SIMONE BILES CHAMPIONING CHANGE
BEYOND THE PODIUM
SIMONE BILES CHAMPIONING CHANGE BEYOND THE PODIUM
This year the world celebrated Simone Biles’ triumphant return to the Olympics, where her performance in Paris made her the most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast in history with 11 medals. All the while, Simone was championing a cause close to her heart — Friends of the Children. Off the mat, Simone has shown unwavering support for Friends of the Children and leveraged her platform to amplify our work, particularly around empowering youth and families impacted by foster care and mental health challenges.
It is my hope that everyone who needs a ‘Friend’ can have a Friend so they, too, can be fearless, courageous, achieve their big dreams, and have fun while doing it.
– Simone Biles
Simone’s personal experiences with foster care and mental health have fueled her passion for advocacy and to be a voice for youth facing these big challenges. Her partnership with Friends of the Children is deeply personal and has grown tremendously, rooted in her belief in the power of mentorship to create lasting change in the lives of the children and families we serve. Over the years, Simone has worked directly with youth in our program, hosting virtual gymnastics stretching sessions and inviting youth to her hometown gym in Spring, Texas. These moments of connection have inspired youth to dream big, and have showed them that their circumstances do not define their potential or their ability to reach goals.
Simone’s advocacy reached new heights in December 2023 when she appeared on CNN Heroes: Sharing the Spotlight special. In an interview with Alisyn Camerota, Simone shared her personal story and discussed her work with Friends of the Children. “It’s a part of who I am, and I wouldn’t be here without that part. And hopefully those kids out there listening get to be like, Wow, I can be somebody, and this doesn’t have to hold me back,’’ says Simone. “You can still dream big and do amazing things.”
Her influence extended to print media when she was featured on the cover of the February 2024 issue of Vanity Fair. In the article, Simone discussed her advocacy for youth in foster care and her partnership with Friends of the Children. This high-profile feature brought further visibility to our long-term commitment to every child in our program as we work to prevent foster care. Read the article here.
That same month, Simone hosted the Simone Biles International Invitational and together with Friends of the Children, World Champions Centre, and GK, she launched an exclusive Heart of Friendship leotard and stuffed animal turtle, both featuring Simone’s authentic signature and with all proceeds benefiting our organization. The incredible design of these items, including the Friends of the Children logo, symbolized hope, support, and friendship and we are grateful to Simone and her team for capturing the spirit of our program so beautifully.
Our collaboration with Simone continued with a public service announcement (PSA) narrated by Simone, which aired across the Warner Brothers Discovery networks. The spot highlighted how Friends of the Children empowers children facing significant obstacles to achieve their dreams. This PSA aired across more than 40 nationwide channels reaching millions as we honored the Friends of the Children’s 30th anniversary.
In August, the New York Times featured Simone Biles and spotlighted her work with Friends of the Children. The story details how Simone continues to empower youth in the program to dream big. Program Manager and Professional Mentor, Anders Allison from Friends – Austin said it best: Simone shares her own story and “makes the kids believe that they could do anything, like she has done.” Read the article here.
As we celebrate Simone Biles’ historic victories at the 2024 Paris Olympics, we also celebrate her unwavering dedication to Friends of the Children. Her support has been nothing short of transformative. Simone’s dedication to our mission, her willingness to share her personal journey, and her efforts to engage with youth and families in our program have changed thousands of lives. Thank you to Simone for choosing Friends of the Children to be part of her legacy and for being a beacon of hope and a true champion for children on and off the mat.
