The Boston Herald publishes Op-Ed by Play Ball Executive Director, Katie Small, highlighting why we must protect and expand access to school sports, especially at the middle school level.

https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/06/15/small-kids-need-access-to-sports-no-matter-their-zip-code/

Play Ball Celebrates Serving Over 5,000 Middle Schoolers and a 20-Year Partnership with Boston Public Schools

June 7, 2025

On Saturday, June 7th, Play Ball celebrated two major milestones, serving over 5,000 middle school students annually across Massachusetts and a 20-year partnership with Boston Public Schools. The celebration was held at the Boston Public Schools’ Middle School Volleyball Jamboree at Madison Park High School in Roxbury with 400 girls, 16 teams, and an electric atmosphere full of joy, teamwork, and community.

We were honored to be joined by Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, WNBA star and UConn legend Ashley Battle, and WCVB Channel 5’s Danae Bucci who helped us recognize and celebrate the power of sports to build confidence, community, and connection. We also heard from Play Ball alum, Courtney Sarfo, now a Northeastern student and middle school volleyball coach at BPS, who represents the full-circle impact of our mission.

Play Ball Featured on WCVB, Chronicle

February 25, 2025

We are truly grateful to WCVB Channel 5 for shining a light on The Play Ball Foundation! A huge thank you to Chronicle and Shayna Seymour Carr for airing such an incredible segment on The Play Ball Foundation and the impact we’re making across Massachusetts! Your storytelling captured the heart of our mission—creating access and opportunity for middle schoolers to play sports, build confidence, and develop lifelong skills.

We’re especially grateful to the Lawrence Public Schools community for being such steadfast partners in this work. Seeing the energy, passion, and joy of the students and coaches reminds us why we do what we do. Sports aren’t just games—they’re a pathway to teamwork, leadership, and opportunity.