Barb Lazarus is the founder and co-owner of Game On! Sports 4 Girls, the premier multi-sport program committed to the empowerment of girls. Since 2007, Barb and her Game On! team have dedicated themselves to developing programming that instills in every Game On! Girl a deep sense of what it means to feel confident, proud and "GirlStrong" both on and off the sports fields. Barb has overseen Game On!'s expansion from a single summer camp in Lake Forest to locations in three states running summer camps, school year classes, day-off-school events, community-based clinics, Girl Scout events, and other creative projects. A nationally recognized advocate for girls in sport, Barb was awarded the Toyota & espnW Everyday Hero Award in 2013, and on behalf of Game On! accepted the 2018 U.S. Olympic Committee's Rings of Gold Program.
In essence, Game On! harnesses the power of sports to shape the strong girls that develop into the valued teammates and high achievers of tomorrow.
Barb, alongside a talented team that is growing nationwide, has devoted years to developing customized teaching techniques coupled with an environment most conducive to learning, growth and fun. The shorter term results include impactful programs that effectively foster girls’ appreciation for sports and fitness, self-esteem and values that shape strong character. This is Barb’s passion. This is her mission. This is her dream.
Barb also coordinates a scholarship fund that supports deserving young girls in their efforts to afford Game On! programming.
Barb’s heartfelt desire to impact young girls through sports does not stop with her sports programming for girls and scholarship fund. During the school year, Barb and her caring team are committed to offering sports clinics at no charge to help Boulder Colorado and Chicagoland Girl Scout, Brownie and Daisy Troops to earn their “Try It” or “Fair Play” Badges in sports and fitness. In addition, they travel the Chicagoland area offering free “Proud to Throw Like A Girl” or “Proud to Play Like A Girl” sports clinics. Game On! also sponsors Power4Girls day off school events and Power4Minds reading programs.
A nationally recognized advocate for young girls in sport, Barb is a regular participant in espnW’s annual summits and is honored to have attended two Global Sport Mentoring Program luncheons, a cooperative program organized by the U.S. State Department and espnW. 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 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 successful media relations business in 1994.
A long-time avid cross trainer and sportsman, Barb is an inductee into her high school's Athletic Wall of Fame. Gameonsports4girls.com
