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to the foundation and also on the programs and organizations that we work with," says Wolf Stein. Among Alex Morgan Foundation's first beneficiaries was Let's Go South Bay!, a soccer and empowerment curriculum for girls age 11 to 18. e foundation has now fully funded the program, which provides a free soccer camp for 60 girls at Southwestern College, for a second year, and activates partnerships and facilitates connections to further support the club, from photography and videography to equipment and media. e foundation also operates Alex's Homebreak, a program that hosts youth girls' teams and chaperones at Snapdragon Stadium for San Diego Wave FC home games. A partnership with Rady Children's Hospital and the Rady Children's Hospital Foundation provides funding for programs in patient services not covered by insurance, as well as the development of e Confident Closet, which will debut in 2025. is program, offered through the Chadwick Center for Children and Families at Rady Children's Hospital, will offer children who have experienced trauma brand-new clothing and accessories for a dignified experience and a sense of security as they navigate challenging situations. Most recently, the foundation announced its Coaching Moms Initiative, geared to address the childcare crisis and offer support for high performing women coaches who are also moms. A Hero's Power to Empower ough professional soccer player and San Diego resident Alex Morgan announced her retirement earlier this year, she is far from slowing down. In 2023, the international sports icon created the eponymous Alex Morgan Foundation, extending her ability to make an impact for women and girls long after she walked off the pitch for the last time as a pro this past September. " e mission of the Alex Morgan Foundation is to create equity and opportunity for girls and women on the field and off," says Laura Wolf Stein, the foundation's executive director. "We have three impact pillars, or giving priorities, that are a direct reflection of what Alex cares about most. e first one is sports equity. e second is opportunities for girls, and the third is support for moms, with a particular focus on new moms." Wolf Stein describes the organization as a "grant-plus," where the foundation provides essential funding to programs that exemplify its mission, but also additional resources and guidance, including the involvement of Morgan herself. "She has such a big platform. She reaches and touches so many people. e media pays attention to what she's doing. So we try to utilize that to help shine a light on the issues that matter << COURTESY PHOTOGRAPHY ranchandcoast.com 50 DECEMBER 2024 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE Let's Go South Bay! is a soccer and empowerment program fully funded by the Alex Morgan Foundation