LAURIE M. TISCH ILLUMINATION FUND LAUNCHES $10 MILLION PLAY TO THRIVE INITIATIVE

Initial Grants Support Youth Development, Mental Health, and Equity in Soccer Across New York City

NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Aspen Institute's first ever State of Soccer Summit, philanthropist Laurie M. Tisch announced Play to Thrive, a new $10 million multi-year youth sports and health initiative by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. The initiative will support organizations that use sports to improve youth mental health, expand access for underserved communities, and promote equity across New York City and beyond.

As the nation grapples with rising rates of youth anxiety, depression, loneliness, and chronic illness, research increasingly points to the wide-ranging benefits of physical activity. Sports and play promote not only physical health but also mental and emotional wellbeing. From playgrounds to public parks, they create space for connection, confidence, and joy. But access to sports is not equitable.

"Soccer is more than a game, it's a powerful tool to foster inclusion, leadership, and community," said Laurie M. Tisch, founder and president of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. "But far too many people are left on the sidelines, not because of talent or passion, but because of their zip code and obstacles like cost, infrastructure, and safety. Play to Thrive is about breaking down those barriers so that young people have the chance to thrive through sport."

Ms. Tisch and her family are part of the ownership group of National Women's Soccer League's Gotham FC and have seen the tremendous growth of women's soccer as a driver of social impact. Building on that momentum, the Illumination Fund launches Play to Thrive with four soccer-related grants including:

• State of Soccer New York City/Northern New Jersey
  Led by the Aspen Institute's Project Play, this first sport-specific report will map the youth soccer landscape across NYC and Northern NJ. Guided by an advisory council and youth surveys, it will examine access for girls, free play, coaching, injury prevention, and youth voice. Findings will offer data-driven recommendations to expand participation and will be released in spring 2026 before the FIFA Men's World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium.
  
  
• Keep Her in the Game
  Expanded support to Girls Leadership in partnership with Gotham FC and Dove for the second year of Keep Her in the Game which reached more than 1,700 girls in its first year. The program addresses high dropout rates among adolescent girls by training coaches, supporting parents and caregivers, and connecting participants with Gotham FC players. A new Youth Leadership Council helps girls develop confidence, voice, and agency.
  
  
• Playworks
  A national nonprofit that trains educators to foster positive play and recess experiences, Playworks will expand programming in NYC and NJ public schools. The grant supports professional development, soccer activities, and transportation for school groups to Gotham FC games, with added engagement from players and staff.
  
  
• Street Soccer USA
  Supports the development of a new Street Soccer Park in Queens with two fields, lighting, and a learning center. Designed for youth experiencing poverty and housing instability, the park will offer safe, inclusive play spaces and use trauma-informed coaching and social-emotional learning to build skills and resilience.

Expanding Equity and Well-being

"While our initial grants are focused on youth soccer," said Kira Pritchard, senior program officer at the Illumination Fund, "Play to Thrive is about leveraging the power of all sports and using sport for good. It's about making sure all youth have access to the physical, emotional, and mental health benefits of play."

"At Gotham FC, we believe soccer has the power to bring people together - it's more than a team, it's a pillar of our community," said Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, Governor of Gotham FC. "Through partnerships like Illumination Fund's Play to Thrive, we're proud to create more access and opportunity so that every young person can experience the confidence, connection, and sense of belonging that the game inspires."

From Momentum to Movement

The Play to Thrive initiative builds on the Illumination Fund's nationally recognized Arts in Health initiative, launched in 2018 to address mental health stigma, trauma, and aging-related illness through the arts. "Sports and the arts may look different," Ms. Tisch noted, "but they both create spaces for belonging, joy, and resilience. They're about people, not performance."

"With the FIFA World Cup coming to our region in 2026, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity, not just to host an international event, but to leave a legacy," said Ms. Tisch. "Through Play to Thrive, we're committed to partnering with organizations that use sports, to promote equity, mental health, and opportunity for everyone, not just in stadiums, but in schoolyards and communities across New York City. Let's build a future where everyone has the chance to play, grow, and belong."

About the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund
Based in New York City, the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund is dedicated to expanding access and opportunity for all New Yorkers and fostering healthy, vibrant communities. The Illumination Fund supports innovative approaches across a range of issues with a focus on advancing equity and community well-being. In 2018, the Illumination Fund launched Arts in Health to support organizations using the arts as a tool for healing, connection, and public engagement. The Play to Thrive initiative expands that vision to support programs that use sports to promote youth development and mental health, build a sense of belonging, and improve well-being. It aims to ensure that young people have the opportunity to engage in sports regardless of their zip code, income, or identity.  For more information visit www.thelmtif.org 

SOURCE The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund