About us
How we began
In 2018, Simidele Adeagbo became the first Nigerian Winter Olympian and the first African and Black woman to compete in skeleton at the Olympics. As an athlete breaking down extreme financial, physical and geographic barriers to compete in a Eurocentric, male dominated sport, she wants to create more access for underrepresented female athlete to reach the starting line.
She founded the SimiSleighs Foundation in 2021 to increase access for marginalized female athletes at the Olympics and Paralympics, and to inspire and empower every girl to reach their full potential through the power of sport.
Together, the board, team and supporters are creating a more inclusive future in sports and unlocking the potential of the next generation of girls.
Why this matters
Statistics show that marginalized women are still largely underrepresented at the Olympics and Paralympics. In addition to the barriers marginalized female athletes face to compete at the Olympics and Paralympics, evidence from around the world confirms that the social benefits (teamwork, negotiation, leadership, communication, and respect for others) cultivated through sport are thought to be especially important for women.
Through game-changing grants, meaningful partnerships, and impactful programming, we’re taking action to close the gap for marginalized female athletes and to empower girls everywhere to reach their full potential through sport.
Athlete Grant Program
Through a first-of-its kind grant program, the SimiSleighs Foundation helps to level the playing field for underrepresented female Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls by providing funding and connecting athletes with crucial resources. The grant program increases available funding to female athletes with financial need from historically underrepresented groups. Grant recipients are empowered through access to support networks and holistic programming focused on mental health, nutrition, innovation, economic empowerment and leadership development. The grant program advances diversity at the Olympics and Paralympics through building an effective talent pipeline of female athletes.
This program will launch formally in 2022. For more information, and to be considered for future grant awards, please contact us.
Leadership Program
To empower and inspire adolescent girls to reach their full potential, the SimiSleighs Foundation drives positive impact with a research-backed curriculum designed to expand opportunities and build girls’ leadership skills through the power of sport. Impact is scaled through partnerships with grassroots organizations, targeted live events programming, a virtual curriculum and digital tools. The commitment to unlock the potential of the next generation of girls includes investments to increase girls' visibility and access to powerful female role models and mentors and equipping them with valuable leadership skills to create the future. We empower girls by giving them the tools and training they need for success with an engaging, educational and fun sport-based curriculum focused on building core leadership principles, confidence and courage. The leadership program increases girls' access to play and sport opportunities and elevate their ability to use their knowledge and skills to drive change in their lives and communities.
We’ve implement our leadership program across the globe in partnership with various organizations including YEDI (Youth Empowerment Development Initiative), Nike Made to Play, Grassroot Soccer, INSAF (Morocco’s National Institute of Solidarity for Girls and Women in Distress) and Girl Pride Circle.
Learn how you can get involved and support this program.
Watch our work
Watch the video below to learn how we are “Building a Better World Through Sport.”
Our Impact
87%
Girls who play sports
$10,000
Raised for girls’ sports
10
Organizations around the world