PLANO, Texas (Oct. 25, 2023) – Last night at The espnW: Women + Sports Summit in Ojai, CA, presented by Toyota, the eighth class of Toyota Everyday Heroes was announced and honored.
The Toyota Everyday Heroes program recognizes women who are making a difference for women and girls in their local communities through sports. These heroes were provided with $15,000 grants and were recognized on stage by Team Toyota Athlete and three-time Paralympic medalist Danelle Umstead, along with ESPN’s Elle Duncan. Toyota has been a presenting sponsor of The espnW: Women + Sports Summit for 11 years.
Throughout the three-day event, Toyota is giving attendees a firsthand look at the all-new 2024 Tacoma and the first-ever 2024 Grand Highlander. Toyota is also supporting “The Summit in 60 Seconds” daily recap videos that are shared during the event and on espnW’s social media accounts.
“Toyota is proud to announce the 2023 Everyday Heroes – Mechelle Lewis Freeman and Peggy Turner – who are both extraordinary women going above and beyond in their communities to make a positive impact for women and girls through sports,” said Angie White, senior manager of media at Toyota Motor North America. “Their stories are a true example of what hard work and determination can achieve, and we’re proud to honor them and their accomplishments.”
Mechelle Lewis Freeman (TrackGirlz – Frisco, TX)
Mechelle Lewis Freeman is a former track athlete who competed in the 2007 World Championships and the 2008 Olympics. Understanding the power of mentorship and the impact of sports on young girls, Mechelle founded TrackGirlz. The organization focuses on physical health, mental strength, guidance, and support for girls who want to pursue track and field.
Mechelle raises money through grants, donations, and partnerships, and is working towards building a dedicated facility for TrackGirlz athletes and increasing grant distributions made by the organization.
Peggy Turner (TIRR Memorial Hermann – Houston, TX)
Peggy Turner is a pioneer for wheelchair basketball and an advocate for adaptive athletics. She created the first adapted sports initiatives in the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and currently serves as the Athletics Community Liaison & Adapted Sports Coordinator at TIRR Memorial Hermann. Peggy has been instrumental in establishing wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby teams for both youth and adults, providing inclusivity and valuable skills for individuals with disabilities.
Peggy has raised funds for the program through donations directed to the adaptive sports program, and continues to work towards improving the lives of people with disabilities through sports.
To qualify for a Toyota Everyday Heroes grant, a person and/or organization must:
- Have been operating as an active, sports-related organization for at least two years;
- Currently create sports opportunities for girls and women in their local communities, and make a meaningful, inspiring impact with quantifiable results.
Past Honorees:
- 2022 – Liz Ferro (Founder & CEO of Girls With Sole) and Nzingha Prescod (Founder of the Prescod Institute for Sport, Teamwork, and Education – “PISTE Academy”)
- 2018 – Cecelie Owens (Founder/President, G.I.R.L.S Sports Foundation), Liz Brieva & Megan Livatino (Founder & Executive Director, Girls Play Sports), and Melissa Clarke-Wharff (Founder, Courage League Sports)
- 2017 – Darlene Hunter (Founder, Lady Mavericks Wheelchair Basketball), Fartun Osman (Founder, Somali Girls Rock), and Mira Manickam (Founder, Brown Girl Surf)
- 2016 – Courtney Payne Taylor (Founder, Girls Riders Organization), Tracy Pointer (Founder, GROW/GROW Girl), and Beth Devine (Founder, Philly Girls in Motion)
- 2015 – Chrissy Lewis-Summers (Founder of Beyond Sticks) and Heidi Boynton (Founder of Mini Mermaid Running Club)
- 2014 – Dr. Kimberley S. Clay (Co-founder, Play Like a Girl!), Monica Gonzalez (Founder, Gonzo Soccer), and Claire Smallwood (Co-founder and Executive Director of SheJumps)
- 2013 – Barb Lazarus (Founder, Game On! Foundation), Justine Siegal (Founder, Baseball For All), and Mobolaji Akidoe (Hope 4 Girls Foundation)
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for over 65 years. They are committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through their Toyota and Lexus brands and nearly 1,500 dealerships nationwide.
In the U.S., Toyota employs over 49,000 people who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 33 million cars and trucks. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. Toyota currently offers 26 electrified vehicle options, leading the industry in this category.
Through its Driving Possibilities initiative, the Toyota USA Foundation has dedicated $110 million to create innovative educational programs within historically underserved and diverse communities near the company’s 14 U.S. operating sites.
About espnW
espnW is a global multiplatform brand that aims to engage and inspire women through sports. Their content platform, espnW.com, offers total access to female athletes and their sports, providing coverage of major events and capturing trends in sports and culture. Launched in 2010, espnW’s content and voices are present across digital, television, radio, film, events, educational platforms, and social media.
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