Let Us Play! Sports Camp

In 1996, with the support of the wives of Jacksonville Jaguars players and coaches, Leah founded Let Us Play!, a four-day celebrity sports camp for teen girls. Held at the University of North Florida in cooperation with the City of Jacksonville, United Way of Northeast Florida, Nike, and the National Football League, the camp used sports to build self-confidence and open pathways to higher education.

Every girl received a t-shirt, new Nike running shoes, and a Play Book created in partnership with Nike. Professional female athletes served as coaches and guest speakers throughout the week. Each camp closed with a banquet hosted by Outback Steakhouse, featuring a guest speaker and a highlight video of the week’s activities.

After the first year, Leah worked with Nike and the NFL to replicate the camp with six other NFL franchises. An independent study later found that the camp had a significant long-term impact on participants. Building on those findings, the Let Us Play! team established an endowed scholarship at the University of North Florida.