Lynx Changemakers hosts Executive Roundtable today on National Girls & Women in Sports Day

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, announced the expansion of the Lynx Changemakers platform welcoming Hy-Vee and Starkey as the newest Lynx Changemakers partners.

“We are proud to welcome Hy-Vee and Starkey to the Lynx Changemakers platform, joining our mission to empower the next generation of female leaders,” said Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx CEO Ethan Casson. “As we celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day, we recognize the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change. With the support of our partners, we can amplify our impact and help shape a future where young women thrive as leaders and inspire those around them.”

“At Starkey, we are dedicated to empowering the next generation of female leaders and making a lasting impact in our community,” said Karen Spaeth, Chief Marketing Officer at Starkey. “We are proud to support initiatives that inspire and uplift young girls, ensuring they have the resources and encouragement to achieve their full potential.”

As Lynx Changemakers continues to grow and positively impact local female youth while elevating women’s sports, the platform features two signature events throughout the calendar year: the Lynx Changemakers Summit (August) and the Lynx Changemakers Executive Roundtable (February) which takes place this year on National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD).

Today, executives from each of the five partners, Starkey, Hy-Vee, nVent, Pentair and Target, the Lynx organization, and impact recipient Girls Taking Action™ will gather for the first annual Lynx Changemakers Executive Roundtable. The event will feature keynote speaker Dr. Nicole LaVoi, Director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, University of Minnesota and the discussion will center around continued efforts to support the next generation of female leaders.

Since its launch in 2023, the Lynx Changemakers mission has focused on building the next generation of female leaders and elevating women’s sports in Minnesota. In its first season, the platform launched its Lynx Changemakers Summit, which featured a powerful morning of discussion centered on the development of female leaders and how Changemakers can support, and effect change in the community. Four-time WNBA champion, Lynx legend and social justice advocate Maya Moore Irons served as the inaugural summit’s keynote speaker last summer, discussing her journey from the WNBA to activist and the ‘changemakers’ that influenced her along the way.

The annual Lynx Changemakers Summit brings together executives, employee resource group (ERG) leaders, and professional athletes to share inspirational stories and discuss the future development of female leaders. The event is live streamed for the employee networks of each Lynx Changemaker.

A key component of Lynx Changemakers is partner commitment to driving positive and impactful change in the community through purpose-driven action and direct financial support to local organizations and nonprofits supporting young girls. Minneapolis-based Girls Taking Action™, is the first Changemaker Impact Partner, working to empower and educate girls to succeed in school and life.

Lynx Changemakers is a team-level program modeled after the WNBA’s successful league-level platform launched in 2020. The platform is designed to transcend traditional sponsorship and pave the way for major local companies to invest in women’s sports in a new way.