WNBA Chicago Sky

Sky Cares Foundation Holds Second Workshop for Girls

Published on June 23, 2008 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Chicago Sky News Release


CHICAGO, June 23, 2008 - The Sky Cares Foundation will hold the second of three workshops for girls ages 10-16 on Saturday, June 28 from 2:30-5:30 at the Medical District Marriott at 625 S. Ashland Avenue. The workshop on Health and Body Image will be lead by award-winning author Jean Kilbourne. The workshop will focus on how women and girls are portrayed in the media and how girls can choose not to accept unhealthy cultural conditioning. The 250+ participants will learn how to take action in their own interests, and to reject unrealistic media images in favor of their own positive self image. Following the workshop, girls will be driven by trolley to the UIC Pavilion where they will be treated to an unforgettable Sky game experience.

Jean Kilbourne is internationally recognized for her pioneering work on alcohol and tobacco advertising and the image of women in advertising. She was named by The New York Times Magazine as one of the three most popular speakers on college campuses. Her book, Can't Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel, was called by Publishers Weekly "a profound work that is required reading for informed consumers." It won the Distinguished Publication Aware from the Association for Women in Psychology. The award- winning films based on her lectures include Killing Us Softly, Spin the Bottle and Slim Hopes. She is a frequent guest on radio and television programs, including The Today Show, On the Record with Bob Costas and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

The June 9 issue of Time Magazine describes a study that supports Kilbourne's approach. According to Time, since 2001, "more than 1,000 high school and college students have participated in the Body Project, which works by getting girls to understand how they have been buying into the notion that you have to be thin to be happy or successful... According to a study in the latest issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, the risk of developing eating disorders was reduced by 61% among Body Project participants."

Carla McGhee, former WNBA great, Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA Champion, kicked off the Learn to Soar series with a workshop on Teamwork and Conflict Resolution, which was held before the Sky game on Saturday, June 7. She shared her inspiring story of overcoming a near fatal car crash to become a legendary basketball player with over 250 girls. The girls watched the stirring documentary "The Heart of the Game" and were lead through a highly- regarded curriculum built around the themes of teamwork, character and conflict resolution.

The third and final workshop will be on Leadership and Goal Setting, before the Sky game on Friday, July 18. It will be led by Julie Foudy, co-captain of the US Women's National Soccer Team for ten years, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA World Champion, now runs a leadership camp for girls. Her workshop will give girls practical leadership tools for their team, school, community and life.

The Sky Cares Foundation supports the Sky's mission of building girls' self-esteem and providing girls and young women with positive mentors. Sky Cares is deeply committed to creating programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive self-image, through education and support

for youth and family development initiatives. Founded in January, 2008, the Sky Cares Foundation's first initiatives are "Give Girls Game" and "Learn to Soar."

The Chicago Sky is one of seven independently-owned teams in the WNBA, the world's longest- running women's professional sports league. The Sky celebrated its inaugural season in 2006, and finished a successful sophomore season with a 14-20 record and guard Armintie Price named WNBA Rookie of the Year. The team chose 6'6" LSU star Sylvia Fowles with the number two pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.chicagosky.net.

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