Collaboration aimed at strengthening efforts to empower girls and women through sports and helping them overcome common obstacles to continued sports participation

SAN FRANCISCO – Bay FC and Sutter Health, a leading Northern California not-for-profit healthcare system and Bay FC’s Front of Kit sponsor and Official Medical Provider, celebrated their “B You” initiative with a Youth Soccer Jamboree at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley’s Alviso Clubhouse in San Jose on Monday. Over 200 female athletes aged 8-14 participated in an afternoon of soccer skills, learning from Sutter Health clinicians, and training alongside Bay FC players Brooklyn Courtnall, Leah Freeman, Caroline Conti, and Melissa Lowder. B-roll footage from the Jamboree can be found HERE.

Now in its second year, “B You” is an innovative program designed to empower girls and women through sports, health education, and leadership training. The initiative aims to help young girls overcome common obstacles to continuing sports participation by supporting programs focused on mental health, injury prevention and recovery, girls’ health, and body positivity. These efforts include local soccer clinics, donations to support successful community programs, a social content series, and educational initiatives.

The Youth Soccer Jamboree was also part of the Bay FC’s broader Bay It Forward community impact initiative, which was launched earlier this season to make a lasting impact across the Bay Area. As Bay FC’s flagship community impact program, Bay It Forward is dedicated to expanding access to sport and empowering the next generation of community leaders.

“Investing in young athletes is a collaborative effort that requires parents, coaches, mentors, and medical professionals working together to overcome barriers that too often discourage girls from participating in sports,” said Bay FC Executive Vice President of Communications, Community Impact, and Public Affairs Lisa Goodwin Scharff. “The ‘B You’ initiative is an innovative and comprehensive initiative that connects communities with high-quality programs, care, and coaching that will lead to meaningful differences in the lives of girls and women across the Bay Area.”

“Sutter Health is proud to continue and expand our ‘B You’ initiative in partnership with Bay FC,” said Jennifer Bollinger, Chief Consumer and Brand Officer at Sutter. “The lingering effects of the pandemic continue to impact young female athletes—from reduced participation in sports to challenges with physical and mental health, and academic performance. That’s why we’re deepening our collaboration with Bay FC to provide these athletes with elite soccer training and essential wellness resources. Together, we’re committed to empowering and inspiring them to grow stronger—both on and off the field.”

Bay FC and Sutter Health have partnered to expand their investment in the “B You” initiative this season with additional events and activations to further empower girls and women through sports, health education, and leadership training.

Beyond the Youth Soccer Jamboree, the “B You” initiative has also engaged women, young girls, and families in new ways, including:

• Moms’ Clinic: Teaming up with Women’s Coaching Alliance, local moms participated in a clinic in August centered around learning the basics of soccer, boosting their skills, and building the confidence to practice the game with their kids at home.
• Continued Education: Recent “B You” events featured co-branded take-home items aligned with the program’s four key themes—such as exercise loop bands for injury prevention, educational pamphlets, co-branded video content, player engagement activities, and wellness insights from Sutter experts.
• Community Investment: Bay FC and Sutter will donate $20,000 to local nonprofit organizations Women’s Coaching Alliance and Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley to support their continued work across the Bay Area to increase the number of female coaches in the community.
• Player Engagement: Bay FC’s “B You” social content series offers leadership and access for young female athletes to learn from their favorite professional athletes. The third of four installments was released earlier this month and can be found here, touching on how Bay FC players address female health. The last feature will be released by the end of the season.