A Boston-based organization has spent the past fifteen years building connections between children facing serious health challenges and college athletic programs, creating a nationwide movement centered on belonging and resilience.
Team IMPACT, founded in 2011, has matched more than 4,500 children facing serious illness and disability with college teams across the United States. What began with a single child paired with a college hockey team in Massachusetts has evolved into a network spanning more than 850 college athletic programs nationwide.
The nonprofit's mission centers on transforming lives through the power of belonging, empowerment, and resilience. By connecting children confronting significant medical challenges with collegiate athletic teams, Team IMPACT addresses a critical need for community and support during some of the most difficult periods of young lives.
The organization's growth over fifteen years reflects both the demand for such programs and the willingness of college athletic departments to embrace these partnerships. From its origins with a single hockey team in Massachusetts, the program has expanded to include teams across multiple sports and institutions throughout the country.
The milestone of matching more than 4,500 children represents thousands of families who have found support networks through college athletic communities. For children managing serious illness and disability, these connections provide opportunities for engagement beyond medical appointments and treatment protocols.
As Team IMPACT marks fifteen years of operation, the Boston-based nonprofit continues to demonstrate how athletic communities can serve purposes beyond competition and performance. The organization's expansion to more than 850 college teams suggests a sustainable model for creating meaningful connections between young people facing health challenges and supportive communities ready to welcome them.