Read a message from Tuti B. Scott
The Women's Sports Foundation relies on undergraduate and graduate students who serve as interns working in critical program areas of the Foundation. In return, the Foundation provides these students with practical work experience, a broad exposure to the structure and operation of the commercial and not-for-profit sports industry and an introduction to a large network of professional contacts.
There are up to 16 interns serving in each of three time periods (spring, summer, fall/winter) with annually up to 48 students being exposed to the work of the organization and learning critical professional development skills each year. Every intern is required to assist in the management of the Foundation's Information Referral Service (IRS) during a portion of their internship and to also select and work in an area of specialization (advocacy, athlete services, communications, development, education, events, grants and awards, web, and marketing).
The IRS experience is designed to provide each intern with broad knowledge of the sports industry as interns respond to over 100,000 requests per year from parents, corporations, agencies and other individuals seeking specific Foundation services (i.e., educational information clearinghouse, grant and award applications, advocacy counseling) or information about women's sports and fitness and the active female consumer. Interns receive financial stipends ranging from $450 to $700 per month based on the length of their internship and financial need.
Interest from the endowment shall be used to financially support undergraduate and graduate student interns at the Women's Sports Foundation who are pursuing a career that will allow them to advance the sport of women’s basketball.
An endowment was established in 2003 by Lissa McLean and Tuti Scott who believe in the value of sports participation for girls and women and are both passionate supporters of women’s basketball. These two women, and George Casey, Lissa’s husband, donated funds from their estates for the Women’s Sports Foundation and invited their family, friends and colleagues to annually support the internship program of the Women’s Sports Foundation.
Ms. McLean was a women’s history supporter and ardent fan of the WNBA. She worked for 20 years in accounting for the state of Michigan where she was a leader in establishing best practices in business and bringing women to the forefront of management within the state government. She was a season ticket holder for the Detroit Shock and the Washington Mystics and attended every WNBA All-Star game. Ms. McLean brought new fans to each game and introduced them to the magic of the game of basketball. Her legacy in women’s history is notable as she was a collector with over 300 titles of biographies and a funder who supported preserving the stories of women through her generous gifts to the National Women’s History Project. Ms. McLean was an aunt of three nieces who she continually supported in their endeavors to dream to be whatever they can in the world.
Ms. Scott is a former intern of the Foundation and a former basketball player and brings a ‘point guard spirit’ to all that she does. She was the first student at Ithaca College to design a degree program in Exercise Science, graduating magna cum laude. After playing college basketball at Ithaca, she coached basketball in Western Massachusetts for six years.
Undergraduate or graduate interns interested in a sport related career that will enable them to advance the sport of women’s basketball or who have played college basketball. Those who apply and are accepted for a minimum six month internship are eligible for the Lissa McLean/Tuti Scott Internship.
In addition to full participation in the Women's Sports Foundation internship experience, the intern will be expected to provide feedback to Ms. Scott and Ms. McLean’s family regarding the benefit of participating in the internship program at the Foundation.
The investment gains of the fund will be used to financially support an internship stipend (currently $450/month - $700/month depending on length of commitment) for interns who have a commitment to working in a career that will advance the competitive sport of women’s basketball.
Ms. Scott pledges to create a $50,000 Women's Sports Foundation endowment restricted for use as specified above with an initial gift of $10,000 in 2004. The remaining balance will be forthcoming via the estate of Ms. Scott. Any and all additional gifts made from Ms. McLean’s family and friends will be added to the endowment.
This endowment fund may be merged with other funds held by the Women’s Sports Foundation for investment purposes. Income earned and distributed in a year may be retained and expended for the purposes of the endowment in subsequent years and a portion of the income may be designated, at the Foundation’s discretion, as a permanent addition to the principal of the endowment. All future additions to the endowment shall be subject to the provisions of this donative instrument.