The NBA Foundation is committed to collaborating with a range of nonprofit organizations dedicated to propelling women forward. In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting two powerful initiatives: Power to Girls and Shooting Touch.
Power to Girls
“Power to Girls” participants pose for a photo during a collaborative workshop.
“Power to Girls” strives to empower Black and marginalized girls ages 13-20 in the Greater Toronto area and Ghana. Through personal development, financial literacy, leadership and mental health programs, the organization equips young women with the skills they need to build successful futures. Since its founding in 2013, Power to Girls has mentored over 10,000 girls and continues to impact young lives across the nation.
In partnership with the NBA Foundation, Power to Girls is launching an ongoing series of projects that will run through the first quarter of 2026 and looks to impact more than 500 youth. Aisha Addo, founder of Power to Girls, spoke about the significance of this collaboration.
“The support from the NBA Foundation enables us to scale our programs, enhance our operations, and access valuable resources and training that drive economic empowerment,” Addo said. “This helps us develop essential skills, creating future income opportunities for these young women.”
Having just wrapped up a financial literacy workshop series in February, Addo reported that over 100 girls participated. Looking ahead, the organization is excited to host a mentorship program in June that will engage 300+ girls from across Ontario.
“We’re always looking for mentors,” Addo said. “If you’re a woman who’s passionate about making a difference, reach out to us.”
Shooting Touch
Another NBA Foundation partner, “Shooting Touch,” is an international sports-for-development organization operating in Boston and Rwanda. It aims to address health and opportunity gaps for youth and women facing racial, gender, and economic inequalities through basketball.
“Shooting Touch” participants receive gear, travel accommodations, and access to program resources just by joining.
Ugo Nwaigwe-Hirschman, director of domestic programming and strategy at Shooting Touch, said: “Basketball is our way in, but we have a lot of resources that keep us afloat. Measuring success as retention, we are able to do great work because of basketball.”
In Rwanda, Shooting Touch has positively impacted over 10,000 families, with a strong focus on combating gender-based violence and promoting gender equality. The organization also provides health insurance to families with program participants, ensuring their well-being as they engage in the initiative.
Across its global programs, Shooting Touch runs both fall and spring projects that focus on a wide range of life skills, including financial literacy, effective communication, social media usage, goal setting, accountability and relaxation techniques. These programs aim to empower participants with the tools they need to navigate both their personal and professional lives.
Nwaigwe-Hirschman said the NBA Foundation’s support is key.
“Through the NBA Foundation, we have not only enhanced our AAU basketball program, but we are providing unique opportunities to our youth,” she said. “We bridge the opportunity gap amongst BIPOC girls and we’re able to spread awareness of our brand. We could not do our work without being partnered with organizations that create visibility and credibility for Shooting Touch.
“The NBA Foundation opens the door to new opportunities, endorsements and collaborations and ultimately believes in what we do and that means a lot.”
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Nwaigwe-Hirschman spotlighted one of Shooting Touch’s standout participants, Christina Pham. Pham, a member of Shooting Touch’s AAU team, was recently named the 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year for Massachusetts.
A guard for Noble & Greenough High School, Pham averaged 18.6 points. 5.4 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals and shot 45% on 3-pointers. She has volunteered her time to coach youth in the Shooting Touch program and attended a service mission to Rwanda.
Christina Pham, who plays for Shooting Touch’s AAU team, is Massachusetts’ 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year.
“It’s a testament to who Christina is as a person, but also to our organization,” Nwaigwe-Hirschman said “We are able to develop, foster, guide and mentor someone of that caliber and we get to watch her go on to win such a prestigious award.”
Even better, Pham will be playing collegiate basketball at Fairfield University. She serves as just one example of the thousands of girls Shooting Touch has reached.
“Shooting Touch acknowledges that families have the goal of upward mobility for their daughter and they know by joining our organization their daughter has the opportunity to play high level basketball and with hard work, discipline, and guidance potentially attend a higher level academic institution,” Nwaigwe-Hirschman said. “I’m touched by our community and our girls. They love Shooting Touch so much and I see them becoming more confident young women.”
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