Manchester, NH (April 14, 2024) — Bedford, NH native and Gatorade New Hampshire Volleyball Player of the Year, Lana McCarthy, awarded Girls Inc. of New Hampshire with a $10,000 grant to help accomplish our mission to inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

Sports have seen a double-digit decline over the past decade, largely due to tighter budgets in communities, but young people that participate in sports are found to be happier, healthier and better students. As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner.

After Lana McCarthy won the Gatorade New Hampshire Volleyball Player of the Year award, she then submitted a short video to be considered for one of the 12 Spotlight Grants of $10,000.

“As with all Gatorade Player of the Year award winners, Lana McCarthy has demonstrated exemplary character,” said Josh Lytel, Associate Marketing Manager for Gatorade Player of the Year. “Her short video illustrated the role that Girls Inc. of New Hampshire has had in fostering that character. Our vision is that organizations like Girls Inc. continue to positively impact the kids of the future.”

“Being an athlete most of her life has certainly helped Lana physically, mentally, socially and academically,” says her mother and CEO of Girls Inc. NH, Sharron McCarthy.  “She has always set goals for herself and has worked hard to play to the best of her ability. Being able to thrive in a competitive environment sets her up for life success, as does the endurance, structure and resiliency required to be a top athlete. We are so proud to have her involved in this organization and to receive this $10,000 grant from Gatorade.  They believe in all kids having access to sports and we strongly support this notion at Girls Inc. of New Hampshire.”

All 610 Gatorade State Player of the Year recipients are awarded a $1,000 grant to donate to the organization of their choosing. Gatorade State Players of the Year may also submit a short video explaining why the organization they chose is deserving of a Spotlight Grant, which awards an additional $10,000 to give to the organization. To date, Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $4.9 million across more than 1,900 organizations.

Gatorade has a longstanding history of serving athlete communities and it’s ambition is to continue doing more to create positive change. Most recently, Gatorade announced its Equity in Sports commitment, a multi-year initiative aimed to help every athlete have equal opportunities to play sports and realize their potential.

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow the conversation on Twitter #GatoradePOY. For more on Gatorade Player of the Year Community Grants, the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit PlayerOfTheYear.Gatorade.com

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About Gatorade Player of the Year

Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s most elite high school athletes for their success on and off the playing surface. Gatorade Players of the Year are not only the best in their sports, but they’re also leaders in the classroom and in their communities. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport, touting an all-star group of alumni that includes Peyton Manning, Jayson Tatum, Mallory Swanson and Paige Bueckers.