Girls4Sports
School in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Girls4Sports is the world's largest youth-led organization fighting gender inequality in sports. [1] It was founded in 2021 by 13 year old Maegha Ramanathan after facing discrimination participating in youth sports. In its 5 years of existence, Girls4Sports has integrated more than 40,000 girls into sports teams and programs, donated more than 10, 500 pieces of equipment and has a network of over 1,500 volunteers. The organization gives back to local communities, and works over seas with international groups to empower young girls through organized activity. Throughout the years they have hosted numerous events such as sports camps, conferences, and equipment drives. Girls4Sports is based out of Dublin, California and it is the primary location for major events. To date, Girls4Sports has cultivated 1,000 student change makers and built an inclusive community that inspires girls to lead.[2]
| Girls4Sports | |
|---|---|
| |
United States | |
| Information | |
| Established | 2021 |
| Founder | Maegha Ramanathan |
| Category | Youth-led Non Governmental Organization |
| Slogan | "At Girls4Sports, we’re not waiting for a seat at the table. We’re creating space for every girl to lead. We don’t just train athletes. We build changemakers—girls who speak up, organize, and lead in their communities and beyond. " -- Maegha Ramanathan, Founder of Girls4Sports |
History
Growing up in Dublin, Maegha Ramanathan was an enthusiastic athlete who loved competing on the swim team. Less enjoyable, however, were the sexist comments directed at her and other female swimmers. Her frustration moved the 13-year-old Ramanathan to found Girls4Sports, hoping to raise awareness about gender inequality and expand sporting opportunities for underserved girls.[3] Inspired by Malala Yousafzai's words "We realize the power of voices only when we are silenced," Maegha's voracious desire to empower young women to pursue what she was discouraged to led to what GirlsSports has become today.[4] She was also moved by the words of other female activists before starting Girls4Sports. “I studied the work of Kamala Harris and Sonia Sotomayer. These women inspired me to take action and stand up for the causes I believe in,” Maegha explained.[5] The Non-Governmental Organization began with just a few chapters in and around the Bay Area in California, and has now grown exponentially to 30 chapters across the United States (and a few international ones), pushing for legislative changes to promote equity in athletics.[3] Girls4Sports works with an executive team composed of Maegha Ramanathan, Tarini Gurusankar, Kavya Dadia and Mihika Wagle. Ramanathan is the founder and CEO of Girls4Sports, working with co-founder and COO Gurusankar, secretary Dadia and CFO Wagle. [6]
Events
Free Youth Sports Camps
Every season, Girls4Sports hosts free sports camps for students aged 4-12. [7] These camps run every 4 months and give young girls the opportunity to feel empowered through athletics and compete alongside other like minded individuals. These camps are offered both locally in California, and all throughout USA, powered by the groups network of volunteers. "We have sports like badminton and tennis, and we recently got the grant, so that we hope to start introducing sports like pickleball and paddleball with new equipment that we get," said Shreeya Rao Lalam, a volunteer with Girls4Sports.[8] The camp also served as a significant experience for the team's leadership and communication skills. They focused on the logistics of the event, and spent time organizing with volunteers and parents, the founders said.n“I didn't really understand until we got the feedback from the parents, and they were so happy we gave the kids an opportunity to stay active,” Tarini Gurusankar said. “The camp was accessible and free.”[6] In the Bay Area alone, Girls4Sports has hosted 20 camps in the past 5 years, giving young girls meaningful opportunities to learn and grow through sport.
World's 1st Youth-led Global Women In Sports Conference
In February 2025, During National Women and Girls in Sports Month, Girls4Sports hosted the world's 1st youth led Global Women In Sports Conference.[7] This conference was accessible both online and in person, drawing in thousands of viewers who are empowered by equality in sport. International athletes with numerous world-level accolades came in to speak on the importance of women playing sports, sharing their insights to success. Notable athletes are Alejandra Aybar, Ezinne Kalu, Jennifer Sichel, Stef Reid and Maana Patel. Students also got to meet with successful collegiate athletes from Stanford Swim, Basketball and Cross Country,[7] showing them that there is a future for female athletes in sport.
They also organized a youth speaker showcase, where attendees spoke with tennis star Chris Evert about the barriers to equal opportunities in sports. In addition, she discussed leading an active lifestyle. “For example, at the Chris Evert conference, a girl was so excited because Chris is one of her role models,” said Mihika Wagle. “It's so nice seeing people experience those impactful moments and I think that's just what keeps us motivated to keep doing what we do.”[6]
Sports Equipment Drives
Girls4Sports also hosts equipment drives every month for schools, clubs and children's hospitals both in the USA and internationally. Over the years they have donated over 5000 pieces of equipment. Some of the organizations this equipment goes to includes Oakland Children's Hospital, PARCA, and Bay Area Rescue Mission.
International Women Sports Integration
The group is currently in the process of raising funds and collecting sports equipment to donate to international underprivileged villages in India, South Africa, and Pakistan.[7] As part of their mission to expand to help more girls over seas, they aim to donate 5000 pieces of sports equipment to these villages by 2030. They are currently looking to the public to help them in locating schools that would benefit from this support, and urge them to visit https://www.girls4sportsequality.org/ to send an email with suggestions.
Awards
In 2024 Girls4Sports founder Maegha Ramanathan was honoured with The "DICK's Sporting Goods 2024 GameChanger Stay & Play Champions". This award recognized change makers in society who put health, exercise and accessibility in the forefront of their efforts. The company recognized the group by saying; "Maegha believes in the power of youth as change makers and looks forward to continuing to expand her work with Girls4Sports and reaching more young athletes as a GameChanger Stay and Play Champion."[9]
In 2024, Founder Maegha Ramanathan was invited by California Governor and Wife, Jennifer Newsom, to the launch of her film trailer, a film dismantling media gender biases. Ramanathan presented the Founder Awards at the Flip The Script Dinner. [9]
In July 2025, the group won the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership award, which celebrates the legendary sports icon's commitment to leadership and service, and honours high school and college-aged students who, like Billie Jean King, use sports to improve their communities. "Each and every one of them are doing miraculous things already and they're just getting started" - Billie Jean King[9]
Policy Work
This past legislative session, Girls4Sports helped advance 8 impactful bills, focused on equity, youth empowerment and gender justice. From advocating for Title IX compliance to supporting girls in STEM and sports, the NGO has worked to support California lawmakers and community partners in passing these bills. Below includes 6 of the most recent and most impactful.[10]
ACR19 - Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
[11] Status of the bill: Chaptered
In the USA, women's hold less than 15% of engineering jobs, and less than 22% of the total engineering degrees awarded. ACR19 recognizes February 20, 2025 as 'Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day' and aims to empower young girls in the state of California to explore STEM and participate in statewide activities. Some of these activities include workshops, mentorship programs and campaigns to raise public awareness. By closing the information gap, this day aims to show young girls the opportunities a career in STEM can provide, as well as reducing the gender gap in scientific fields. Girls4Sports supported the creation of this bill, and were signees on its induction, as the group advocates for Title IX protections, leadership development and global access to athletic resources. Though Girls4Sports focuses on female empowerment through sport and play, they also advocate for the amplification of all opportunities for young girls, inviting corporations and community leaders to partner in advancing equity in STEM.[10]
AB310 - Navaeh Youth Sports Safety Act
[12] Status of the bill: In Motion
In youth sports, majority of coaches and trainers are volunteers, many without any sort of medical background or training. Bill AB310 was created to protect athletes and prevent avoidable tradegies, specifically by advocating for standardized emergency response planning statewide. This bill requires CPR/AED certification for all coaches as well as each team needing to have an emergency response plan to sudden cardiac episodes. The sudden cardiac death of athletes is typically defined as natural, unexpected death from cardiac arrest within one hour of the onset of collapse symptoms, excluding additional time on mechanical life support. (Wider definitions of sudden death are also in use, but not usually applied to the athletic situation.) Most causes relate to congenital or acquired cardiovascular disease with no symptoms noted before the fatal event.[13] This is especially common in sports, for example, from blunt force to the chest. Girls4Sports is in high support of this bill and implements it in their own sports events as well. The organization describes it as being essential for improving youth sports safety,[10] and AED readiness in youth sports settings is essential to saving lives. By supporting this bill, Girls4Sports pressures local lawmakers and organizations to implement this bill not only statewide, but nationwide.
AB749
[14] Status of the bill: In Motion
Girls4Sports has expressed their support for bill AB749, which is a proposal to establish a statewide commission focused on developing a youth sports department in California. Many communities, specifically those that are underserved, face many inequalities in access, funding and overall safety in sports. This bill is an important step forward to creating a sports landscape that is more inclusive for all. [10]
AB932 - Strengthen laws on anti-discrimination[15]
Status of the bill: Engrossed
Girls have 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play high school sports, resulting in only 34% of girls 6-12 playing sports. A8932 strengthens laws to clearly prohibit gender inequity in youth/school athletic programs, ensuring that all youth athletes have access to the resources they need to succeed and grow a passion for sports.[10] The NGO feels that this bill is essential for sport equity, and pushes hard for it, as it is directly aligned with the sports advocacy work that they do.
Girls4Sports sent a letter of support to the members of the Senate Rules Committee, which ultimately ended up being an integral piece to the engrossment of the bill.
Dear Members of the Senate Rules Committee,
Girls4Sports writes in strong support of AB 932, legislation designed to ensure gender equity in community youth programs and interscholastic athletics. This bill takes meaningful steps to prohibit discrimination based on gender or sex in the operation, funding, and allocation of athletic programs, resources, and facilities. Thank you for your leadership in expanding equity and access in sports.
Best, Girls4Sports[10]
ACR50 - Special Olympics Day
[16] Status of the bill: Adopted
The Special Olympics bill (ACR50) recognizes March 24, 2025, as Special Olympics day in the state of California. The creating of this bill supports the life changing impacts that inclusivity in sports can have. Special Olympics events and competitions worldwide have been recognized to break down barriers and create meaningful athletic opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities. Girls4Sports was in support of this bill from its proposal, and supports its efforts to increase equality.
Girls4Sports sent a letter of support to Assembly Member Macedo to share their views on the adoption of the bill.
Dear Assembly Member Macedo,
We are writing in strong support of ACR 50, which would officially recognize March 24, 2025, as Special Olympics Day. Your support affirms the remarkable work of the Special Olympics—the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities—and ensures that Special Olympics athletes are seen, valued, and heard.
Thank you for your leadership in advancing equality and opportunity.
Warm regards, Girls4Sports[10]
SR19 - International Women's Day
[17] Status of the bill: Passed
Celebrated on March 8th globally, International Women's Day acts as a call to action for gender equality, as well as celebrating women and their outstanding achievements. The global gender pay gap remains at 20%, with women earning less than men.[18] In sports, girls face 1.3 million fewer opportunities to compete in high school athletics in the U.S. alone. [19]The SR19 formally recognizes March 8 as International Women's day in California. This honours the impact of women throughout history and highlights ongoing women's rights movements.
Similarly to bills ACR50 and AB749, Girls4Sports sent a letter of support for this bill to Assembly Member Macedo.
Dear Assembly Member Macedo,
We are writing in strong support of SR 19, which would officially recognize March 8, 2025, as International Women's Day. Your support for this resolution promotes the recognition of women's contributions across history and serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to close the gender gap, challenge systemic barriers, and advance equality.
Thank you for your leadership in expanding opportunity and equity.
Warm regards, Girls4Sports[10]
Future
The 2025 Dublin High School graduate is taking a gap year to focus on Girls4Sports and expansion efforts (the organization also just launched a fellowship focused on cultivating leaders). Most of all, Ramanathan wants to encourage other young girls to make a difference. She experienced first hand what it feels like to not have a space to thrive in sport, and wants no other young girl to feel that way. “Believe in yourself if you want to create change,” she says. “It can be as simple as uplifting someone in your community … because small things build over time. At Girls4Sports, we’re changing the game, one girl at a time.”[3] Along with expansion efforts, the group is looking for more volunteers and eager young women to create chapters in their local areas.
Other Sources
Girls4Sports. (2025). Girls4Sports. https://www.girls4sportsequality.org/