Healthy Learners awards Dawn Staley the 2016 Healthy Learners Champion for Children Award

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Tags: Healthy Learners , Outreach

---

Healthy Learners has named Dawn Staley, University of South Carolina head women’s basketball coach, as the 2016 Healthy Learners Champion for Children award recipient.

“The purpose of the award is to recognize and honor an individual who is an advocate for children and brings attention to their needs. Our Champion for Children devotes their time and talents to the community through their volunteer time, financial support and commitment to Healthy Learners,” said Jo Pauling-Jones, Healthy Learners executive director. In an effort to continue to provide health care services for children, Healthy Learners partners with schools and community health care providers to provide access to health care services and transportation to medical appointments.

“I am honored and humbled to be named the 2016 Healthy Learners Champion for Children. As a leader in our community, it is important to collaborate with organizations that are committed to changing the lives of children. When I founded INNERSOLE, Healthy Learners was our first community partner and it is a perfect example of impacting change in our children. I look forward to continuing to do great things together in our community.”

Staley, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most decorated participants in United States women’s basketball history, has led the Gamecocks to five straight 25-win seasons, which include three SEC regular-season championships, two SEC Tournament titles, an NCAA Final Four appearance, the program’s first ever No. 1 national ranking and a school-record 34 wins in 2014-15.

Today, Staley continues to exemplify leadership through individual appearances and in encouraging her teams to pursue community services opportunities, as well as through co-founding INNERSOLE in 2013. INNERSOLE aims to provide new sneakers to children who are homeless and children who are in need. Remembering the feeling of confidence and pride she felt as a child whenever she wore new sneakers, Staley initially launched the organization via social media. Her broad network of friends, fans and colleagues immediately leapt into action. Shoes poured in from all around the country, and a movement was born.

Healthy Learners is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System.