February 24, 2006

‘Dads and Daughters’ women’s basketball event offers inspiration

Hosted by former San Francisco 49er Brent Jones,
father of two athletic daughters

By District 8 Councilmember Dave Cortese
Special to the Times

Like many Evergreen residents, I’ve always enjoyed sports, both as a participant and a spectator. On Sunday, March 5, we have a rare opportunity to combine that favorite pastime with our daughters in an environment that’s particularly meaningful for them.

The Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative is making the 2006 State Farm Pacific-10 Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament more than a game for dads and daughters at the HP Pavilion.

Prior to the semi-final games where women athletes excel, BAWSI is sponsoring a special VIP reception hosted by former San Francisco 49er Brent Jones, father of two athletic daughters. This special “Dads and Daughters” event promotes attendance at women’s sports events and the father-daughter bonding once more typically shared between fathers and sons.

Not only will dads and daughters have a chance to network over snacks and beverages, they will be inspired by a panel discussion of former Pac-10 women’s basketball alumni. For fun, dads and daughters can also test their basketball shooting skills on the Pop-A-Shot machine.

Soccer star Brandi Chastain, co-founder of BAWSI, has said that as young girls progress from sit-on-the-sideline-and-watch mentalities to ‘I want to participate’ personalities, it’s critical for dads to understand that young girls need to see themselves in the places they aspire to go.

The Dads and Daughters event is a great place to start.

The other work BAWSI does with girls and young women to encourage healthy lifestyles is equally as inspirational. As a public benefit, nonprofit organization, BAWSI creates programs and partnerships through which women athletes bring health, hope and wholeness to our community.

All of BAWSI’s programs aim to bring people together to make a difference in each other’s lives. For example, BAWSI’s “Women Running the Country” program provides online motivation and inspiration to encourage women leaders in business, government, education and community organizations to make time for fitness activities in their busy schedules.

Another good example is BAWSI’s work with the GoGirlGo! national movement.

GoGirlGo! was created by the Women’s Sports Foundation to inspire physical activity to underserved girls who otherwise may not be able to afford opportunities provided through sports. It reaches girls in their formative years using female athletes as coaches and role models of healthy living.

Last year BAWSI partnered with the Women’s Sports Foundation and School Health Clinics of Santa Clara County to create four GoGirlGo! pilot-project teams as after-school programs in grades three to twelve.

We were fortunate to have one of those pilot programs launched right here in District 8 at Overfelt High School. This pilot program blended exercise and nutritional information with the emotional component of how girls feel about themselves. By the end of the pilot, the participants had experienced firsthand how much better they could feel when they exercised and maintained more healthy diets.

BAWSI will expand the GoGirlGo! program to 10 sites this spring.

I’m proud to have been a BAWSI supporter since its inception in 2005 and grateful for the organization’s work in the community. I’m also very much looking forward to spending time with my own daughters at the Dads and Daughters event.

Of course moms, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles or anyone is welcome at this event. There are also other BAWSI VIP receptions preceding the games throughout the weekend, including one on Friday, March 3, for non-profit executives, board members and staff; one on Saturday, March 4, for women in education and one on Monday, March 6, targeted for women in business and government.

The Dads and Daughters program begins with the BAWSI VIP reception hosted by Brent Jones at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 5, at the Pac-10 Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament at San Jose’s HP Pavilion. The $25 fee covers the reception with light snacks, the Pop-A-Shot machine and a ticket for the two semifinal games beginning at 3 p.m.

Space is limited, so order your Dads and Daughters tickets today by calling (408) 999-6859 or (408) 999-5733. For more information and ticket order forms that can be faxed, go to the Web site at www.bawsi.org.

To contact Councilmember Dave Cortese and his staff with feedback or issues in your neighborhood, call (408) 535-4908.