This is Brentt Eads of Line Drive Softball… one of the best softball-related events I’ve ever attended in my 20 years in the sport is the Empowering Girls for Life one-day seminar which year in and year out features a Who’s Who list of folks tied into the sport we all love.

Here is our coverage from last year’s event, both pre- and post-…

• Event Preview: Saturday’s Empowering Girls For Life Once Again Features Top Softball Speakers (Aug. 9, 2024)
• Event News: Empowering Girls for Life Draws Raves as NiJaree Canady, Jordy Bahl, Karen Weekly & Others Address Young Players & Their Families (Aug. 12, 2024)

The 2025 edition takes place tomorrow – August 9^th – in the Chicago area—more specifically, at The Westin in Lombard, Ill.— and will be the 8^th year of the prestigious event.

This year’s edition of Empowering Girls for Life, which begins at 10 am CST Saturday morning, will bring together in one space leaders in fastpitch softball including:

• Olympic medalists
• businesswomen
• entrepreneurs
• educators
• national championship coaches,
• and athletes

… for “a day of inspiration, fun, and scholarship giveaways. Together, we will create the female leaders of tomorrow by empowering girls today.”

Bill Conroy, the head of the Beverly Bandits travel organization, created the event to help “inspire young girls and women that anything they dream of, they can achieve – no matter the obstacles.”

Former Northwestern star pitcher Sydney Supple, who was a three-time Illinois Gatorade State Player of the Year, will once again serve as the event’s emcee and shares her excitement for what Empowering Girls for Life can do to change lives.

“The event is truly incredible,” she begins. “This is my third year hosting and each year Bill finds ways to elevate the experience for the girls!”

“We have the best role models that youth players could look up to including Nija Canady changing the sport and female recognition as well as Kate and Caryl Drohan giving tips to youth players on how to enjoy the journey and stand out to coaches.”

“I’m also excited to interview Jenna Lilley and Rachel Beaker, who went from being bosses on the field to having equally great success in the corporate world.”

“It’s truly remarkable,” she concludes. “I leave the event every year thinking about how many lives it has touched, especially involving youth players.”

Another exciting aspect to this year’s Empowering Girls for Life get-together will be the awarding of more than $140,000 in scholarships.

Conroy explains where the monies come from and who they reach:

“The scholarship funds come from multiple sources including myself and the Beverly Bandits,” he begins.

“We also had significant help from sponsors such as Diamond Allegiance, the owners of the curve app, as well as Texas Tech Matador Club and 40-plus others that have helped grow this event over the past eight years.”

The donated funds cover an array of uses, from helping cover fees for softball players in the Bandits program to being awarded as cash prizes to lucky registrants who attend the event.

Supple jokes that she was even caught off-guard at how significant the funds are that will go to help athletes, their families and club teams.

“To be honest, I didn’t even realize the scholarship was that big!” she laughs.

“Bill continues to amaze me with his generosity, and I think it goes to show how much he cares about these young girls’ dreams and wants to do whatever he can, whether it be coaching, managing, or financially helping them get there.”

“This will be a life-changing moment for some families.”

One of those donors is Kevin Hinde, whose Hinde Engineering company based in Charlotte, N.C., donated funds in the Pink Sponsorship Package which is a donation over $10,000 range and is one of six donation packages ranking from $1,000 to over $25,000.

Hinde, whose daughter Anna just played in the PGF Seniors All-American Game on July 26 and left that night to fly to Florida State where she’ll be a freshman on the Seminoles softball team, explains how he became involved with Empowering Girls for Life.

“My company and Anna’s club organization—Team North Carolina, on which I was a coach—are both sponsors and it started when I was speaking with Bill one day. He mentioned the opportunities to support the program and the young ladies involved with it… that made it a no brainer.”

“I wanted to support Empowering Girls for Life since it means so much to so many and will continue to inspire and encourage females whether it be personally or professionally.”

“It speaks to what I feel is important and what the Team North Carolina organization is about, which is to connect the young females that attend the event with so many female leaders that have so much to offer from their experiences, whether it be in softball or other aspects of their lives.”

*****

Empowering Girls for Life Schedule – Saturday, August 9, 2025

Coaches Corner: 10:00 AM

Hear from two coaching duos who have changed the standard of the game of softball at Northwestern University and helped pave the way for future generations of coaches and student-athletes.

• Kate Drohan & Caryl Drohan – Northwestern Softball Head Coaches and all-time wins leaders
• Bonnie Tholl & Carol Hutchins – Michigan Softball Former Head Coach who is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA softball history and Current Head Coach

League of Lady Leaders: 10:45 AM

Hear from a group of former softball student-athletes who used their time as student-athletes to shape their lives in different ways today.

• Rachel Becker – Former two-time All American Purdue/Oklahoma St. Division I softball student-athlete; current Project Manager for CURVE Test Centers at Diamond Allegiance
• Mimi Morris – Former James Madison Division I softball student-athlete; current Brand Partnership Manager at Motorola
• Jackie Barbanente – Former Loyola Division I softball student-athlete; current Area V.P. of Sales for NCR Corporation; mother of two Division I softball and gymnastics student-athletes
• Jenna Lilley-Weisberg – Former Bandits and Oregon two-time All American Division I softball student-athlete; former Team USA National team softball player; current Investment Banking Analyst at Greenwich Capital Group

Rising Star: 11:30 AM

Hear from one of the rising stars in the game of softball who has earned the largest Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal for softball to date.

• NiJaree Canady – 2024 NCAA Player of the Year, 2 time All-American, Softball Student-Athlete at Texas Tech (formerly at Stanford)

Dream Maker: 12:00 PM

Hear from Tracy Sellers who is actively involved with the Red Raider Club at Texas Tech, an organization created by Texas Tech alumni, boosters, and former athletes.

Within the Red Raider Club, Tracy helps promote and mentor female athletes attending Texas Tech University. Being involved with this program allows her to connect one-on-one with these athletes, which is something she enjoys tremendously.

• Tracy Sellers – Texas Tech Raiders Club Mentor and Women’s Sports Advocate

Legend: 12:30 PM

Hear from an Olympic softball legend as she shares her story of her time at Arizona and on the USA Softball National Team.

• Leigh O’Brien-Amico – Three-time Olympic Gold medalist (1996, 2000, 2004) and three-time NCAA National Champion Division I softball student-athlete at University of Arizona.