Who: Bernice Sandler aka ”godmother of Title IX" What: Women’s rights activist that was key in the creation of Title IX Why: Sandler worked to make Title IX a reality. It’s the one that ensures that people in the US are given equal access to any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. Title IX applies to sports and means institutions that get federal funds (like public school) are legally required to give boys and girls the same opps on the field. Thanks to Title IX, since 1972, the number of girls playing high school sports jumped from less than 300,000 to over 3 million.