A Formal Glance and Letter To Families
Barb Lazarus
Barb is the co-founder and long-time sole owner of Game On! Sports 4 Girls. Starting in 2007 as a single multi-sport summer day camp, Game On! has since expanded to different states and grown to include summer camps and school year programming all designed to empower and inspire our youngest girls. Barb’s vision continues to include developing the premier national brand recognized for harnessing the power of sports to shape the strong girls that become the valued teammates and high achievers of tomorrow.
A nationally recognized advocate for girls in sport, Barb has participated in the espnW Summit since 2011. She also co-founded the espnW Chicago Sports Connection, a group that was committed to connecting local high profile athletes and other respected female sports professionals with young girls who were both underserved and aspiring athletes.
In 2012, Barb was invited to share in the launch of the Global Sports Mentoring Program formed by the U.S. Department of State and espnW. Since its inaugural year, the program afforded leading American women executives the opportunity to share their expertise in sports, business, and leadership and open their networks to international emerging women leaders. Barb looks forward to offering more active involvement.
Barb graduated with a B.A. from the University of Michigan (1982) and a J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law (1985) and served as an Assistant United States Attorney from 1986 to 1990.
In 1991, she accepted the newly created position of Public Affairs Specialist/Press Secretary for the Department of Justice for the Northern District of Illinois and held that position until she opened what was to become a very successful media relations business in 1994.
An avid cross trainer and sportsman, Barb truly cherishes all opportunities to sweat. For more than 30 years, she has participated on an “A League” championship softball team based in Highland Park, Illinois. Barb currently sits on the Board of the Highland Park High School Athletic Hall of Fame in which she is an inductee and has also served on a subcommittee charged with developing a master plan for her hometown, the Village of Deerfield. Barb is happily married and, together with husband Marty, they have raised two active sons. Her oldest son was just married, thereby granting Barb the privilege of having her first “daughter.”
A MESSAGE FROM THE HEART:
Dear Game On! Families, Friends and Supporters:
Starting way back when and continuing on through the present, sports and fitness have played such an integral part in my life. Whether recreational or competitive, my experiences have been fun and life changing. While my parents do indeed deserve significant credit, sports really did help to define me as a person.
Game On! Summer Sports Camps 4 Girls are my way of giving back – passing on a gift that has unlimited layers of wrapping, each unveiling a special essence to be coveted.
My team’s work toward bringing quality sports opportunities and experiences to young female athletes spanning all levels produces the sweat, the smiles and laughter, the memories and friendships, the achievements and challenges, and the personal growth that girls deserve.
Thank you to the families who trust, long-time Director of Operations, teammate and friend Sara Hokin, my incredible staff who have made Game On! what it is today, and our precious campers past and present.
Game On! is a labor of love. A dream come true.
Barb