Maryland Field Hockey’s Partnership With My Heart’s Home Hits Close to Home
The Terps will wear My Heart’s Home logos and host the organization Friday as Maryland continues its tradition of using its platform to support causes beyond the field.
Brady Ruth, Staff Writer
9/24/2026
The Terrapins’ hearts and reach extend far beyond the field hockey turf.
For decades, Maryland field hockey has used its platform to support important causes and make an impact in the community. This year, that reach has become especially personal for head coach Missy Meharg and one of her former players.
When Maryland hosts Rutgers at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex on Friday afternoon, the Terps will partner with My Heart’s Home to raise awareness for the dire housing needs of veterans and people with developmental disabilities.
For My Heart’s Home board president and founder Lisa Wiederlight, the opportunity represents much more than a partnership with her alma mater. It is another chapter in a relationship with Meharg that began long before Wiederlight played for the Terps and has continued throughout her adult life.
We're really thrilled about it. It's nice to come home and share some of what I've learned from my time at the university about teamwork and the pursuit of excellence. Missy has always driven into us the importance of helping others, and the field hockey program really gives people a home. I can’t even describe how much that means.Lisa Wiederlight
Wiederlight, a University of Maryland alumna and product of Meharg’s program, has carried those lessons with her long after her playing career ended.
Her son, Joshua, is on the autism spectrum, giving Wiederlight a firsthand understanding of some of the daily challenges faced by people with developmental disabilities.
That experience helped inspire her to found My Heart’s Home, an organization centered around “creating inclusive, nurturing, and active housing communities where individuals with developmental disabilities, veterans, and older adults will thrive.”
Wiederlight has since dedicated herself to helping others find peace, comfort and community, even in the most difficult circumstances.
“Creating a community of support for people with developmental disabilities, as well as veterans and older adults, is a big project,” Wiederlight said. “It’s very doable, but it takes a lot of time and people's goodwill to accomplish.”
From first meeting Meharg to her own time in Maryland and into the present day, Wiederlight’s admiration for Meharg as both a coach and a friend has stood the test of time.
“Missy has always been one of my mentors,” Wiederlight said. “She instantly made a mark on me. Her level of professionalism and compassion and her drive for excellence was something that I really attached to. My son and I have been to her house and we know her family well. She’s been so warm and helpful and supportive throughout my whole adult life.”
That relationship has continued through the ups and downs of Joshua’s life and eventually brought Meharg directly into the work Wiederlight is doing.
This past year, Meharg joined the board of directors at My Heart’s Home, helping raise awareness for the housing crisis faced by so many people in need.
“We’ve asked our board to figure out ways to raise awareness and education to what My Heart’s Home is doing,” Wiederlight said. “Missy’s quite aware of not only myself, but other families impacted by autism and need for housing. Through her generosity, kindness and friendship, she’s been able to open doors for us, including working with field hockey.”
For Meharg, the cause is personal because of the person at its center.
This cause is very personal. Lisa’s had a life dealing with this all herself, and I’ve always tried to be there for her. She’s a true Maryland woman, and she’s lived in many different counties, trying to fight for her cause. Her story is special, and I’m so happy we’re able to be a part of it this weekend!Missy Meharg
That support will be visible throughout Friday’s game.
My Heart’s Home will have a table at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex with information for fans, while pregame flyers and trivia will help raise awareness about the organization’s mission. As Maryland hosts its Autism Awareness Game, the focus will primarily be on autism while also highlighting the broader developmental disabilities community, including people with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.
Wiederlight has also invited members of the University of Maryland’s neurodiverse community to attend the game and become involved with My Heart’s Home.
“We’re really excited,” Wiederlight said. “I couldn’t have imagined the level of support that I’ve gotten from the athletic department, because I wouldn’t have dreamt it to be possible. I’m absolutely thrilled, and it’s very necessary to have the support because of the big lift that we’re doing.”
The organization already has student-athlete interns, but Wiederlight hopes to expand that collaboration, particularly with students who have personal connections to the organization’s mission.
It’s a huge interest of ours to hear their voices. No matter what major they're in, if a student is autistic, we'd love to hear their ideas about housing needs and what it takes to build a sense of community.Lisa Wiederlight
For the Terps, Friday will be another tremendous opportunity to support a good cause. Their practice jerseys will feature the My Hearts Home logo as their reach into the community continues to shine.
“We’ve always had a lot of our women doing things in the community,” Meharg said. “I think Maryland does a tremendous job with that. Every student-athlete is engaged with something bigger than themselves, and that’s just an enormous thing. In my 39 years, I’ve worked with many causes, but this one has taken a little bit of a pulse, and we’re just so excited about it.”
This season’s roster features two Terps — Jordyn Hollamon and Ryleigh Osborne — who participate in hearing and speech programs at UMD and will be starting to work with My Heart’s Home in the near future.
“For me, the My Heart’s Home game is bigger than field hockey,” Hollamon said. “It’s about bringing awareness to autism and helping create an environment where everyone feels included and supported. I am grateful for the opportunity to play for My Heart’s Home!”
It’s a testament echoed by the entire team, and specifically Osborne.
“To me, My Heart’s Home and autism awareness means having empathy and compassion for all people, regardless of disabilities,” Osborne said. “All people deserve the right to be treated with kindness and given proper access to resources that create equity!”
It’s refreshing and heartwarming for Wiederlight to feel the love from her alma mater and their support for her cause. She’s dedicated decades to bettering the lives of others, always with the backing of one of her earliest mentors.
“I have always felt that as long as Missy is involved with the field hockey team, the team is part of my family,” Wiederlight said. “Maryland gives back and is changing the world in so many different ways, and this is really an extension of that. We take care of people who take care of us, and we take care of others.”
