As part of its $10M Fuel Tomorrow initiative, Gatorade set out to elevate athlete experiences at underserved high schools across the U.S. With Fastbreak Connect, they brought that mission to life by delivering personalized media content to 400 student athletes at 26 schools. What began as a grassroots content activation ultimately turned into a powerful brand-led initiative that spanned multiple sports, advanced equity, and amplified athlete visibility.
The Challenge
Many student-athletes at lower-income high schools lack access to even the most basic recruiting resources. Without game footage or highlight reels, their talent often goes unseen., and that limits their chances of being scouted or recruited. Gatorade’s Fuel Tomorrow team wanted to close that gap.
Their internal G-Force reps work directly with high schools nationwide, but they needed a turnkey solution that could deliver high-quality, branded content at scale. And do it with care, consistency, and zero burden on schools or athletes.
The Solution
Fastbreak Connect equipped Gatorade’s G-Force reps with the tools to activate local media coverage wherever it mattered most. Each rep received credits to deploy Fastbreak’s media teams to underserved schools in their region. The process was simple:
- Gatorade selected the school
- Fastbreak handled all logistics
- Athletes received free highlight clips, delivered digitally to them and their families
Fastbreak’s team captured over 6,000 pieces of content—photos and video—from football and girls’ basketball games, as well as flag football. Each athlete received a minimum of three personalized, Gatorade-branded content pieces, optimized for social sharing and college recruiting.
King College Prep Girls Flag Football Coach, Daniel Moore, summed it up best:
“I want to thank Gatorade and Fastbreak for giving my girls a special opportunity to display their talents.”
Daniel Moore
Execution
Phase 1: Workflow Setup
Gatorade’s G-Force reps were each assigned two media activations. Fastbreak provided a centralized request process and matched each request with local videographers in the Fastbreak network.
Phase 2: Multi-Sport Rollout
Fastbreak teams visited 26 schools across the country, covering both girls’ and boys’ sports, with a strong focus on equity and inclusion. Games were filmed, edited, and delivered in under 72 hours.
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Workflow Details
- Footage edited with Gatorade-branded intros and overlays
- Content delivered via mobile links and cloud folders to athletes and coaches
- Testimonials and coach quotes captured to amplify community impact
The Results
- 400 student athletes served, each with recruiting-ready content
- 6,000+ total pieces of media produced, downloaded, and shared
- Zero cost to families or schools
- Flag football and girls’ basketball highlighted alongside traditional sports
- Positive brand sentiment in every community served
The program created real visibility for student athletes and allowed Gatorade to show up authentically in schools that needed support—not just with products, but with resources that could shape futures.
What’s Next
Gatorade is exploring ways to embed Fastbreak Connect into future seasons of the Fuel Tomorrow program, with even more tools to help G-Force reps serve their communities. Fastbreak is adding real-time media delivery, testimonial capture, and storytelling packages to give brands more ways to measure and extend their impact.
With Fastbreak Connect, Gatorade turned athlete media into a high-impact equity program, delivering visibility, confidence, and opportunity where it’s needed most.
About Fastbreak Connect
Fastbreak Connect is the turnkey activation program for brands that want to activate directly on the field, in the stands, and in the social feeds of sports families. From youth tournaments to professional events, Connect helps brands engage athletes, fans, and parents through tailored experiences, product activations & sampling, and direct engagement. Whether you’re launching a new product or expanding into new markets, Connect delivers brand visibility that’s memorable and measurable.
Want to activate your products with Gen Z and Gen Alpha?
Get in touch to learn how Fastbreak can help you show up, stand out, and scale impact.
About Gatorade
Gatorade is the world’s leading sports fuel brand, trusted by athletes at every level to hydrate, perform, and recover. With a legacy built on science and innovation, Gatorade powers performance while investing in the future of sport. Through initiatives like Fuel Tomorrow, Gatorade is committed to removing barriers and creating more equitable access to resources, training, and opportunities for the next generation of athletes.
