This post is part of the Global Mom Relay. Every time you share this blog, $5 will go to women and girls around the world. Scroll to the bottom to find out more.
WNBA Chicago Sky star Ruth Riley traveled to Mali with Nothing But Nets
Growing up in rural Indiana in a single-parent family with little money, I was lucky to have a strong mom. She taught us to work hard, appreciate what we have, and help others. Those lessons put me on the path to becoming who I am today.
I am so grateful to my mom for challenging me to embrace the opportunities of gaining an education and playing sports, that she did not have. She taught me that dreams should never be limited by social-economic status or one's environment, and that history does not always have to be repeated... sometimes it needs to be written!
As a professional basketball player, I have had amazing opportunities to use my talents, to play with the best players in the world, and even to represent my country in the Olympics. All of those opportunities began at home.
Basketball has always been more than a job, more than a sport. It has given me a platform to help others by getting involved with causes that give back. I have been privileged to work with the United Nations Foundation to help families and children around the world. My experiences with the UN Foundation have built on what I learned growing up in Indiana -- appreciate what we have, and help other people.
That's why I am proud to be able to honor my mom as part of the Global Mom Relay. Every time this post is shared, $5 will be donated to help women and girls around the world. That path to a better world often starts with women like my mom. Please take a moment to watch this video and then share with your friends to unlock a donation that will help women and girls around the world. Then check back each day through May 8 -- each share helps!
Each time you share this Global Mom Relay piece on Facebook, Twitter, or Email, or donate $5 or more through clicking on the above graphic, a $5 donation (up to $62,500 per week or $125,000 every two weeks) will be donated by Johnson & Johnson and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. Join us by sharing it forward and unlock the potential for women and children around the globe. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org/globalmomrelay. The United Nations Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, BabyCenter, The Huffington Post, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation created the Global Mom Relay, a first-of-its-kind virtual relay with a goal of improving the lives of women and children around the globe.