Phillies Urban Youth Academy celebrates ‘National Girls & Women in Sports Day’ with special panel discussion and softball clinic event

On Thursday, Feb. 2, the Phillies Urban Youth Academy (UYA) and female leaders from the team’s front office celebrated National Girls & Women in Sports Day by hosting an exclusive behind-the-scenes event for nearly 50 UYA and local Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) softball players, coaches and parents.

The event featured a moderated session where participants learn from women working in the team’s front office, who talked about their experiences in sports, career paths, job and more. Panelists included Phillies Vice President of Administration Kathy Killian, Director of Special Events Leila Graham-Willis, Associate Counsel Elina Doolabh and Season and Group Sales Representative Shannon Profy. Following the discussion, RBI softball players focused on their softball skills and took part in an interactive softball clinic led by UYA staff in the Phillies indoor batting tunnels and surrounding areas.

National Girls & Women in Sports Day began in 1987 as a special day in the nation’s capital to recognize women’s sports. The day united premiere organizations and elite female athletes to bring national attention to the promise of girls and women in sports.

Photos by Tom Briglia/Philadelphia Phillies