The VOICEINSPORT Foundation’s own Lauren Esrig was recently named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Sports list for 2024. The annual list for North America consists of “all-star athletes, innovative founders and accomplished business individuals defining the future of the industry”. 

Esrig’s work with the VIS Foundation has been instrumental in helping to close the gap for the next generation of girls in sport. The Foundation works to advocate for women and girls in sport through funding research, educating both athletes and administrators on Title IX rights, and elevating girls to use their voices to speak up for change through initiatives and innovative programing.

As Head of Development, Esrig spearheaded the Title IX micro-grant program, which addresses gaps for girls in sport by providing funding as well as demanding schools commit to more education around Title IX. The first of these grants went to Taft Charter High School, who received, thanks to a secured partnership with Champs and Puma, $40,000 to be put towards a complete refurbishment of their girl’s locker room and to make their facilities more equitable. 

Additionally, Esrig sought funding for investments in women-athlete focused studies at both Harvard and Stanford, and helped to secure Adidas as a research partner. VIS Foundation has developed relationships with several partners, many thanks to Esrig’s work with Founder and CEO Stef Strack, including CLIF Bar. CLIF Bar partnered with the VOICEINSPORT Foundation to host Title IX trainings and VIS Foundation Chapters across the country to help girls understand their rights under the law guaranteeing equal access to sport. 

Sophia Smith, USWNT member, also helped bring the partnership to the next level by advocating for equity at the FIFA Women’s World Cup earlier this year when she endorsed the VIS Foundation Side of Equity™ Fund. The Fund exists to close the pay gap for professional athlete women in the sports industry. Smith was named alongside Lauren in the 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 Sports List. Other notable names in women’s sports included Angel Reese, Sha'carri Richardson, and Kate Douglass.

Over half of those recognized are women (18 out of 30), which is a record for Forbes and a representation of the power that we have as girls and women when it comes to using our VOICE to change more than just the game. We are so proud of Lauren and her accomplishments with the VIS Foundation that are making sports more equitable for girls and women around the world.