MEDFORD, MA– Tufts Field Hockey head coach
Tina Mattera announced a new team member, signing 6-year-old Mia Lee through Team IMPACT.
Mia, who was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2021, was officially introduced at a signing day press conference on Wednesday, February 8, on campus. She will participate in many activities with the field hockey team including games, practices, and other team events.
Team IMPACT, a national non-profit organization, has developed a unique multiyear program that matches children facing serious illness and disability with college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience.
"Team IMPACT is so excited to see Mia officially join the Jumbos," said Ryan Irwin, Executive Director, Northeast for Team IMPACT. "We are proud to be official partners with Tufts University, who over the last decade has made a huge IMPACT matching children to 25 teams. It's exciting to feel the momentum continue to grow on campus, much thanks to the athletic department leadership and coaching staff who witness firsthand the lifelong bonds and life-changing outcomes our program creates for all involved. I look forward to watching Mia continue to build those bonds with the field hockey team. Go Jumbos!"
Tufts University has worked with Team IMPACT for the past 11 years, matching 25 children across its baseball, football, men's and women's basketball, co-ed sailing, men's ice hockey, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, co-ed swimming, softball, women's volleyball, golf, and field hockey teams.
"Mia has been incredible since day one," said Mattera. "She showed up the first day and immediately hit it off with the entire team, I think we hung out for three hours the first day. She's just in incredible little girl, so resilient and it's just so amazing to see how tough she is, how tough her family is and what wonderful people they are."
About Team IMPACT
Team IMPACT's unique multiyear program signs children facing serious illness and disability onto college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience, ensuring everyone involved has the personalized game plan they need to win – effectively building confidence and independence. Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 2,300 children with 700+ colleges and universities in 49 states, impacting more than 60,000 student-athletes. If you know a child or team who may be interested, please visit
www.teamimpact.org.
Media Contacts
For Tufts University: Jamie Chagnon,
jamie.chagnon@tufts.edu
For Team IMPACT: Katie DePaolo,
kdepaolo@teamimpact.org
--JUMBOS--