At the 2024 Game Day Gala, Katy Morgan delivered a heartfelt and emotional speech that focused on the transformative power of Team IMPACT and resonated deeply with everyone present. “As I share my family’s journey with you,” Katy said, with her husband Adam and children Emma, Daniel, and Edie in the crowd, “I invite you to think about what it truly means to be an MVP not just on the court but in the game of life where every single act of kindness and inclusion makes a monumental difference.”
Katy began by emphasizing the importance of the relationships formed through Team IMPACT. She shared touching stories of the bonds between her daughter Emma and the members of the Wisconsin women’s basketball team, illustrating how these connections offer mutual support and inspiration. “In Emma’s own journey, marked by courage, perseverance, and unwavering support, Emma has become more than just a sideline participant. She has become an MVP,” Katy said, “and in return, each of her teammates on the Wisconsin women’s basketball team have become MVPs to our entire family.”
When Emma was a baby, she was failing to hit milestones at the same pace as her peers. Eventually she was diagnosed with a rare condition called Ververi-Brady syndrome, a condition with only 39 known cases worldwide. Katy recalled a time when Emma was in first grade and a classmate wasn’t treating her very kindly. “You can imagine my and Adam’s devastation when our sweet, quiet child was crying, and when I asked her what was making her sad, she very, very clearly stated, ‘Mama, I just want a friend,’” Katy said. In sharing this story with Emma’s geneticist, Katy learned about Team IMPACT. “We couldn’t have imagined the myriad of ways in which our lives would be forever changed for the better.” Through the Wisconsin basketball team, Emma found a whole team of friends, and Katy found strength and support in community that has uplifted her child, and as a result, her entire family.
Katy spoke passionately about how Team IMPACT creates a supportive network where everyone—student-athletes, families, and children—feels valued and understood. This sense of belonging empowers individuals to face their challenges with courage and hope. It has helped her child find her voice, find her team, and find her place of belonging.
As the crowd heard Katy’s powerful words, she called on everyone present to continue fostering these life-changing relationships and to keep striving to get every kid in the game. Her children Emma, Daniel, and Edie joined her on stage to lead the crowd in a rousing rendition of Emma’s favorite chant with her teammates, “MVP! MVP! MVP!” which was met with a standing ovation from the more than 1,000 Game Day Gala attendees.
Katy’s words and her children’s newfound friends-turned-family serve as a powerful reminder that together, we can create lasting, positive change for families like hers and kids like Emma across the country. “As we reflect of the journey that brought us here to this moment, I’m reminded of the profound impact and kindness every gesture of inclusion has had on the lives of those facing adversity,” Katy said. “Tonight, we stand not only as witness to Emma’s transformation into a true MVP embraced by the Wisconsin women’s basketball team and Team IMPACT, but we are also standing here as advocates for a future where every single child regardless of their circumstance has the opportunity to shine just as bright as Emma does.”
Katy Morgan’s speech at the Game Day Gala beautifully encapsulates the mission of Team IMPACT. “As we continue to champion the spirit of unity and support exemplified by Team IMPACT and the Wisconsin women’s basketball team, let us all pledge to be MVPs in our own right, spreading kindness, lifting others up, and making a difference in the lives of those who need it most,” Katy said. As we move forward, let’s carry her message with us—embracing the power of community, celebrating every achievement, and continuing to build meaningful connections that transform lives for all MVPs.