NEW YORK – Columbia University head coach Anne Murray has officially announced the signing of nine-year-old Karina Shah through Team IMPACT on Wednesday. Team IMPACT, a national non-profit organization, has developed a unique multi-year program that matches children facing serious illnesses and disabilities with collegiate athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience.

Columbia University has worked with Team IMPACT for the past 10 years, matching 8 children across its men's and women's basketball, women's field hockey, women's lacrosse, softball, and women's tennis teams.
 
Karina, who has a rare neurological disorder, was matched with the lacrosse team in September of 2020. She was officially introduced in mid-February during a signing day press conference at the Chrystie Field House. This season, she will participate in activities with the women's lacrosse team including, but not limited to, games, practices, and team events.

"Team IMPACT is excited to see Karina officially join the Columbia family," said Danielle Hardee, Regional Director of Programs, Northeast at Team IMPACT. "We are proud to work alongside Columbia University, their athletic department and coaching staff to create lifelong bonds and life-changing outcomes between student-athletes and their Team IMPACT teammates."
 
About Karina, courtesy of the Shah Family
"Karina has a smile that lights up your inner spirit and embraces everyone with a tight hug that magically gives you a feeling of serene peace in your heart. She is resilient and the hardest worker bee with over 1,500 hours of physical therapy just so she could take her first independent steps. She can say a few words and is working every day to learn her new Assistive Augmentative Communication device to express herself. Her complex medical diagnoses do not hold her back from her own mission to spread love and optimism in the world. To learn more about Karina and her neurogenetic diagnosis, visit Project 8p Foundation."
 
About Team IMPACT
Team IMPACT's unique multiyear program signs children facing serious illness and disabilities onto college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience, ensuring everyone involved has the personalized game plan they need to win – effectively building confidence and independence. Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 2,300 children with 700+ colleges and universities in 49 states, impacting more than 65,000 student-athletes. If you know a child or team who may be interested, please visit www.teamimpact.org.