Press Releases
05/23/2024
Fired Up and Ready to Go! Connecticut Sun Breaks Barriers as First Professional Sports Team to Join Secretary Thomas’s “CEO” Program
Fired up and ready to go! That’s the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun as they launch their new season with an additional title: CEO, standing for Civically Engaged Organization. The Sun has teamed up with Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas to build greater civic engagement and education in Connecticut, leveraging the increased attention on women’s basketball after a thrilling NCAA championship season to build greater civic awareness.
“The Sun is breaking barriers as the first professional sports team to sign on to our office’s CEO program,” said Secretary Thomas. “We are always looking for creative ways to boost civic literacy while under a tight budget, and the Sun’s broad audience appeal made it a slam dunk to work together. I hope many other organizations will follow their lead and join the nonpartisan program.”
Through this partnership, the Sun’s players and personnel will elevate awareness by starring in videos featured on both organizations’ social media channels, co-host voter registration drives at games and other events, promote voter and Election Day reminders during games at Mohegan Sun arena, and include guest appearances by Secretary Thomas at designated Sun-sponsored events.
“The Connecticut Sun is thrilled to be working with Secretary of the State, Stephanie Thomas, to bring the issue of voter registration and civic engagement—two issues very important to the organization—to our audience and our community on a grand scale,” said Connecticut Sun President Jen Rizzotti. Civic engagement has been a focal point for the Sun in our off-court endeavors, so to partner with Secretary Thomas is truly special.”
The CEO program is a non-partisan coalition of businesses, community organizations, houses of worship, non-profits, and other organizations that have taken a pledge to be civically engaged, either through active participation in the local community or by helping to broaden civic literacy among employees and customers. Since its launch in May 2023, more than 200 organizations have signed on to be CEOs.
More information about the CEO program is available at CEOPledge.ct.gov, and helpful civics resources for all audiences can be found at Civics101.ct.gov.
Photo: Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas poses in her office with Connecticut Sun players (L-R): Brionna Jones, Tyasha Harris, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, DeWanna Bonner.
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