Today we’d like to introduce you to Patty Godoy. They and their team shared their story with us below:
ELLA is the Spanish language word for “She.” The acronym stands for Empowering Leadership in Latina Athletes. It was founded by teenager Lilly Travieso and her mother, Patty Godoy. Lilly began playing sports at a young age. Over the years, she became passionate about playing softball and dreamed of playing the sport at a top university someday. Lilly embarked on a strenuous mental, physical, and academic journey to achieve her dream. However, along the way, she discovered the many obstacles and disparities faced by Latina athletes culturally and economically.
After an arduous journey facing many obstacles with the help of her parents, Lilly applied to and was accepted to Cornell University on a sports scholarship. Her own struggles inspired Lilly to establish an organization that would help young Latina athletes like herself to have the same opportunities, such as the mentorship and support they need as they embark on their own athletic, academic, and professional journey. With the help of her mother, Patty Godoy, Lilly founded ELLA Sports Foundation, a 501(c) non-profit with a mission to support young Latinas to become leaders of tomorrow through sports and academic excellence.
ELLA, which stands for Empowering Leadership in Latina Athletes, seeks to develop strong Latina leaders who will positively impact their communities while establishing their own legacy. The ELLA network provides young female athletes with opportunities to prepare themselves with college preparatory courses, high-quality training, valuable networking, athletic and college mentorship, and exposure to leadership opportunities.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Some challenges have been Carving out a space in women’s sports for Latinas and girls of color, who are often at a disadvantage.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
As Co-Founder and CEO of ELLA Sports Foundation, I am tasked with building out its Community Curriculum as well as overseeing the Foundation’s Athletics and Education initiatives. ELLA is unique in that we support girl athletes from an early age through their middle, high school, and college journeys.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
One of the most important characteristics is having a passion for helping young girls achieve their sports and academic dreams.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ellasportsfoundation.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellasportsfdn/
- Facebook: ELLA Sports Foundation
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellasportsfdn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ellasportsfdn
