Women's Sports Foundation Kicks Off 2007 With New President and Trustees
Aimee Mullins To Lead Foundation Efforts Alongside Corporate and Celebrity Leaders Dane Andreeff, Sheryl Crow and Ross Greenburg
EAST MEADOW, NY, (January 29, 2007) – After a year where Billie Jean King, Women's Sports Foundation Founder, was immortalized with the first major sports complex and first women's sports museum named for her and Title IX was turned into a scapegoat for the elimination of sports opportunities, the Women's Sports Foundation enters a new year with Aimee Mullins leading the charge and new trustees Dane Andreeff, Sheryl Crow and Ross Greenburg ready to contribute. Mullins replaces Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes who served as president of the Foundation from 2004-2006 and will move into her role as Past-President.
An accomplished athlete, actress and fashion model, Aimee Mullins has overcome great odds to become a role model to boys and girls alike. Despite being born without fibula bones and having both of her legs amputated below the knee at age one, Mullins was the first female with a disability to compete in the NCAA. She competed against able-bodied athletes in NCAA Division I track and field events at Georgetown University and set Paralympic records in 1996 in Atlanta in the 100-meter dash and long jump. Mullins was only one of three individuals chosen in the entire U.S. to be awarded an academic scholarship from the Department of Defense, which she used to attend Georgetown's School of Foreign Service. She spent her summers as one of the youngest people with top-security clearance at the Pentagon. In 1996, Mullins set world records for leg amputees in the 100m, 200m and long jump. In 2000, Mullins was featured in an exhibit of the Women's Museum in Dallas as one of the greatest American women of the 20th century for being a pioneer in sports. She was included in Irish America's "Top 100 Irish Americans," listed as one of Jane Magazine's "10 Gutsiest Women," named as one of Sports Illustrated's “Coolest Girls in Sport” and ranked on People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" list. Mullins has appeared in several movies, including the recent critically acclaimed World Trade Center. She has also been seen on the runway in London and Paris as a fashion model and is a highly requested motivational speaker.
“As a society, we have reached a critical point in women's sports where we need to do more than just ensure a level playing field for girls who want to play sports,” said Mullins. “Two out of every three girls are either totally sedentary or not getting enough daily physical activity. Sports and fitness opportunities for girls with disabilities are virtually non-existent. Girls of color and girls from lower socio-economic environments face numerous participation barriers. The Women's Sports Foundation has the `know how' to help schools and other girl-serving organizations capture these at-risk populations but we need the funding and more opportunities to make their participation a reality. It is my desire to help lead the Foundation in continuing to break down barriers and stereotypes so that anyone who chooses to can benefit from a healthy, active lifestyle.”
Dane C. Andreeff, is the founder/managing partner of Maple Leaf Partners, L.P., a private investment firm. Prior to establishing Maple Leaf Partners, L.P. in 1996, Andreeff was associated with Granite Capital Investment Group in New York. In April 2006, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Back Yard Burgers, Inc. Andreeff's association with the Foundation stems from his two daughters love of sports and his desire for them to be able to pursue whatever dream they may aspire to.
“I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford sports lessons and participation opportunities for my daughters and help make their dreams realities,” stated Andreeff. “There are far too many other girls who don't have the resources or encouragement to play. I want to help change that reality.”
After performing at last year's Foundation's 27th Annual Salute to Women in Sports and sharing stories with Billie Jean King and the other champion female athletes in attendance, singer and songwriter Sheryl Crow saw the opportunity to lend her support and name to a worthy cause.
“Girls who play sports are at lower risk for unwanted teen pregnancies, breast cancer, smoking, drinking and a host of other high risk health behaviors,” added Crow, a multi-Grammy Award winner. “Too many girls are overweight and obese and we are not doing a good job of encouraging them to be physically active. Their lives depend on it and I just want to be a part of making a difference.”
Since exploding onto the global stage in 1993 with the multi-platinum Tuesday Night Music Club album, the one-time music teacher and studio vocalist from Kennett, Missouri has forged a career to become the finest female singer/songwriter of her generation. The next two albums, 1996's Sheryl Crow and 1998's The Globe Sessions allowed her to further hone her musical talent while spawning classic hit songs and earning legions of new fans. She recorded her triumphant 1999 Central Park Concert for Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live from Central Park, which included duets with some of musics' true luminaries. The new millennium saw Crow's resurgence with 2002's C'mon,C'mon, which featured the summertime smash “Soak up the Sun.” In late 2003, Crow released her first greatest hits album, The Very Best of Sheryl Crow. After an extensive international tour, Crow took a well-deserved rest, from which came 2005's poignant Wildflower. In early 2006, Crow was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer. The event changed her life, and her recovery has reinforced her zest for a full, joyful life. Over the course of her career, Crow has collaborated with everyone from the Rolling Stones to Kid Rock to Willie Nelson. She has won countless awards (including 9 Grammy Awards) and she has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Crow continues writing new music and through her strength and perseverance, she continues to be an inspiration to cancer survivors everywhere.
Ross Greenburg, President of HBO Sports, states, “I know that the media needs to do more to broadcast women's sports and tell the female athlete story. HBO Sports has been privileged to help fill this gap with programming that includes “Dare To Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team,” “Billie Jean King – Portrait of a Pioneer,” “A Cinderella Season: Lady Vols Fight Back,” “Dare To Compete: Struggle of Women in Sports” and many more. I want to be a part of creative solutions to increasing the public's awareness of women's sports.”
Ross Greenburg was named president of HBO Sports in September 2000. He had previously served as executive producer of HBO Sports. He originally joined HBO Sports in 1978 as an assistant to the producer and within a year was a sports producer at the age of 24. Long acknowledged as one of sports television's most innovative executives, Greenburg created in 1995 “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” which has established itself as the leading sports journalism program on television. Greenburg also helped develop the well-received sports magazine show starring Bob Costas that is called “Costas Now. ”To a large degree, Greenburg redefined and reinvigorated the genre of sports documentaries. Greenburg's unique storytelling work includes the 1991 and 1992 Emmy® and Peabody Award-winning documentaries "When It Was a Game" and "When It Was a Game II" about the Golden Age of baseball; the Emmy® Award-winning documentary “Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World"; the acclaimed documentaries on the lives of Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, and Billie Jean King; and the groundbreaking films “ “Dare to Compete: The Struggle of Women in Sports,” “Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team,” ”Nine Innings From Ground Zero,” and “Do You Believe in Miracles: The Story of the 1980 U.S. Hockey Team.”
“It is truly a group effort of people from all disciplines in life – sports, entertainment, corporate, government, grassroots and much more – coming together towards a common goal of leveling the playing field so that all girls and women can benefit from an active, healthy lifestyle,” said Ilana Kloss, Chair of the Foundation's Board of Trustees. “I would like to thank each individual who donates their time by serving on our board for their tireless efforts in helping to increase awareness and striving for change.”
Andreeff, Crow and Greenburg join other distinquished members of the Foundation's Board of Trustees:
OFFICERSBillie Jean King, Founder and Honorary Chair, Named by Life Magazine as one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century”
Donna A. Lopiano, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Women's Sports Foundation
Ilana Kloss, Chair of the Board, Chief Executive Director, World TeamTennis
Aimee Mullins, President, World Record Holder, Paralympian, Track & Field
Dominique Dawes, Past President, Three-time Olympic Medalist, Gymnastics
Sandra Vivas, Treasurer, President and CEO,, Beyond Boundaries, Inc./Athletic Link.com
Kelley Cornish, Vice-President-Development, Partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Nona M. Lee, Vice-President-Diversity, President, Phoenix Women's Sports Association, Vice President & General Counsel, Arizona Diamondbacks
Robert Hope, Vice-President–Marketing/Communications, President, Hope-Beckham, Inc.
Susan D. Wellington, Vice-President–Strategic Planning, Former President, U.S. Beverages, Gatorade
Madeline Weinstein, Vice President-Governance, Management Consultant, Senior Advisor, Katzenbach Partners
TRUSTEES
Christine Driessen, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, ESPN, Inc.
Lisa Fernandez, Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Softball
Holly Hunter, Academy Award Winning Actress
John P. Keyser, Keyser Family Foundation
Sharon Love, Chief Executive Officer, The Promotion Network, Inc. (TPN)
Jessica Mendoza, Olympic Gold Medalist, Pan American Games Gold Medalist, Softball
Susan Morrison, Former Advertising Executive
Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, President & CEO, Women in Cable & Telecommunications, Olympic Gold Medalist, Track & Field
Lissa Muscatine, Writer/Political Consultant
Kathryn Olson, Former Chief Marketing Officer, Leap Frog Enterprises, Inc.
Kenneth Shropshire, Professor, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Curtis Symonds, Chief Operating Officer, Washington Mystics
Stephanie Tolleson, Former Sr. Corporate Vice President, International Management Group
Pamela Wheeler, Director of Operations, Women's National Basketball Players Association
Stephen H. Whisnant, Director, Capital and Business Development, Venture Philanthropy Partners
The Foundation thanks departing trustees Phil Beekman, Cyndi Blaschak, Geena Davis and Jeanette Lee who have completed their maximum six year terms for their service on the Board.
About the Women's Sports Foundation
Founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization seeking to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. The Foundation's Participation, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership Programs are made possible by gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call the Foundation at 800-227-3988.
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