From the Olympics, Simone Biles Continues to Inspire Youth to Dream Big

Thousands of youth at Friends of the Children chapters across the country are cheering on youth advocate, World Champion Gymnast and Friends of the Children national ambassador Simone Biles this week as she performs in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris!

Youth, Friends, and leaders from the Friends – Houston chapter attended an Olympics watch party yesterday at the World Champions Centre in Spring, Texas where Simone and two other members of the U.S. Women’s Olympic Gymnastics team trained. They cheered along for Simone and the team and watched them win the gold medal in team finals.

"The youth and their families were beyond thrilled to cheer on Simone and other Olympic teammates at the gym where they train, along with the Houston community," said Friends – Houston Executive Director Tre Maxie. "This is one of those experiences in their childhoods that they will draw upon to overcome their own life's obstacles. We are thankful to Simone and the World Champions Centre for bringing together the Houston community to rally our support for our local Olympic gymnasts who are global heroes."

Simone was instrumental in bringing a Friends of the Children chapter to her hometown of Houston. The chapter was announced at an event for the unveiling of a second Wheaties box featuring Biles and Friends of the Children in 2023.

“I know how special it is to have a mentor. Somebody who believes in you and helps you through each and every step of the way. I think that’s a really unique situation and it’s important, and I wish there were more Friends of the Children,” said Biles recently in her role as the organization’s national ambassador. “It is my hope that everyone who needs a ‘Friend’ has one so they too can be fearless, courageous, achieve their big dreams and have fun while doing it.”

“Simone has been an extraordinary advocate and role model for thousands of youth at Friends of the Children chapters across the country,” said Friends of the Children CEO Terri Sorensen. “The youth we serve face many of the same difficult life circumstances that Simone faced as a young child, so she relates to them—and connects with our mission—in a really authentic way. She gives her time generously to youth and teaches them that anything is possible when they dream big. She has been our biggest cheerleader, and now we get to be her biggest cheerleader!”

Biles was recently selected as a CNN Heroes Sharing the Spotlight for her work with Friends of the Children. She also highlighted Friends of the Children in a People magazine interview and wrote an op-ed in USA Today about why she supports Friends of the Children.

Friends of the Children pairs youth with big dreams who face some of the hardest challenges in life with a paid, professional mentor (called a Friend). Each youth has a Friend walk alongside them from as early as age 4 through high school graduation—12+ years, no matter what.