Tuscon, AZ
by Jackie Garrett

On the first weekend in December, I had the honor of representing AO and AO Impact at the inaugural Legendary Women’s Cup in Tucson, AZ. I returned from that weekend with a full heart and very sore hamstrings from playing modified soccer, which was a new experience for me. The Legendary Women’s Cup is not just a tournament; as one of the tournament creators points out, “It’s a tournament created by women and led by women. It’s a celebration of endurance, joy, and the unstoppable spirit of women.” Three members of the '85ers from the first U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) attended and shared powerful stories of resilience, perseverance, and the importance of joy and happiness in the game of soccer.

I was invited to the tournament to serve as the MC for one evening and to represent AO Impact. The first Legendary Women’s Cup was distinctive for its aim to give back to the Tucson community. On the first night of the event, Lisa Hanson, CEO and founder of Power Over Predators, spoke about the significant impact soccer has had on her life. Her entire family grew up around soccer; however, one of her abusers was a referee. She discussed the importance of teaching children to outsmart predators by providing them with the skills to identify, avoid, and report such threats through the Power Over Predators program.

Over the past several months, AO Impact has organized raffles at Night Before parties and Game Day tailgates and a portion of the proceeds was donated to Power Over Predators. There are approximately 500,000 child predators online at any given time, 88% of human trafficking cases occur online, and 93% of children are abused by someone they know. Alarmingly, one in three girls and one in four boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18. These statistics are daunting, which is why Power Over Predators is such a vital nonprofit organization and why AO Impact supported them through our donation.

The ripple effects of this organization extend far beyond Tucson as its curriculum is being taught in schools across America. Lisa’s story not only highlighted her love of soccer but also emphasized that the sport we love must address critical issues facing kids playing soccer in our communities.

At AO Impact, we not only give back through our one-for-one soccer ball program, but we also contribute through food bank donations, clothing drives, and other initiatives through our local chapters. We support organizations that create meaningful change, like Power Over Predators. Soccer is what unites us, but each of you makes a difference in your communities. It was an honor to spend an evening with survivors of sex trafficking, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, and to listen to their stories of resilience and bravery.