September 3, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Chicago Red Stars News Release
CHICAGO – Chicago Red Stars midfielder, Cari Roccaro, is the club’s nominee for the 2024 Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide, the Red Stars announced today. All 14 nominees announced by the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) today will receive recognition for outstanding service and character off the pitch.
Newly reformatted to shine a greater light on players who are making a difference in their communities, the Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide, honors the ongoing example of excellence and commitment set by the two-time Olympic gold medalist, FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian ESPY Award.
Midfielder Cari Roccaro receives the Chicago Red Stars nomination for her ongoing work with the Chicago chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Chicago). Openly sharing her own struggles with mental health has made Roccaro a dedicated advocate for the importance of mental health in athletes. As an NWSL player, Roccaro played a key role in enshrining mental health leave in the collective bargaining agreement between the NWSL and the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA). Outside of the league, Roccaro also hosts her own podcast, Butterfly Road, which aims to destigmatize conversations about mental health in sports. Recently, Roccaro took part in the Chicago Sky’s “Block the Negativity, Post Up Positivity,” panel on mental health covering the intersection of social media, female athletes, and mental health outcomes.
“I’m incredibly excited to partner with NAMI Chicago again and make an impact in a space that is so personal to me,” said Roccaro. “Everyone can benefit from better mental health resources, and it’s awesome knowing that I’ve been able to play a role in helping NAMI make a bigger difference in people’s lives by sharing a bit of my story and giving others hope for the future.”
In keeping with the spirit of the award, the Chicago Red Stars and Roccaro partnered with NAMI Chicago to promote ‘Ending the Silence,’ a collaborative program with Boys and Girls Club of Chicago. ‘Ending the Silence’ aims to break down stigmas around mental healthcare and provide young people with resources for maintaining their mental health. Roccaro shared her personal mental health journey and took questions from participants about how she has used her platform…