Lewis wins grant for Play Like Robert Foundation

by Scott Sacry

Olivia Lewis of Corvallis won the 2024 Montana Gatorade Player of the Year for women’s track and field on June 26. On August 2, Lewis took this already exceptional individual achievement and enhanced its significance by winning a contest that awarded the Play Like Robert Foundation $11,000 in grants from Gatorade.

Nationwide, there are over 600 “Gatorade Player of the Year” winners each year in 12 sports categories. Each of these winners is given a $1,000 grant to give to a worthy organization of their choice. When Lewis won the award, she chose the Play Like Robert Foundation to receive her $1000 grant. 

Additionally, the winners are encouraged to submit a short video explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support for a chance to win a $10,000 spotlight grant. Gatorade chooses one organization from each of the 12 sports categories to receive this grant.

Lewis made a video highlighting the Play Like Robert Foundation, explaining why they deserved the additional support. Someone at Gatorade agreed with her, and, as was the case in her track career in Corvallis, Lewis won. 

Because of her video, Gatorade awarded the Play Like Robert Foundation a $10,000 spotlight grant. At the Runner’s Clinic for the 2024 Robert’s Run on August 2, Lewis presented the foundation with the original $1,000 grant. She had an additional surprise for the foundation and audience.

“Everyone knew about the video I submitted and I had people asking me all week if I had won it,” said Lewis. “I wanted to surprise everyone with the news about the $10,000 grant so when I was presenting the $1,000 award at the Runner’s Clinic, I waited until after we took a picture with the check and announced that I recently got a call from Gatorade regarding my video and I won the grant. Seeing everyone’s excitement made me so happy, and it is a moment I will never forget.” 

“We were blown away,” said Alyce Leonardi, Play Like Robert Foundation’s President and Robert’s mother. “Olivia is selfless. She is the type of person you want to be around – hardworking, kind, with an infectious smile. To be awarded $1,000 is one thing but to be given an additional $10,000 is out of this world. I kept repeating to myself … ‘She picked us, she picked us’. Robert’s Run 2024 was successful but her award put us over the top.” 

“As with all Gatorade Player of the Year award winners, Olivia has demonstrated exemplary character,” said Josh Lytel, Associate Marketing Manager for Gatorade Player of the Year. “Her short video illustrated the role that the Play Like Robert Foundation has had in fostering that character. Our vision is that organizations like the Play Like Robert Foundation continue to positively impact the kids of the future.”

“The Leonardi family and the Play Like Robert Foundation are a big part of how I was able to receive the Gatorade Player of the Year award,” said Lewis. “They have taught me the importance of trying your best even when you don’t know what the outcome will be. They have done so much for my community. I am so fortunate to have this opportunity to finally give something back to them; they deserve all of the support they can get.”

Robert A. Leonardi was tragically killed in a hit-and-run collision in 2019 at the age of nine. Out of this tragedy came the Play Like Robert Foundation, a non-profit organization that engages in charitable and educational activities and connects people through learning, play, and the courage to try. The Foundation supports charitable organizations in the community, creates engaging environments for children to get active, and supports educational systems and resources.

For more information about the Play Like Robert Foundation, visit www.playlikerobert.org.