Bandits entertain golfers @ Girls in the Game outing

At the 10^th Annual Chip In for Girls Charity Golf Outing in Wheeling, Ill., members of the Chicago Bandits took off their mitts to extend a helping hand for Girls in the Game, an organization that promotes the values of physical activity and leadership that the current Elgin squad demonstrates daily.

Imagine this scenario: It’s the bottom of the seventh inning, down one run with two outs and a runner at third. For the Bandits, it’s a textbook pressure situation that these women face on countless occasions. With the support of teammates, excited fans, and self confidence, these women are able to tackle some of the toughest competition in the NPF.

Girls in the Game (the benefactor of the outing) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide athletic opportunities as well as nutrition training, in hopes to promote a healthy life for girls. Teenage girls in America today face far different pressures than driving in that game-tying run. They seek respite in an altruistic organization providing a chance for hundreds of teen girls to lace up and play in a summer sports camp that actively seeks to conquer the off the field opponents; issues of violence, obesity, inactivity and poor nutrition in young women.

The Bandits joined other professional women’s sports teams in Chicago – the Force (football), Sky (basketball), and Red Stars (soccer) – to provide active entertainment at various holes along the course in hopes of raising money for Girls in the Game and garnering interest in both the Bandits and women’s athletics everywhere.

With nearly 150 participants golfing from the professional, medical, health and fitness sectors, the Bandits set up a high excitement bean bag toss game at the first tee. While they baked in the toasty 90+ degree weather, the Bandits stayed focused, keeping in mind the real reason for being out there.

“One of the unique things about Girls in the Game is we take sports and fitness opportunities and we combine that with health education for girls—nutrition, body image and leadership development—and bring it together to make programs that address the whole girl,” said Amy Skeen, Executive Director of Girls in the Game.

Bandits’ staff members Brooke, Gail and Katie joined mascot Bandit for an afternoon at Traditions at The Chevy Chase Golf Course. The true pressure of the day then was actually the persistence of the message to young girls that there is truly no obstacle too high to hurdle.

Well, that, and sinking that short putt.