GSN’s Favorite Player Humanitarian Efforts of 2023

If there is one thing we can be sure about when it comes to girls’ soccer, it is that our favorite players won’t miss any chance to help others and speak up. Many female soccer players shine on and off the field, especially when they showcase their humanitarian efforts to help make the world better. We love celebrating these good deeds and sharing some of last year’s best humanitarian efforts. So here are GSN’s favorite player humanitarian efforts of 2023.

Nadia Nadim

Racing Louisville FC’s star Nadia Nadim is one of the players who didn’t let 2023 pass without using her platform to help others. Nadim didn’t have an easy life as she faced many obstacles and heartbreaking situations, including the execution of her father by the Taliban in 2000. A recent heartbreak was the death of Nadim’s mother last year in November.

Earlier this year, Nadim decided to keep the memory of her mother alive and honor her life by helping others. Therefore, she established the Hadima Nadim Memorial Fund. The fund hopes to help refugee families in Louisville who are led by single mothers. There is no better way to honor Hadima, who fled Afghanistan with her children after the execution of her husband. The family settled at a refugee camp in Denmark, and from there, Nadim discovered soccer. The rest is history.

“My mom really cared about people, and all my life she was always working to help others. She raised five kids alone and did it with grace. Empathy and compassion are qualities she instilled in me, along with being a strong woman — a fighter,” Nadim said describing her mother. We are certain that with this fund, the memory of Hadima will live. Another great thing about the fund is that the gifts they provide will include access for families to Louisville’s soccer camps, equipment, and more.

Lauren Holiday

Former midfielder Lauren Holiday, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup winner, is another player whose humanitarian efforts can’t go unnoticed. In July 2020, Lauren and her husband, Jrue Holiday, established the JLH Social Impact Fund. The fund “support[s] local Black-led non-profit organizations, city-wide initiatives that seek to bring about equitable outcomes for Black and Brown communities, and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) of higher education in New Orleans, the Los Angeles area, and Indianapolis,” according to their website.

“Jrue and I are not good with awards or attention on us. [Neither] of us — that’s not our favorite thing. Really, it’s about the people that we’re helping,” Lauren said to GMA. One thing for sure is that supporting businesses in need, especially during the hard times everyone was going through during the pandemic, is a great cause. The Holidays haven’t stopped their support for minority-owned businesses since then, and we expect more amazing work to be done on their part in the upcoming years.

Sofie Junge Pedersen

Women’s World Cup in 2023 wasn’t just about honoring your country and giving the fans what they want at least not for the Denmark international and Juventus player Sofie Junge Pedersen. Pedersen led the most extensive climate campaign by players ever to be witnessed in football history, and she had 43 players with her. The campaign included donations from the players toward carbon offsetting projects, adaptation initiatives, and climate resilience programs.

“I want to ensure my World Cup experience has a positive environmental legacy. Climate change is the biggest issue humanity faces, and I want to be part of the solution. While there are no current sustainable solutions to aviation, as players, we are setting an example and taking a tangible step in the right direction,” Pedersen said back in July.

“We are not perfect, that is important to say. I do not think anyone in our part of the world can speak up about climate change and the green transition if everybody who does so has to be carbon neutral. Nobody is in our part of the world. But we have to celebrate all climate-friendly actions. That is something we can do and it is important. We want to inspire people,” Pedersen said speaking with Sky Sports. She has certainly inspired us.

Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan is one of these players always speaking up for equality and human rights. This year, the USA player took an extra step in her humanitarian efforts as she established a new foundation based in San Diego’s South Bay. The Alex Morgan Foundation is based in San Diego and hopes to support and empower young girls and women in sports and their lives. In simple words, the Alex Morgan Foundation hopes to create opportunities for those who need it on and off the field.

While the foundation and Morgan’s efforts started with a focus on San Diego, they hope to reach more communities and areas in the future. The foundation’s website shared some of Morgan’s words where she said, “I believe when girls and women have opportunities in life, it leads to transformative change within themselves and their communities.” When someone like Morgan starts making a change, one can hope others will follow in her footsteps.

Rasheedat Ajibade

This year, Nigeria international and Atletico Madrid Femenino forward Rasheedat Ajibade launched her own foundation under the name of Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation. The non-profit organization aims to empower and uplift youth in Nigeria to give back to the player’s community.

Ajibade’s foundation has named its objectives, including empowerment through sports, advocating for gender equality, raising awareness, developing young talent, supporting education, and more. The talented player spoke about the foundation and what it means to her. “The Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation is my heartfelt commitment to giving back to my community and country. I believe that through sports, education, and advocacy, we can create a brighter future for boys and girls in Nigeria. Together, we can break down barriers and empower them to achieve their dreams,” Ajibade said. When players use their platforms to help and elevate others through humanitarian efforts, we can’t help but fall in love with this sport even more.

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