When Gianna Cutaia was accepted into the Team IMPACT Fellowship program in spring of 2022, she was playing lacrosse at Penn State, where her team was matched with then-12-year-old Abigail. Abigail is from Lititz, PA, and lives with cystic fibrosis. She joined the Penn State lacrosse team through Team IMPACT in 2020.
From their first meeting, Abby and her teammates had an immediate connection. Over the next few years, they grew together, connecting as often as possible, even during the pandemic. Abby learned more about lacrosse, remained optimistic through the challenges of her diagnosis, and gained an entire team of role models and big sisters. Her teammates honored her and celebrated her contributions to their lacrosse program when she graduated from Team IMPACT at Senior Day at the end of the 2022 season.
It is because of Abby and her contributions to Penn State lacrosse that Gianna wanted to do more, which lead her to the Team IMPACT Fellowship program. After two more years at Penn State and two years as a Team IMPACT Fellow, Gianna decided to transfer to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte—and bring Team IMPACT with her.
By the time Gianna became a student-athlete at UNC Charlotte, the athletic department had already had eight Team IMPACT teammates signed to its rosters, but none to the women’s lacrosse program. That all changed when eight-year-old Lissy joined the team. Lissy lives with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumors. She signed with the UNC Charlotte women’s lacrosse team in the fall of 2024, and immediately, Lissy and Gianna knew this was where they were both meant to be.
“Bringing Team IMPACT to Charlotte has been an incredible experience. When I joined Charlotte, I knew I wanted Team IMPACT to be a part of our program. From the moment I introduced the idea, the entire team was thrilled about the possibility of partnering with a Team IMPACT match in our first year,” Gianna said. “When we found out Lissy would be joining our team, the excitement was immeasurable. Since that day, we’ve been building a strong bond with her and her family. Whether it’s spending time with her or seeing her in the stands at our games, proudly holding her signs, she’s become an integral part of our team. This relationship has been truly special, and I’m looking forward to seeing our connection with Lissy continue to grow. It’s been an unreal experience, and we’re so grateful to have her as part of our team family.”
Now, as she enters her fourth year as a Team IMPACT Fellow, Gianna has the support and friendship with not only one but two Team IMPACT teammates motivating her to further her impact as an athlete and in her community. “It’s honestly hard to put into words what it means to see the impact I’ve had on two amazing girls in two different parts of the country. Being able to make a difference in Abby’s life at Penn State and now in Lissy’s life here at Charlotte has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my journey as a student-athlete,” Gianna said. “It is incredible to see how one team embraced the opportunity to make an impact, and now to have a second team just as eager to do the same is truly special. Opportunities like Team IMPACT remind me why I love playing lacrosse—it’s about being part of something bigger than yourself and bigger than the game. I’m so grateful for the chance to make a difference, not just in one girl’s life, but in two. It’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”
