SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara women's basketball is always near the top of Bronco athletics in terms of community service. The basketball team spends hours in the community trying to make a difference. One of the major groups the Broncos work with is the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative (BAWSI) and On Oct. 7 four players went to Rosemary Elementary School to work with a group of young girls.
Seniors Shelby Swofford and Iman Scott, sophomore Katie Hawkins and freshman Jo Paine taught the girls about acceptance and got them exercising with fun activities. The players know how important it is to give back.
"Being able to give back to the community means a lot," said Swofford. "These are some of our fans so it's important to give back to them. We teach them a little bit about what we do and what it means to be active."
The Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative (BAWSI) is a public benefit, nonprofit corporation with a mission to create programs and partnerships through which women athletes bring health, hope and wholeness to our community. Founded in 2005 by Olympic and World Cup soccer stars Brandi Chastain and Julie Foudy and Marlene Bjornsrud, former general manager of the San Jose CyberRays women's professional soccer team, BAWSI provides a meaningful path for women athletes to become a more visible and valued part of the Bay Area sports culture.