While Delvina Morrow, Little League® Vice President of Philanthropy and Social Impact, did not spend her time as a kid after school lacing up her cleats and stepping onto the diamond, she instead found herself putting on her favorite pair of sneakers and heading outside to race the neighborhood kids.
“I always remember racing in the street – boys and girls competing against each other,” said Mrs. Morrow. “Gender didn’t matter, the only thing that mattered was who won.”
As she got older, races in the street became races on the track as she competed in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and relay races for her middle school track and field team.
“I learned about teamwork while participating in track and field. When doing the relay race, you realize how every little thing you do can impact the teammates that come both before and after you,” said Mrs. Morrow. “I also learned about independence when running the 100- and 200-meter races and how it ties in with the importance of preparation for an event or project both physically and mentally.”
Mrs. Morrow’s experience in the sports industry extended beyond her middle school years on the track. Before her start as a Little League employee in June 2024, Mrs. Morrow most recently worked as the Vice President of Community Affairs and DEI for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now in her role at Little League, Mrs. Morrow is responsible for overseeing all aspects of development including the organization’s fundraising efforts, as well as, playing a key role in the development and enhancement of programs and initiatives that address strategic priorities around access, experience, and retention.
For the December edition of the #GWG50 Staff Spotlights, Little League sat down for a special “Extra Innings” conversation with Mrs. Morrow to highlight her own #GWG50 Journey:
First Inning: What role models did you have as a young female? Did you receive any advice that you have carried into your professional career?
As a young girl, I lived in contrasting worlds of my two role models – my mother and my godmother. From my mom, I learned resilience and the power to rise above adversity and persevere no matter the obstacles. From my godmother, I gained the importance of ambition and having a clear vision for my future. Their advice wasn’t always spoken, but through their actions, they taught me to embrace challenges, seize opportunities, and never forget where I came from while building where I want to go.
Second Inning: Can you pinpoint a moment in your journey that has helped define you as a professional?
At one of my first jobs as a fundraiser, my boss at the time told me to “dress for the job you want not the job you have.” This extended beyond attire, as it spoke to how you show up every day. Following this advice has allowed me to always envision myself in spaces of leadership, even when I was just at the start of my career.
Third Inning: What does the day-to-day work as the Vice President of Philanthropy and Social Impact at Little League look like? What values or life lessons do you try to incorporate in your day-to-day work?
My day-to-day work involves a mix of strategic planning, operational execution, and stakeholder management.
With this work in mind, the core values I bring to my work include:
- Teamwork: Collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to build cohesive efforts towards our philanthropy goals
- Sportsmanship: Having worked in professional sports, and now specifically with Little League, I believe it’s important to uphold fairness and integrity in all that I do
- Leadership by Example: Leading with humility and authenticity
Fourth Inning: If you had the opportunity to speak with female students hoping to find their place in either a career in philanthropy or the sports industry, what advice would you give them?
Diamonds in the rough are still incredibly valuable. It is your job over time to work on ways to ensure that you can shine and show your value to the rest of the world. This starts with true self–exploration, and ultimately, understanding for yourself what your core values are and what matters to you. Don’t be afraid to lean into that innate sense of what brings you joy when thinking about your career choices.
Fifth Inning: When you read the phrase “If you can see her, you can be her,” what do you think about? Do you feel any ties to this phrase?
I think about my daughter. My daughter is three years old, and she is growing up in a world where girls can be anything. My daughter has seen me work in professional hockey, and now in the baseball and softball ecosystem. So, for her, she sees the expanded possibility of women in the workplace, which helps her to understand that she can be anything, which right now, for her, is a firefighter who works in baseball.
Sixth Inning: What excites you when thinking about the growth of female sports and Little League’s female initiative?
What excites me the most is that there is an entire generation of girls growing up where this is their normalcy – and what’s even more exciting is that the generations before them who are experiencing this as adults are now able to be kids again in a way and experience this amazing journey for the first time.
Seventh Inning: Outside of your professional work, how do you get more involved within your community?
Being new to the community, we are currently exploring ways to get involved and give back as a family. For the holidays, we are working on identifying areas that we are passionate about as a family and then giving back.
- In the past, Mrs. Morrow has served on a variety of boards, including Big Brothers, Big Sisters PGH; Leadership Pittsburgh; City Theater Company, Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh Venture Capitalist Association; and Prototype PGH.
Eighth Inning: As we reflect on Thanksgiving and celebrate Giving Tuesday, what does this time of gathering and giving mean to you?
Personally, giving represents love, care, and connection. It’s the way I express gratitude and recognize the communities and people who have helped me to be where I am today. I see giving as a way to invest in others, whether that’s through time, treasure, or talents. There is no shortage of ways in which you can give back to show others that they belong and that you care. Giving has also been the foundation of my work throughout my career. I see it as a way to create pathways for people to engage in something bigger than themselves, and then be part of a collective impact that is transformative for those receiving the support. During this time of the year, I like to listen, and really understand other people’s “why” around giving, so I can help be a good partner in their goals of making a long-lasting impact.
NOTE: If you are interested in supporting Little League’s Philanthropy and Social Impact efforts, including donating to one of the five core funds, visit LittleLeague.org/Impact.
This is the 10th in a series of Little League International Staff Spotlights that will focus on the Women In Little League (WILL) as part of the overall Girls with Game 50 Celebration (LittleLeague.org/GWG50). The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating around key events and milestones this year.