Wheaton Student to Serve as Youth Leader in Special Olympics

Former USA Women's Soccer team captain and founder of the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy Julie Foudy on Thursday announced 12-year-old Shannon Moran of Wheaton is one of five grand prize winners in the 2012 JFSLA "Choose to Matter" contest.

Out of the 69 submitted service projects, the winning projects included: raising funds for a safe and accessible baseball field and all-inclusive playground for kids with special needs; hosting book drives for inner city schools; educating kids about diabetes prevention; fundraising to help families fighting cancer; and delivering powerful messages to teens to say no to gun violence, according to a JFSLA news release.

Moran’s project, "Let’s Kick Diabetes—Games for Change” centered on raising money for the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and teaching kids about the disease. 

She hosted a day of soccer that included a skills contest, pick-up games, a diabetes friendly bake sale and a raffle. The project also included selling rubber bracelets and t-shirts at her school. 

Moran raised $5,000 for the ADA and $500 for her school to purchase new soccer balls. Through her project, she was able to educate 600 kids about diabetes prevention by speaking to local soccer teams, grade schools and her own school about diabetes prevention and the ADA.

"Shannon's project was impressive in so many ways... her project had such depth and creativity," Foudy said in a statement. "She was inspired to raise awareness and funds for the American Diabetes Association as her grandfather passed away from Diabetes, and she sees Diabetes as such a problem with young kids now. I loved that she spoke to teams, spoke at her school, did a soccer clinic day, sold bracelets, and courageously reached out to the community on so many levels. Shannon is a leader of action!"

Moran and the other winners will join Foudy on a trip in May to the Walt Disney World® All-Star Sports Resort; a 3-day park-hopper pass to the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks; and serve as youth leaders at Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games happening at ESPN Wide World of Sports.

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