Simone Biles Honored as the Sports Illustrated 2024 Sportsperson of the Year

Friends of the Children was proud to join Simone Biles and her husband, Jonathan Owens, in Las Vegas as she accepted the Sports Illustrated 2024 Sportsperson of the Year Award. The event highlighted her incredible achievements in gymnastics and her dedication to empowering youth. Friends of the Children CEO Terri Sorensen and Chief Officer of Expansion Eric Gabrielson had the opportunity to attend the event honoring Simone.

In her acceptance speech, Simone gave a shoutout to Friends of the Children, saying, “I’d also like to give a shoutout to my 'friends' at Friends of the Children who continue to be a source of inspiration each and every day.” Watch Simone’s acceptance speech here.

“Mentoring changes lives, and there’s no better advocate for professional youth mentoring than Simone Biles,” said Terri Sorensen, CEO of Friends of the Children. “Her authentic care and compassion for the youth we serve has helped us raise awareness and expand to new cities across the country.”

As an ambassador for Friends of the Children, Simone has championed our long-term professional mentoring model across the country. From helping establish a chapter in her hometown of Houston in 2023 to inviting youth to special virtual and in-person events, she is committed to empowering youth and families facing some of life’s greatest challenges.

Friends of the Children is grateful for Simone’s unwavering support and her use of platforms to amplify the impact of our professional mentoring model. To learn more about Simone’s partnership with Friends of the Children and this exciting milestone, read the full press release here.

The Sports Illustrated 2025 Sportsperson of the Year Issue features a full-page ad dedicated to spotlighting Friends of the Children. Simone’s Sportsperson of the Year article is available online here and the full magazine ad featuring Friends of the Children is in print —grab a copy today!