areas in Philadelphia. Through this grant BWSF has and continues to provide after school programs, summer camps, clinics and workshops to underserved girls in the Philadelphia area.
BWSF after school programs, in conjunction with the GoGirlGo! curriculum, are able to educate young girls on the benefits of physical activity and deter them from high-risk behaviors that accompany lack of supervision during these critical hours. Carol Johnson, a former mentor and now BWSF Program Coordinator says, “The curriculum allows the girls to see other women in sports and how they have achieved the many goals they have set forth for themselves.” Marirose Roach, BWSF mentor and soccer coordinator, goes on further to add, "GoGirlGo! has given BWSF the curriculum to continue [using a sports hook], specifically with our young ladies. The material captivates our girls because it is colorful and hip, which mirrors the look of trendy youth magazines.”
Through summer camps and clinics BWSF is able to provide sport and physical activity to underserved girls. In 2007, their program focused on the following activities: tennis, golf, fencing, lacrosse, field hockey, softball, soccer and fitness. Through these activities BWSF aims to instill the importance of extracurricular activities as it relates to preventing high-risk behaviors; not only to the youth involved, but their parents as well. 
BWSF is unique in that it takes the extra step to include parents. The girls are able to see first-hand the fruits of hard-work and dedication alongside their parents at fencing tournaments, tennis rallies, and the BWSF National Conference.
After attending these events the girls are given access to hands-on training through BWSF workshops. A couple times each month professional Black women mentor the girls in different sports. These honorable women include Traci Green, former head tennis coach at Temple University now head tennis coach at Harvard; Tina Sloan Green, BWSF President, former Head lacrosse coach at Temple University and 1999 Billie Jean King International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame Inductee; and Dr. Nikki Franke, health educator, associate professor and fencing coach at Temple University.
The Black Women in Sport Foundation gets it. If you seek to successfully guide girls who will rise to be leaders, it has to be done via guidance of accessible mentors and support systems, “The GoGirlGo! program has given our undergrad mentors structure and solid content. It has created discussion opportunities for parents and staff and parents and students,” says President Tina Sloan Green. While the GoGirlGo! national grant may have helped the BWSF budget, it is the hard work of mentors, coaches and parents that has expanded and strengthened their program.