Good Sports is thrilled to welcome social media sensation and sports influencer, Katie Feeney, to our team of Ambassadors. At only 22 years old, Katie has accomplished more as a current senior at Penn State University than most have in a lifetime…all while managing to make honor roll and work with some of the largest brands in the world. When she’s not in class she can be found on the sidelines of many NFL and college football games. She was the first ever social media correspondent for an NFL team when she worked with the Washington Commanders. As if being tapped by the NFL while in college wasn’t enough, Katie covers special events at the White House working as a Social Media Correspondent. Whether covering events on the hill or games from the sidelines Katie loves taking her 13M+ followers across social media along for the ride. Her content covers an array of topics including Sports, Beauty, Fashion, Fitness, Collegiate Lifestyle, and much more. Katie is an incredible addition to the Good Sports Ambassadors as she exemplifies hard work, dedication, and a passion for youth sports. Even more importantly, she serves as an inspriation and role model to young girls around the country. Please read along to get to know Katie and what it means to her to be a part of the Good Sports team.

What impact did sports have on you as a kid?

Sports had a really huge impact on me. Not only did it help me with building my self-confidence, but also with skills that I still use to this day. I made so many memories playing sports and games with my friends. I learned how to be a part of a team and a leader. Even though I was so young, I think sports helps develop you as a person. I cherish the memories I made through sports….I’ll have those forever.

What is your favorite sports memory growing up?

My favorite memory was probably the basketball team I was on in 3^rd grade because it was called the Vicious Strawberries. It was all my best friends on that team, and my friend’s mom was the coach…it was so fun. All the basketball teams in the league knew us because our name was so out there. Our jerseys were pink, so that’s where we got the strawberry part. But the vicious part…I’m not sure where that came from. But hey! It worked. It’s a core memory for sure.

What did it mean to you to be able to play your favorite sports growing up?

I think when I look back on my childhood, my favorite memories came from the different sports I played and the friendships I made through them, like my summer swim team. Growing up in my neighborhood and playing sports with all my friends, those were the most fun times. Through meeting so many people and building relationships, you grow with each other, especially when you’re on a team that carries through different years. You become really close with those people. Meeting those people and making those friendships, they’re friendships I’ll have forever.

What made you want to get involved with a nonprofit, and more specifically, why Good Sports?

Ever since I was little, I wanted to give back in some way. Especially when I was younger, I didn’t understand how many ways to give back. I thought I literally had to be a doctor or lawyer or be in the room to make a difference. I have been connected to philanthropy since a young age. I’ve done a lot with childhood cancer, but I knew I wanted to do something that connected to my everyday life. Not only did I grow up playing sports and had a big sports family, but I also want to pursue a career in sports. This is something that’s around me all the time, and I want to be able to give young kids that opportunities I had because sports continue to play a huge role in my life. To think I could’ve not even had those opportunities at a young age, and now I don’t know what my life would’ve looked like.

A big part of Good Sports’ mission is providing brand-new sports equipment to kids who often times can’t afford it. This means that many of the programs we serve are giving kids their very first ball, pair of cleats, sports bra, etc. Do you have a memory of a favorite piece of sports equipment and what it meant to have that as a kid?

I still bring this up to people all the time! I did a basketball camp either my summer going into 4^th or 5^th grade…I was really young, and I wasn’t the best player, but I always worked really hard and gave it my 100%. This was a camp with a lot of girls, and I won Mrs. Hustle and got this basketball on it with my name. It was a big deal for that camp, and it gave me so much confidence and I think it carried with me. I’m also a dancer, and I wasn’t always the best, and but I had the confidence to always give the effort. Just to be recognized for working hard meant everything to me. I still have the basketball, and I still bring it up to people!

Why does the Good Sports mission resonate to you?

Sports really shaped me into becoming the person I am today. Now that I have a large platform, I really can use it to help other kids have that same opportunity that I had growing up. I mean, I have such a huge audience, and I want to be able to use it in the best way I can. If that means helping a young girl get her first pair of cleats or goggles, that means more than anything else. What else am I doing if I’m not helping other people?

Do you have anything else you want people to know about you?

I’m really excited to see where this partnership can go. When I met Good Sports earlier this year, I had so much fun. I met so many girls that watch my videos on socials. To see how it made their day just meeting me, that meant more than anything. I can’t wait to do more events and see where this can go and bring more smiles to faces!