Columbia Athletics announced on April 30 an official partnership with Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit that connects children facing serious illness and disability with college athletic teams. The collaboration formalizes a longstanding relationship between the two organizations and aims to expand the program’s reach within Columbia’s campus and athletic community.
The initiative is significant as it seeks to foster inclusion, community, and service by integrating children into varsity teams. Peter Pilling, Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education, said, “This partnership reflects the values at the heart of Columbia Athletics: community, inclusion, and service. We are proud of the relationships we’ve built through Team IMPACT and look forward to expanding our involvement and welcoming even more children into our teams.”
According to Columbia Athletics, more than 15 children have already been welcomed through Team IMPACT matches. These matches allow children to become part of varsity teams where they can gain confidence, support, and a sense of belonging. The expanded partnership aims for at least 80 percent of Columbia University’s varsity sports teams to be matched with children through Team IMPACT in the coming years.
Krissie Kelleher, CEO of Team IMPACT, said, “We’re excited to deepen our partnership with Columbia University. The Columbia community has already shown a strong commitment to our mission, and together we can create more opportunities for children and student-athletes to experience the power of belonging and team.” To further raise awareness for this effort, Team IMPACT Awareness Day will take place on Saturday, May 2 during a softball game between Columbia Softball team and Harvard.
Team IMPACT was founded in 2011. Its multiyear program signs children onto college athletic teams nationwide based on a clinical model focused on socialization, empowerment, resilience building confidence and independence among participants.
