Sport teaches me how to be dedicated to any challenge.

As a child, Sarah loved to swim, and can’t ever remember not loving water sports. Although it took her a while to warm up to competitive swimming, she now appreciates the doors that it opened – including being able to walk onto a Division 1 crew team, and also enjoy many other water-related activities.

Sport has taught me perseverance and patience.

Debbie enjoys being in motion, which is why running suits her. After her father passed, she started running to process her grief. Over the years, she ran farther and faster, ultimately running a marathon in three hours and 28 minutes. Sports has taught Debbie to work towards goals, and also to be kind to yourself during setbacks.

Sports teaches me how to have balance.

Athleticism hasn’t always come naturally to Maryam, but that didn’t stop her from pursuing sports. Today, Maryam uses that same determination to get her through her spin classes. She understands that sports are just as much mental as they are physical and it’s just a matter of finding your balance.

Sport teaches me Connection to others and myself, and it teaches me to be present in the moment.

Chrissy became involved with the foundation after being told about a connection between MAF and De La Salle High School – another organization she is involved in. She loves finding new things to do in the Portland area: local shops and events, restaurants, and hikes!

Sport teaches me things I use in life every day.

Billy’s love for athletics started with basketball, his favorite childhood sport, which he continued to play through college. During his freshman year, he was a candidate for the NCAA Academic All-America® program, which recognizes student athletes. Billy credits sports with providing him with valuable life skills including dedication, teamwork and humility.

Sport teaches me to remain humble in victory and gracious in defeat.

Brian, originally from Tucson, AZ, developed a passion for soccer at six. He’s an ardent fan of University of Arizona Wildcats basketball. With diverse interests like gardening, travel, and collecting African art, Brian’s also a geography enthusiast, naming nearly every world capital. His upbringing instilled a love for the outdoors, hiking, and sports, which he continues to pursue along with his exploration of new destinations, having checked off Peru and Croatia from his travel list.

Sports has taught me teamwork and perseverance.

Sport has taught me discipline, fair play and connection to fellow man.

An accomplished baseball player in his youth, George was a winning pitcher in the 1957 High School Legion World Series Opener and was also inducted into the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) Sports Hall of Fame. He considers himself analytical, a good listener, and finds that he gets more tolerant as he grows older.

“Do the right thing.”

Jacob is originally from California but has lived in the Pacific Northwest most of his life. He grew up in Southern Oregon on a ranch and began playing sports with his parents’ encouragement, with his first sport being wrestling in the 2nd grade. Jacob continued his enjoyment of athletics through the years with boxing, baseball, running cross country, and rodeo.

Sport gives me confidence and gratitude.

Jacqui’s journey in athletics started at age three when she began skiing with her family and when she began racing at age seven, she never looked back. In the winter you can find her on the slopes still as a ski coach for Lakeridge High School, but the rest of the year she’s either biking, working on her new house, or spending time in Black Butte.

It’s not what happens to you, but how you react that matters – Epictetus

Born and raised in Chico California, Jenny now resides in Portland and cherishes her love of running. An athletic achievement of Jenny’s is qualifying for and then running the Boston Marathon, no small feat indeed.

Synchronized swimming is part of who I am.

Julie’s father taught her to swim in Crescent Lake, OR, and she’s loved the water ever since. As a youth she participated in water ballet and swam during high school and college. At MAC Julie discovered synchronized swimming and has competed at the national level. She’s also musical and played oboe in the high school band and orchestra.

Athletics and movement create freedom to be the best version of yourself.

Linda grew up in Portland playing soccer through high school where her team earned third in state her senior year. She always felt soccer was about connecting to relationships and community. Linda has continued her love of the sport through coaching both of her boys’ soccer teams from kindergarten through 4th grade.

Always give people the benefit of the doubt.

Ryan enjoys doing anything creative — whether it’s artwork or just projects around the house. When he’s not chasing his kids around, he finds time to read, exercise, and utilize his creativity in all aspects of his life. Ryan holds a private pilots license and hopes to get back in the air again soon.

Sport has taught me teamwork, the power of inclusion and self-confidence.

Tennis was the sport Sydney enjoyed most in her youth, which was primarily spent in Southern California. Her family told her it was a lifelong activity and she’s found that to be true. For Sydney, tennis continues to be a great way to stay active, maintain friendships and think strategically.

 Sport teaches me “It is what it is.”

As someone who participated in sports all through his youth, Tom now finds that his greatest enjoyment of in sports comes from living vicariously through his kids. When he isn’t at work or watching athletics, he is on his John Deere tractor plowing his seven acres of horse property while wearing his 1986 vintage Oregon State hat.

Everybody does, but not everybody lives

Traci was born and raised in Portland Oregon and shares her many years experience in the local philanthropic world. When asked who her favorite sport or player was she enthusiastically responded with “Michael Jordan, of course!”

Athletics makes me feel inspired.

 Lisa can best be described by three words: focused, adaptable and exuberant. She loves to travel and wander globally, has visited 38 countries, and is still counting. You can often find Lisa outdoors hiking, biking, running, climbing, diving, skiing or surfing. Her words to live by: “If not me, who? If not now, when?” – Hillel