Hamilton Southeastern High School student and Gatorade Indiana Volleyball Player of the Year, Lauren Harden, awarded Mudsock Youth Athletics with a $1,000 grant to support its mission of helping youth in Fishers and the Hamilton Southeastern School district stay physically and mentally healthy by giving them an active outlet to play recreational and competitive team sports. For over 35 years, Mudsock Youth Athletics has strived to promote character development, leadership, and physical fitness through its programming.

Sports have seen a double-digit decline over the past decade, largely due to tighter budgets in communities, but young people that participate in sports are found to be happier, healthier, and better students. As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner.

“The Gatorade Player of the Year award highlights student-athletes who set an example both on and off the field,” said Kara Darling, Assistant Marketing Manager for Gatorade Player of the Year. “The grants give these athletes a chance to donate to organizations like, Mudsock Youth Athletics, that positively impacts the youth in their own communities.”

All 610 Gatorade State Player of the Year recipients are awarded a grant to donate to a social impact partner of their choosing. To date, Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $4.9 million across more than 1,900 organizations.

“We have enjoyed watching Lauren’s development as a volleyball player and as a leader in the high school sports community over the past four years,” said Scott Spillman, Executive Director of Mudsock Youth Athletics. “We couldn’t be prouder of Lauren’s award as Gatorade Indiana Volleyball Player of the Year nor can we think of someone more deserving. Her donation will allow us to continue to support and cultivate the children in community by providing physically active outlets including sports like volleyball.”

Harden shared, “without the city of Fishers and organizations such as the Mudsock Youth Athletics, children wouldn’t be able to find their love for sports while also growing as people and learning important skills like leadership, teamwork, and more. I chose Mudsock Youth Athletics as my grant recipient because I know and believe the impact they have on the youth in Fishers and in the Hamilton Southeastern School district is priceless. I know they will use this grant to continue to bring positive change to the community and lead in the youth sports industry. I am proud to say I chose Mudsock Youth Athletics to receive this donation from Gatorade.”

Gatorade has a longstanding history of serving athlete communities and its ambition is to continue doing more to create positive change.

“I am filled with gratitude and blessed to receive such a high honor as being named Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year and even more grateful that with this award, I was able to give back to my community that has given me so much,” said Harden. “I am extremely grateful my parents were so flexible and patient with helping find the right sport for me and always supporting me. Volleyball has taught me leadership, compassion, grit, humility, and so much more.”

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow the conversation on Twitter #GatoradePOY. For more on Gatorade Player of the Year Community Grants, the Gatorade Player of the Year, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit this link.