Sport for Good Chicago Hosts Second Annual Award Ceremony Honoring Local Youth Sports Champions

CHICAGO (Nov. 5, 2026) – Laureus USA’s Sport for Good Chicago coalition held its annual Sport for Good Chicago Honors Wednesday, November 4 at the Ramova Theatre on Chicago’s South Side. The celebration highlights the work of local sports-based youth development (SBYD) professionals including coaches, program directors, and others working to provide sports programming for Chicago’s youth.

“The Sport for Good Chicago Honors is our way of recognizing, thanking, and honoring the people who devote themselves to using the power of sport to uplift Chicago’s young people,” said Amy Mummery, City Director of Sport for Good Chicago at Laureus USA. “This is the only event in Chicago that brings together coaches, community leaders, funders, and partners from across the city to not just recognize the impact of their work, but the relationships, collaboration, and shared commitment that make this community so powerful. It’s a chance to celebrate one another and the joy of what we’re building together.”

Please see below for a full list of winners:

Coach of the Year: Celebrating a coach who exemplifies the impact and power of sports-based youth development.
Winner: Rafiat Yarrow, Girls in the Game
Finalists: Ernesto Alvarez (America SCORES Chicago), Vianca Fisher (Black Girls Jump), Elizabeth Luna (Chicago Park District), Camille Joy Powell (Peace Runners 773)

Rookie of the Year: Celebrating an emerging leader making a meaningful impact in their community.
Winner: Douglas Wren, Chicago Run
Finalists: Yareht Arguela (Urban Initiatives), Raul Dominguez (Beyond the Ball), Andrew Inglam (BreakThrough)

Team Player of the Year: Celebrates a Leadership Council member or a Working Group member who brings dedication, positivity, and the spirit of collaboration to their role in Sport for Good Chicago.
Winner: Alecia Ivery, The Obama Foundation
Finalists: Ivan Ortega (Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport), Cathy Yen (Beat the Streets Chicago)

Community Impact Award: Recognizing an organization leading the way in using sport to uplift entire communities.
Winner: Gary Comer Youth Center
Finalists: Jumping Juniors, Peace Runners 773

Rookie Organization of the Year: Honoring a new organization already making a meaningful difference in the SBYD field.
Winner: Con Ganas Run Club
Finalists: The Eve Fries Foundation

The Spirit of Sport for Good Chicago: Honoring collaborations, community events, or programs that embody the values of Sport for Good Chicago
Winners: Adaptive Bike Camping, Great Lake Games, Hoops in the Hood, North Lawndale Athletic & Recreation Association

Our 2026 Sport for Good Chicago Hall of Fame Inductees: Andrea Johnson, April Lillstrom (Urban Initiatives), Ben Schornack (Laureus USA), Cooper Thompson, Derrick Faulkner (Chicago Park District), Jamison Merrill (UIC), Jessica Mater (America SCORES Chicago)

The Sport for Good Chicago Honors was created and organized by Laureus USA’s Sport for Good Chicago coalition to highlight the work that SBYD professionals do all year. The individuals and organizations that dedicate themselves to the betterment of Chicago’s youth all believe in the transformative power of sport.

About Sport for Good Chicago
Sport for Good Chicago is a coalition of over 1,500 individuals and 140 organizations committed to using sports-based youth development as a lever for social change. Formed in 2018, the Coalition is powered by volunteers and Laureus USA to improve the lives of youth and unite communities through sport. Membership in the Coalition is free and open to anyone who believes in the power of sport to enrich our children and our city. For more information, visit Sport for Good Chicago’s website.