We all recognize that these are unusual and unprecedented times, unlike any that have been seen before. But great challenges also offer great opportunities, and US Lacrosse has already heard and shared some of these stories. Fortunately, we know that there are plenty more out there, and we want to hear your stories.

In partnership with Impact Canopy, the official tent & signage provider of US Lacrosse, we are launching a new initiative, Impact Athletes, that seeks to highlight the efforts and contributions being made by boys’ and girls’ high school lacrosse players to support their community during these challenging days. 

US Lacrosse received an overwhelming number of submissions and selected two exemplary high school athletes to recognize this week. Here are their stories.

*Note: US Lacrosse has created an easy-to-use online submission form so you can share your stories and photos with us. Submissions will be accepted through June 1.

Kylie Frame, Mill Valley, Calif.

Frame, a Tamalpais High School senior girls’ lacrosse player and captain, wanted to do something to help essential workers on the front lines of the pandemic. She decided to buy food from local restaurants and then deliver it — for free — to those considered high risk.

Frame told CBS San Francisco that her initial fundraising goal was $5,000, but she’s raised over $40,000 with what she calls Feed the Frontlines Marin, according to the nomination form sent to US Lacrosse. For every $20 donated, Frame is able to deliver one meal.

She and her friends have delivered food to trash collectors, hospital workers and day care providers, among others.

“Once the shelter-in-place was instituted, Kylie went into action to help provide meals for our first responders and healthcare workers,” the nomination form reads. “Her efforts have helped to raise over $40,000 and deliver 1,000 meals so far. She wakes up early in the morning to deliver meals and has led the charge on fundraising.”

By buying food from local restaurants, she is also doing her part to help small businesses facing economic hardship because of the current economic climate.

Jahmaine Griego (Billingsley), Sandy, Utah

A football and lacrosse player at Alta High School in Utah, Griego (Billingsley) had college coaches scheduled to watch he and his lacrosse team player this spring, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented that from becoming reality.

After giving up lacrosse as a freshman, he returned to the field as a sophomore. His team won three games that season, but he helped the program win more than half of its games the next year. The team showed promise in the early stages of 2020 before the season was canceled.

He won’t play lacrosse in college, so his spring season was his last chance to play with his team. He’ll instead focus on his academics to double-major in college in political science and criminal justice with a minor in psychology.

The letdown of not playing again didn’t define him, and he decided to do his best to do some good during this global crisis. He embraced his role as a frontline worker by working at a local grocery store.

He is “helping to keep an essential business open and doing it with a smile,” the submission form reads. “He is truly a remarkable kid and someone who really puts himself before others.”