Portland Thorns FC defender Sam Hiatt wins 2025 Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide

San Jose, California – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) today announced that Portland Thorns FC defender Sam Hiatt has been named the recipient of the 2025 Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide. The annual honor recognizes an NWSL player who exemplifies exceptional service, leadership, and character in her community.

To celebrate the award, Hiatt has selected her designated Portland-area community partner, Candlelighters Oregon, to receive a $50,000 donation from Nationwide to further the organization’s ongoing work providing critical support services to families facing childhood cancer.

“Sam Hiatt exemplifies the spirit of the Lauren Holiday Impact Award through her heartfelt dedication to families - like hers - that have been affected by pediatric cancer,” said Ann Bair, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Nationwide. “Sam’s work with Candlelighters Oregon and her broader community engagement are powerful reminders of how athletes can use their platforms to create positive change. Nationwide is proud to support and celebrate Sam’s ongoing efforts to be a champion in her community.”

Since joining the Thorns, Hiatt has been deeply involved in community outreach efforts focused on youth empowerment, access to sport, and mental wellness. She has partnered with local organizations to expand opportunities for young athletes, promote healthy and active lifestyles, and foster inclusive spaces that support personal growth and connection.

For nearly five decades, Candlelighters For Children With Cancer has been on a mission that began in 1977 when five families connected in hospital hallways while their children underwent treatment. What started as a small circle of support has since grown into a vital network for families navigating pediatric cancer across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Today, Candlelighters delivers both essential resources and a strong sense of community. The organization offers financial assistance, in-hospital programs, and safe, welcoming spaces for parents, siblings and youth. Its services also include bereavement support, culturally responsive programming for Latine families, tailored parent and teen groups, and scholarships for young survivors. All programs are provided free of charge, ensuring families can focus on what matters most: being together. Learn more at www.candlelightersoregon.org.

Established in 2024, the Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide, celebrates players whose leadership embodies the values championed by Lauren Holiday - a two-time Olympic gold medalist, FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, two-time NWSL Champion, National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee, and recipient of the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian ESPY Award. Holiday’s example continues to inspire athletes across the league. This individual honor was preceded by an earlier, team-focused community platform known as the Nationwide Community Impact Award.

As part of the season-long initiative, each NWSL club nominated one player for the Lauren Holiday Impact Award and coordinated a service project with their nominee and a local nonprofit. Each organization received a $5,000 donation from the league and Nationwide to support their efforts.

Since becoming an official league partner in 2021, Nationwide has donated more than $470,000 to nonprofit organizations designated by clubs and player nominees through the Nationwide Community Impact Award (2021-2023) and the Lauren Holiday Impact Award (2024-present).