The Let Me Play Luncheon drew 600-plus attendees and raised $100,000. |
Fifth Annual Let Me Play Luncheon Draws $100,000 for Women's Athletics
Charlotte, N.C. – Charlotte’s “Let Me Play Luncheon” celebrates the role that athletics plays in the lives of young women, and the influence of intercollegiate sports in their personal development. This year’s event generated $100,000 and attracted a record 600-plus attendees from the Charlotte area.
Charlotte’s 5th Annual “Let Me Play Luncheon” was held on November 12 at The Westin Hotel in Uptown Charlotte. Former women’s soccer all-American Lindsey Beam Ozimek served as this year’s keynote speaker.
Ozimek returned to the Queen City following a tremendous career with the Niners which culminated in her being named an all-American, both on the field and in the classroom, while most recently being named a finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
“I know I am a better person standing here in front of you because I was a student-athlete at Charlotte,” said Ozimek, who earned the Atlantic 10 Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award. “Through my experience I gained many important qualities by balancing school and athletics: time-management, teamwork, punctuality, leadership, dedication, determination, perseverance, commitment, acceptance of diversity, mental toughness, how to fight until there is nothing left to give – and still never give up, to name a few.”
Created in 2004, “Let Me Play” is intended to attract and mobilize influential women throughout the Charlotte community in an effort to illustrate the importance athletics can play in the development of young women.
“I am so thrilled with the results of the Let Me Play Luncheon. In difficult times, the event brought out the best in people as they opened their hearts and their pocketbooks to support young women. We are fortunate to have such wonderful and generous individuals in our community,” said Director of Athletics Judy Rose about the event. “We are also extremely grateful to the many corporate sponsors who made this event so successful.”
Women’s sports at Charlotte have put together tremendous success in recent years with the women’s soccer team winning three A-10 titles, softball winning the 2006 A-10 regular season crown and the women’s track team winning every A-10 team title since the 49ers inception into the conference.
“Playing softball in college has been an amazing experience. I have learned how to work hard and manage my time. I am much more disciplined than I have ever been and I have learned to never give up no matter the circumstances,” said senior softball player Jenny Rumbles about the impact of intercollegiate athletics on her life.
Outside of the athletes, coaches and administration in attendance, noted dignitaries at the event included Ann Donovan (coach of the USA National team that won gold in Beijing), long-time Charlotte supporter Dale Halton and UNC Charlotte First Lady Lisa Lewis Dubois. Felicia Hall Allen, CEO of Felicia Hall Allen & Associates and Kelly Chopus, the Director of Community Relations for Goodrich Corporation, served as the Co-Chairpeople of the event.
Also in attendance were Ruth Shaw (Chairperson of the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees) and Martha Woodward (wife of former UNC Charlotte Chancellor Jim Woodward.)
Plans for the sixth annual Let Me Play event are in the works for November 2009.
