More Than a Game: SportzWire, John Malvizzi Foundation Team Up to Put Mental Health in the Spotlight
By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | August 26, 2026 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus
Sports have always had the ability to bring a community together. This fall, SportzWire and the John Malvizzi Foundation are once again using that platform to help bring attention to something bigger than the final score.
After beginning their partnership in 2025, SportzWire and the John Malvizzi Foundation (JMF) will continue working together throughout the 2026-27 school year to support Game Day for Mental Health events at area schools.
The concept is simple, but the message behind it is powerful: take an already scheduled high school sporting event and use the energy surrounding it to create awareness, encourage connection and remind students that conversations about mental health belong everywhere including on the field, on the course, in the stands and throughout their schools.
For SportzWire, continuing the partnership fits directly into what the platform has always aimed to be about: giving student-athletes and their communities a place to be seen, heard and supported.
Bringing the Message Directly to Students
Game Day for Mental Health isn’t designed to replace the atmosphere of a high school sporting event. It becomes part of it.
JMF works alongside coaches, athletic directors, administrators, faculty, students and school organizations, including Aevidum Clubs, to create an event that works specifically for each school.
Student-athletes and coaches can receive special warm-up shirts to wear before competition, while supporter shirts can also be made available. Proceeds generated through those shirts can be directed back to the participating team or school.
Schools can be involved as much or as little as they choose, allowing each community to put its own personality behind the event.
And there is no fee from the John Malvizzi Foundation for bringing the initiative to a school. JMF is a local nonprofit operated by volunteers, with the purpose of creating awareness and impact, not generating a profit from participating schools.
SportzWire Will Help Tell the Story
That’s where SportzWire comes in.
Schools participating in Game Day for Mental Health can also choose to have SportzWire cover the event, helping extend the message beyond those who are physically in attendance.
Through photography, social media, interviews, articles and game-day storytelling, our goal is to document not only the competition, but why the event is taking place in the first place.
High school sports provide an incredible stage. Student sections, teammates, parents, coaches, bands, cheerleaders, teachers and entire communities can all be gathered in one place on the same night.
If that stage can also be used to reach one student who needs to hear the message, start one conversation that otherwise wouldn’t happen or simply remind someone that there are people around them willing to listen, then the night accomplished something much bigger than sports.
Success isn’t measured by how large the event becomes. It’s measured by the impact it makes.
Fall 2026 Game Day for Mental Health Schedule
The first three Game Day for Mental Health events currently scheduled for September will bring the initiative into different sports and settings:
September 17 — Mid Valley Boys Soccer vs. Dunmore
6:00 p.m. | Mid Valley Stadium
September 18 — Scranton Co-Ed Golf vs. Scranton Prep
3:00 p.m. | Pine Hills
September 19 — Mid Valley JV Boys Soccer vs. Forest City
11:00 a.m. | Mid Valley Stadium
And those don’t have to be the only ones.
Schools, athletic programs and Aevidum Clubs interested in hosting their own Game Day for Mental Health event this fall can learn more and register through the Fall 2026 Game Day for Mental Health program:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/fall-2026-game-day-for-mental-health
Tee Up for Transparency Returns September 6
Before the school events begin, JMF will also bring the community together for its 4th Annual Tee Up for Transparency Golf Tournament on Sunday, September 6 at Sand Springs Country Club.
The foundation is currently looking for golfers to register foursomes, businesses and individuals interested in sponsorship opportunities, monetary donations and in-kind contributions for tournament raffles—including gift cards, products, services and experiences.
Every registration, sponsorship and donation helps the John Malvizzi Foundation continue creating opportunities for connection and more open conversations surrounding mental health.
Golfers, sponsors and supporters can register or contribute here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/4th-annual-tee-up-for-transparency-golf-tournament
A Platform for Something Bigger
SportzWire gets the opportunity every week to celebrate touchdowns, goals, championships, milestones and unforgettable performances.
But our platform can and should have room for more than highlights.
Continuing our partnership with the John Malvizzi Foundation gives us an opportunity to use the reach of high school sports to support students beyond competition. It allows schools to bring together athletes, classmates, coaches, families and their communities around a message of inclusion, connection and awareness.
We’ll still photograph the goals. We’ll still tell the stories. We’ll still celebrate the athletes.
But on these game days, we’ll also help shine the spotlight on something that matters long after the scoreboard turns off.
To learn more about the John Malvizzi Foundation, its mission and its work in the community, visit:
https://jmfmentalhealth.com/main
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