University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Athletics Celebrates The Season With Team IMPACT
December 15, 2025 | General, Student-Athlete Development
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Carolina Athletics welcomed members of Team IMPACT and their families for a fun-filled day of holiday activities with student-athletes from various programs on Saturday.
The children started off the day by making and decorating gingerbread houses, then transitioned into the Smith Center to watch the men's basketball victory over USC Upstate.Â
Team IMPACT's unique multiyear program matches children facing serious illness and disability with college athletic teams across the country. Its mission is to guide children and teams alike in a mutually beneficial relationship of belonging, empowerment and resilience.
Each child has been matched with a Carolina sport program, creating a special bond with that team. The gingerbread house-making activity was another meaningful opportunity for the children to continue strengthening a once-in-a-lifetime connection with their respective student-athletes.
"I chose to be a part of the Team IMPACT program because I thought it was a great way to be involved at first," men's lacrosse junior Owen Duffy said. "At first, I didn't realize how much it would do for me. I always like to say that Noah Clifton, his family and Team IMPACT have done more for me than I could ever do for them. Noah is one of my favorite teammates here at Carolina. He really is just a joy to be around, he is a little jokester and one of the most competitive kids I have ever met."
"When my oldest daughter was eight years old, she got paired with the UNC volleyball team. They were such a great community to her and really made her feel a part of their team," Kimberly Houston, a mother to two Team IMPACT members said. "My youngest daughter has been a part of the UNC softball team for the past year and has also had such a great time connecting with those athletes. I love the mentorship and how they can truly build a community with a sense of belonging. It has ultimately led to both of my daughters having more self confidence."
"We have been so thankful and happy to be a part of Team IMPACT," Ashley James, a mother of a Team IMPACT member said. "The relationship between my 10-year-old son Wyatt and the Carolina swimming & diving team is unlike any other. It is so exciting to watch him interact with the athletes, who are such great role models for him. I love seeing Wyatt light up when he is with them."
The children, families and student-athletes capped off the gingerbread house-making festivities with a Carolina men's basketball game, where they had the opportunity to mingle and were recognized on the court.
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