{"id":5974,"date":"2024-09-19T17:17:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T21:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/?p=5974"},"modified":"2024-09-30T16:33:32","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T20:33:32","slug":"we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Every Child has a Story: Mitchell and the University of Minnesota Football Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Team IMPACT, we believe in the transformative power of connection and community. A true example of this is the story of Mitchell, a six-year-old boy who was matched with the University of Minnesota football team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" data-id=\"5984\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-124.jpg?resize=800%2C601&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5984\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-124-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C769&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-124-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-124-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-124-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1153&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-124-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1537&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-124-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-124-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" data-id=\"5983\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-143-2.jpg?resize=800%2C601&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5983\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-143-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C769&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-143-2-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-143-2-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-143-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1153&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-143-2-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1537&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-143-2-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-143-2-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Meet Mitchell<\/strong><br>Mitchell is a bright, energetic young boy with a passion for life and enthusiasm for adventure. At just six years old, he has faced significant health challenges. After birth, Mitchell\u2019s parents started to notice missed milestones and soon discovered that he had suffered an in-utero stroke. Shortly thereafter, Mitchell was diagnosed with a very rare condition called Gould Syndrome and spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.&nbsp;He has undergone multiple surgeries and continues to receive regular medical care that can be both daunting and overwhelming for Mitchell and his family, however, Mitchell\u2019s spirit is unbreakable. Supported by his family, he approaches life with optimism and courage, inspiring everyone around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mitchell\u2019s family has always been a pillar of support, nurturing his dreams and helping him navigate the challenges of his condition. They believe in the importance of community, and through Team IMPACT, they found a way to expand their support system in a meaningful way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A New Family: The University of Minnesota Football Team<\/strong><br>When Mitchell was matched with the University of Minnesota football team, a new chapter began. From the very first meeting, it was clear that this would be a special bond. The players embraced Mitchell wholeheartedly, welcoming him into their family. They made it a priority to ensure he felt included and valued, not just as a fan but as a teammate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"769\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"5976\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-281-1.jpg?resize=769%2C1024&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5976\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-281-1-scaled.jpg?resize=769%2C1024&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 769w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-281-1-scaled.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-281-1-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1023&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-281-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1153%2C1536&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1153w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-281-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1537%2C2048&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1537w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-281-1-scaled.jpg?w=1921&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1921w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-281-1-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"818\" data-id=\"6103\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mitchell_Indoor-Scavenger-Hunt-1.jpg?resize=800%2C818&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6103\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mitchell_Indoor-Scavenger-Hunt-1.jpg?resize=1001%2C1024&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1001w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mitchell_Indoor-Scavenger-Hunt-1.jpg?resize=293%2C300&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 293w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mitchell_Indoor-Scavenger-Hunt-1.jpg?resize=768%2C786&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Mitchell_Indoor-Scavenger-Hunt-1.jpg?w=1290&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1290w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mitchell quickly became a source of joy for all the players. His determination and resilience encouraged them to push through their own challenges. They found meaning in sharing their training routines with him and loved having him cheer them on during games. Mitchell\u2019s infectious smile and laughter became a regular presence at practices and games, reminding everyone of the importance of teamwork and support. \u201c<strong>We call it his&nbsp;superpower, his smile<\/strong>,&#8221; Mitchell&#8217;s mom, Jessie, said. Mitchell\u2019s brother, Garrett, has been fully embraced by the team as well, making visits to the UMN facilities a full family affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mutual IMPACT<\/strong><br>The relationship between Mitchell and the Minnesota football team has been nothing short of transformative. For Mitchell, the experience has provided him with confidence in new situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" data-id=\"5986\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-88-2.jpg?resize=800%2C601&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5986\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-88-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C769&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-88-2-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-88-2-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-88-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1153&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-88-2-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1537&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-88-2-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-88-2-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Jessie shared, \u201cFrom a sensory piece it\u2019s really helped him acclimate. There are lots of sounds, different faces, and he is growing to trust people. The football guys &#8212; they\u2019re tall, and he\u2019s tiny. But he\u2019s comfortable with them. He\u2019s become more comfortable with other people pushing him and it gives him more confidence being on his own or expressing how he feels in that moment.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>It\u2019s hard to walk through a crowd and not have everyone stare. But we\u2019ve never felt that from the team. It wasn\u2019t just one person who hung out with us. Every single player made an effort. He\u2019s aware of inclusion or not. He\u2019s social that he wants to be included in every conversation.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mitchell now sees himself as part of a larger community, surrounded by athletes who genuinely care for him. The players have become role models in his life, teaching him about perseverance, teamwork, and the importance of following one\u2019s dreams despite their obstacles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" data-id=\"5990\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-192-2.jpg?resize=800%2C601&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5990\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-192-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C769&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-192-2-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-192-2-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-192-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1153&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-192-2-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1537&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-192-2-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-192-2-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" data-id=\"5991\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-194.jpg?resize=800%2C601&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5991\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-194-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C769&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-194-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-194-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-194-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1153&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-194-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1537&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-194-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-194-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the flip side, the athletes have also experienced profound change. Through their interactions with Mitchell, they\u2019ve learned valuable lessons about empathy, resilience, and the impact of kindness. They understand that their actions can inspire others, and they\u2019ve embraced their role as mentors and supporters in his life. The team has rallied around Mitchell, forging a bond that extends beyond the football field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Mitchell\u2019s parents, the experience has also been transformative. Jessie said, <strong>\u201cWhen you have a kid that is non-verbal, non-mobile, seeing your kid\u2019s name on a college football locker it\u2019s kind of mind-blowing. Then we saw his jersey with Starken on the back you know it\u2019s official he\u2019s officially part of the team.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We can\u2019t wait to see what is in store for Mitchell and the Gophers this season and for many years beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-320.jpg?resize=800%2C601&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5975\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-320-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C769&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-320-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-320-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-320-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1153&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-320-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1537&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-320-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-320-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we continue to match children with teams across the country, we are reminded of the incredible impact that these relationships can have. Mitchell\u2019s story is just one of many that showcases how love, support, and friendship can change lives. We are proud to celebrate the incredible bond between Mitchell and the Minnesota football team and look forward to witnessing the continued growth of their inspiring relationship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At Team IMPACT, we believe in the transformative power of connection and community. A true example of this is the story of Mitchell, a 6-year old boy who was matched with the University of Minnesota football team. This partnership has not only changed Mitchell\u2019s life but has also left a lasting impact on the athletes and the entire athletic community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":5977,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[33,17,18],"tags":[],"mens-teams":[],"class_list":["post-5974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-match-stories","category-success-stories","category-updates"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Every Child has a Story: Mitchell and the University of Minnesota Football Team - Team IMPACT<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Every Child has a Story: Mitchell and the University of Minnesota Football Team - Team IMPACT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"At Team IMPACT, we believe in the transformative power of connection and community. A true example of this is the story of Mitchell, a 6-year old boy who was matched with the University of Minnesota football team. This partnership has not only changed Mitchell\u2019s life but has also left a lasting impact on the athletes and the entire athletic community.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Team IMPACT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GoTeamIMPACT\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-09-19T21:17:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-09-30T20:33:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-256-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1921\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Katie DePaolo\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@GoTeamIMPACT\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@GoTeamIMPACT\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Katie DePaolo\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/about\\\/blog\\\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/about\\\/blog\\\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Katie DePaolo\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a83bc3e15e1ed8dd27d63d62074b8525\"},\"headline\":\"Every Child has a Story: Mitchell and the University of Minnesota Football Team\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-19T21:17:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-09-30T20:33:32+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/about\\\/blog\\\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":793,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/about\\\/blog\\\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-256-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1921&quality=89&ssl=1\",\"articleSection\":[\"Match Stories\",\"Success Stories\",\"Updates\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/about\\\/blog\\\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/about\\\/blog\\\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\\\/\",\"name\":\"Every Child has a Story: Mitchell and the University of Minnesota Football Team - Team IMPACT\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/about\\\/blog\\\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/about\\\/blog\\\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-256-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1921&quality=89&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-19T21:17:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-09-30T20:33:32+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/about\\\/blog\\\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/about\\\/blog\\\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/about\\\/blog\\\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-256-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1921&quality=89&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-256-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1921&quality=89&ssl=1\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1921},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/about\\\/blog\\\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Every Child has a Story: Mitchell and the University of Minnesota Football Team\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/\",\"name\":\"Team IMPACT\",\"description\":\"Getting All Kids In The Game\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Team IMPACT\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/04\\\/logo-outline.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/04\\\/logo-outline.svg\",\"width\":782,\"height\":905,\"caption\":\"Team IMPACT\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/GoTeamIMPACT\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/GoTeamIMPACT\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/team-impact-inc-\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/goteamimpact\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/TeamIMPACTVIDEOS\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.teamimpact.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a83bc3e15e1ed8dd27d63d62074b8525\",\"name\":\"Katie DePaolo\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Every Child has a Story: Mitchell and the University of Minnesota Football Team - Team IMPACT","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Every Child has a Story: Mitchell and the University of Minnesota Football Team - Team IMPACT","og_description":"At Team IMPACT, we believe in the transformative power of connection and community. A true example of this is the story of Mitchell, a 6-year old boy who was matched with the University of Minnesota football team. This partnership has not only changed Mitchell\u2019s life but has also left a lasting impact on the athletes and the entire athletic community.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/","og_site_name":"Team IMPACT","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GoTeamIMPACT\/","article_published_time":"2024-09-19T21:17:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-09-30T20:33:32+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1921,"url":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-256-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Katie DePaolo","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@GoTeamIMPACT","twitter_site":"@GoTeamIMPACT","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Katie DePaolo","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/"},"author":{"name":"Katie DePaolo","@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/#\/schema\/person\/a83bc3e15e1ed8dd27d63d62074b8525"},"headline":"Every Child has a Story: Mitchell and the University of Minnesota Football Team","datePublished":"2024-09-19T21:17:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-09-30T20:33:32+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/"},"wordCount":793,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-256-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1921&quality=89&ssl=1","articleSection":["Match Stories","Success Stories","Updates"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/","name":"Every Child has a Story: Mitchell and the University of Minnesota Football Team - Team IMPACT","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-256-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1921&quality=89&ssl=1","datePublished":"2024-09-19T21:17:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-09-30T20:33:32+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-256-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1921&quality=89&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-256-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1921&quality=89&ssl=1","width":2560,"height":1921},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/we-every-child-has-a-story-mitchell-and-the-university-of-minnesota-football-team\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Every Child has a Story: Mitchell and the University of Minnesota Football Team"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/","name":"Team IMPACT","description":"Getting All Kids In The Game","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/#organization","name":"Team IMPACT","url":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/logo-outline.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/logo-outline.svg","width":782,"height":905,"caption":"Team IMPACT"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GoTeamIMPACT\/","https:\/\/x.com\/GoTeamIMPACT","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/team-impact-inc-\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/goteamimpact\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/TeamIMPACTVIDEOS"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/#\/schema\/person\/a83bc3e15e1ed8dd27d63d62074b8525","name":"Katie DePaolo"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Team-Impact-Minnesota-2024-256-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1921&quality=89&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5974"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5974\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5974"},{"taxonomy":"mens-teams","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/mens-teams?post=5974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}