What started with one child and one college hockey team in Massachusetts has grown into a national nonprofit linking children facing serious illness and disability with college athletics programs across the country.
Since 2011, Boston-based Team IMPACT has matched more than 4,500 children with college teams across the United States. The group now works with more than 850 colleges and universities in all 50 states and has engaged more than 112,500 student-athletes.
“Fifteen years ago, we set out with a simple but powerful belief that no child should ever be sidelined by illness or disability,” CEO Krissie Kelleher said.
Through Team IMPACT’s multiyear clinical program, children become official members of college athletic teams. They attend practices, games, team dinners and campus events, while building friendships and support systems beyond sports.
The program also gives student-athletes lessons in empathy, leadership and perspective.
One of those athletes is Blake Mesenberg, a hockey player at Miami University in Ohio. He formed what Team IMPACT described as an instant connection with Liam, a 16-year-old with a rare genetic disorder that causes muscle weakness and developmental delays.
Liam’s mother, Melissa, said she has been struck by the changes in her son and by the friendship that has formed.
“Liam knows that no matter what, he can always call Blake and talk to him about anything, even if Blake is home for the holidays or on summer break,” she said.
Melissa said Mesenberg takes an interest in everything Liam is doing, supports him through his medical journey, cheers him on and takes time to see how Liam is feeling.
“Liam has never had a group of friends prior to joining the team, making it hard to have a birthday party. Blake made sure Liam’s 16th birthday was memorable, and Liam still talks about that night months later.”
To mark its 15th anniversary, Team IMPACT said it will roll out national and local activations throughout 2026 to highlight what it described as a growing movement around inclusion in sports.
“Today, we celebrate the incredible community that has made this mission possible , our families, student-athletes, coaches, donors, healthcare partners, and supporters who continue to show what it means to be all in, all together.”
Read more from Good News Network.
