Atlanta Dream Owner To Present CARE Award

By Rose Scott

Atlanta, GA –
Today is the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day.
The Atlanta based global organization CARE will pay tribute to women considered myth busters women who defy the odds.
WABE's Rose Scott has this report on how Atlanta Dream owner Kathy Betty is involved with the weeklong celebration.

The correlation between playing basketball and empowering women shouldn't sound bizarre.
In fact, it was the sport that paved the way for Peninah Nthenya Musyimi
She describes her life of poverty, "we grew up in a family that was very, very poor indeed, that we could not afford amenities, we couldn't afford to go to school."

The only way out of the slums was for Peninah to play basketball and earn a scholarship.
Now a lawyer Peninah founded Safe Spaces, an organization in the Eastlands of Nairobi, Kenya.
It's a place for girls to learn life skills as well a jump shot.
Kathy Betty says Peninah's story is powerful and encouraging.
Betty is one of the owners of Atlanta's WNBA team, the Atlanta Dream.

She finds a common thread in how sports can impact a girl's life regardless where on the planet she lives, "we share the same passion, we understand how important sports can be in a young girl's life"

Betty will present Peninanh with CARE's "I am Powerful Award" in Washington D.C.

Rose Scott, WABE news.