Double Your Love. Double Your Impact.
Double Your Love. Double Your Impact.
Help provide 2x the care and support for millions affected by Alzheimer’s and advance research to bring us closer to a cure. Make a gift during our Double the Love 2x Match now.
Donate Now
When girls step onto the field, the impact goes far beyond the scoreboard. Sports become a space for confidence, leadership and community — and, sometimes, a powerful platform for change.
As we celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day, we're proud to spotlight 14-year-old Ellie and her mom, Lilly, whose shared love of flag football has turned into something far bigger than a game.
Turning personal loss into purpose
Ellie started this journey in memory of her Pop-Pop, Neil, and her great-grandmother, Irene, both of whom lived with dementia. Watching them decline was incredibly hard — especially as a teen.
That feeling of isolation became a turning point. One of Ellie's biggest goals quickly became clear: to help make other teens feel less alone when they have a family member living with Alzheimer's or another dementia. She wanted to create something that didn't just raise funds but also built connection, understanding and community for young people navigating similar experiences.
A Girl Scout project with a game plan
"I created NextGen ALZ: Powder Puff for a Cause because I wanted to do something that mattered," she said. Designed as a teen-led flag football fundraiser — by teens, for teens — Ellie took full ownership of the project. She created a logo, wrote her first press release and mapped out the entire event like a true athlete, with a game plan.
The initiative quickly grew beyond what Ellie imagined. She recruited 26 players, secured raffle donations from local businesses and even landed a live media interview. Her voice and message went far beyond the field.
Game day
Ellie originally set a fundraising goal of $5,000. By the final whistle, she had raised $6,900 — proof that when passion meets purpose, incredible things can happen.Her efforts earned her the Girl Scout Silver Award, one of the highest honors a Cadette can receive. For Lilly, the moment was both personal and powerful. "I encourage everyone to find what sparks your interest and use it to keep the momentum going," she said.
Inspiring the next generation
As we celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day, let her leadership inspire action both on and off the field.
Ready to create your own fundraiser? Join Ellie and get started at alz.org/dowhatyoulove.