{"id":5352,"date":"2024-05-23T11:48:55","date_gmt":"2024-05-23T15:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/?p=5352"},"modified":"2024-07-02T11:40:53","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T15:40:53","slug":"mvps-understanding-the-importance-of-acceptance-through-katy-morgans-game-day-gala-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/mvps-understanding-the-importance-of-acceptance-through-katy-morgans-game-day-gala-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"MVPs: Understanding the Importance of Acceptance Through Katy Morgan\u2019s Game Day Gala Speech"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At the 2024 Game Day Gala, Katy Morgan delivered a heartfelt and emotional speech that focused on the transformative power of Team IMPACT and resonated deeply with everyone present. \u201cAs I share my family\u2019s journey with you,\u201d Katy said, with her husband Adam and children Emma, Daniel, and Edie in the crowd, \u201cI invite you to think about what it truly means to be an MVP not just on the court but in the game of life where every single act of kindness and inclusion makes a monumental difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Katy began by emphasizing the importance of the relationships formed through Team IMPACT. She shared touching stories of the bonds between her daughter Emma and the members of the Wisconsin women\u2019s basketball team, illustrating how these connections offer mutual support and inspiration. \u201cIn Emma\u2019s own journey, marked by courage, perseverance, and unwavering support, Emma has become more than just a sideline participant. She has become an MVP,\u201d Katy said, \u201cand in return, each of her teammates on the Wisconsin women\u2019s basketball team have become MVPs to our entire family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Emma and her teammate Avery<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Katy hugs Edie, Emma, and Daniel<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When Emma was a baby, she was failing to hit milestones at the same pace as her peers. Eventually she was diagnosed with a rare condition called Ververi-Brady syndrome, a condition with only 39 known cases worldwide. Katy recalled a time when Emma was in first grade and a classmate wasn\u2019t treating her very kindly. \u201cYou can imagine my and Adam\u2019s devastation when our sweet, quiet child was crying, and when I asked her what was making her sad, she very, very clearly stated, \u2018Mama, I just want a friend,\u2019\u201d Katy said. In sharing this story with Emma\u2019s geneticist, Katy learned about Team IMPACT. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t have imagined the myriad of ways in which our lives would be forever changed for the better.\u201d Through the Wisconsin basketball team, Emma found a whole team of friends, and Katy found strength and support in community that has uplifted her child, and as a result, her entire family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Katy spoke passionately about how Team IMPACT creates a supportive network where everyone\u2014student-athletes, families, and children\u2014feels valued and understood. This sense of belonging empowers individuals to face their challenges with courage and hope. It has helped her child find her voice, find her team, and find her place of belonging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the crowd heard Katy\u2019s powerful words, she called on everyone present to continue fostering these life-changing relationships and to keep striving to get every kid in the game. Her children Emma, Daniel, and Edie joined her on stage to lead the crowd in a rousing rendition of Emma\u2019s favorite chant with her teammates, \u201cMVP! MVP! MVP!\u201d which was met with a standing ovation from the more than 1,000 Game Day Gala attendees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Emma and her siblings lead an MVP! chant<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Daniel, Edie, Adam, and Emma at the tailgate<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Katy and her Team IMPACT Case Manager Lynn LaRocca<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Katy\u2019s words and her children\u2019s newfound friends-turned-family serve as a powerful reminder that together, we can create lasting, positive change for families like hers and kids like Emma across the country. \u201cAs we reflect of the journey that brought us here to this moment, I\u2019m reminded of the profound impact and kindness every gesture of inclusion has had on the lives of those facing adversity,\u201d Katy said. \u201cTonight, we stand not only as witness to Emma\u2019s transformation into a true MVP embraced by the Wisconsin women\u2019s basketball team and Team IMPACT, but we are also standing here as advocates for a future where every single child regardless of their circumstance has the opportunity to shine just as bright as Emma does.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Katy Morgan\u2019s speech at the Game Day Gala beautifully encapsulates the mission of Team IMPACT. \u201cAs we continue to champion the spirit of unity and support exemplified by Team IMPACT and the Wisconsin women\u2019s basketball team, let us all pledge to be MVPs in our own right, spreading kindness, lifting others up, and making a difference in the lives of those who need it most,\u201d Katy said. As we move forward, let\u2019s carry her message with us\u2014embracing the power of community, celebrating every achievement, and continuing to build meaningful connections that transform lives for all MVPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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