17 Apr USATF Foundation Elite Athlete Grantees Inspire the Next Generation at Run With US! Youth Club Visits
PITTSBURGH –
The USATF Foundation continues to bridge the gap between aspiring young athletes and the sport’s top talent through its Run With US! program—hosting meaningful in-person visits at youth club practices across the country.
Most recently, Stephen A. Schwarzman Grantees and Olympians Parker Valby and Emily Mackay, alongside USATF Foundation Board Member and Youth Committee Chair Therese Hammerschmith, visited Youth Enrichment Services (YES) in Boston, MA. The visit marked the club’s first spring track and field practice of the season and was a celebration of YES receiving its 2025 Youth Club Grant award.
During the visit, Parker and Emily engaged with the young athletes, offering motivational words, sharing their own journeys in track and field, and even participating in practice drills.
“We are grateful to receive grant funding from the USATF Foundation to directly support YES’s Track & Field Program. Funds will help sustain this running program which is provided free-of-charge to 400 Boston youth every year,” said Bryan Van Dorpe, Executive Director of Youth Enrichment Services (YES). “YES’s Track & Field Program introduces young people to the basics of track and field, educates them about the benefits and excitement of the sport, and inspires them to develop a lifelong appreciation and respect of running as well as opening the doors to competitive opportunities. It is incredible to have these role models here, really to tell their story, how they developed their sport, and how they love their sport.”
In addition to this visit the 2024 Youth Club Grantee Duncanville Tigers welcomed Olympic hurdler and Stephen A. Schwarzman grantee Alaysha Johnson to their practice. Alaysha shared motivational insights, answered questions from the athletes, and helped coach hurdle technique during the practice.
“As elite athletes, we have the opportunity not only to inspire, but to help create a tangible path for the youth,” said Alaysha Johnson. “It’s important that we share our journeys and experiences firsthand to help guide our communities. During my visit, I was able to speak about the role community has played in my own life and give the athletes, coaches and parents some important tools to help them navigate the future.”
These visits emphasize the importance of connecting aspiring young athletes with elite professionals. The Foundation hopes to build character, community, and a lasting love for the sport.
More Foundation Grantee visits are on the horizon. Upcoming appearances include:
- Caleb Dean visiting East Orlando Track Club in Florida
- Tamara Clark visiting Capital Texas Heat
- Raevyn Rogers visiting M.P. Striders Youth Track Club
Written by Parker Neumeier, Journalism and Political Science student at the University of Wisconsin- Madison