For some, Sunday’s 2023 Los Angeles Marathon was more than an opportunity to run — it was a chance to create opportunities for other runners.
Empowering Leadership in Latina Athletes, for example, participated at the event on March 19 to raise funds to pay for for sports equipment for local schools.
The group, established in 2019, seeks to level the playing field for Latina athletes — who aren’t always equally represented in collegiate athletics, according to ELLA co-founder Patty Godoy.
“We know that as girls continue in their journey, when they want to get serious about playing in college,” Godoy said, “there are fewer girls of color represented.”
Godoy added: ”ELLA, meanwhile, works to ensure that young Latina women and girls are encouraged to participate in sports early — and stick with them later in life.”
The group also encourages collegiate athletes to pursue education and leadership skills, Godoy said, so they can have a career post-university.
“We want to make sure they have leadership skills that enable them to be successful,” Godoy said.
ELLA also does community outreach — including staffing a table at the marathon on Sunday — to boost underserved schools.
“This is one of the reasons why we’re doing the LA Marathon fundraising,” Godoy said, “so we can go back and give equipment to local high schools.”
To help raise money, Godoy and a group of about 40 participated in the half marathon Sunday.
“We’re very thankful for everybody that is here fundraising,” Godoy said, “And we hope that they continue to help us because there are a lot of inequalities that are out there in sports community want to level.”
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