Denver, CO – Kara Lynn Joyce, three-time Team USA Olympian, has been named Chair of the Executive Leadership Council of “Play Like a Girl,” a nonprofit that uses sport and physical activity to help girls unleash their full potential. Kara is a pioneer in the sport of swimming, having qualified for three Olympic Games in 2004, 2008 and 2012. With the success of the film, “Touch the Wall,” Kara has emerged as a thought leader and inspiration for thousands of young women across the country.
As Chair of the Executive Leadership Council, Kara will continue to share her passion for sport and the empowerment of girls and women on behalf of Play Like a Girl. Kara will lead a group of prominent corporate executives and other Olympians from around the country to raise awareness and leverage support for Play Like a Girl, helping to scale the organization’s programs to reach thousands more girls nationwide.
Photo Courtesy: Play Like a Girl Foundation
“Kara is an extraordinary woman with impeccable credentials and a remarkable list of professional accomplishments,” says Play Like a Girl Founder and Executive Director Dr. Kimberly Clay. “Chief among them is her tireless dedication to helping girls find their voice and helping them pursue their passion – something we do on a daily basis at Play Like a Girl. We are thrilled to welcome a visionary and pioneer who shares our vision of happy, healthy girls and seeks to help us champion girls in a way that continues to be true to our mission.”
After the Athens Olympic Games, Kara became an 18-time NCAA National Champion for the University of Georgia and qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Her 2012 journey to the London Olympics was captured in the documentary “Touch the Wall,” an inspiring film that has reached thousands of girls and young women worldwide. Today, Kara travels the country and speaks to young women and parents about the power of perseverance, self-belief, goal-setting, taking risks, and being their best selves. Kara also speaks at corporations and to women’s leadership groups at organizations such as Starbucks and others.
“Nothing makes me happier than helping influence a positive change in young girls’ lives,” says Kara. “I’m thrilled to be named as Chair of the Play Like a Girl Executive Leadership Council. I hope to continue to inspire and empower girls all over the country to believe in themselves and incorporate physical activity into their daily lives. Working closely with the team at Play Like a Girl allows me to leverage my background and experience with some of the brightest and most passionate people in the sports industry to achieve even more for well-deserving girls.”
Over the next several months, Kara will recruit a diverse group of approximately 20 athletes, coaches and executives in the sports industry to serve with her on the board. She will also launch a campaign that encourages girls everywhere to get active early and stay active for life. The campaign, which launches in October, will issue a call to action using the hashtag #MyNewNormal on Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter.