Women Leaders in College Sports announces new "Champions for Change" Campaign and New Level of Giving
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May 2, 2023
Contact:
Mandy Marks
Women Leaders in College SportsMandy@womenleadersincollegesports.org
925-899-1356
Kansas City, Mo. – Women Leaders in College Sports (Women Leaders) is proud to announce the launch of the "Champions for Change" campaign, which highlights its current individual pledge donors and its new pledge-giving level, the PowHER pledge. The Champions for Change campaign features three levels of pledge giving, with individuals committing to a five-year pledge that will directly fund the organization’s mission to develop, connect, and advance women working in sports.
The Champions for Change levels of giving include:
- PowHER Pledge: Annual pledge of at least $5,000 a year for 5 years.
- President’s Fund: Annual Pledge of at least $1,500 a year for 5 years.
- 5n5: Annual Pledge of at least $1,000 a year for 5 years.
Sandy Barbour, current Board of Directors Past President, and a trailblazer in women's sports, is the first-ever and lead donor at the new PowHer Pledge level.
"I am honored to be the first PowHER pledge donor for Women Leaders as part of their Champions for Change campaign. Women Leaders and generations of women in our industry have been a part of my journey from the start.” said Sandy Barbour. “I've been profoundly impacted by this powerful sisterhood of women supporting women. It is a privilege for me to invest in this organization and its members in this way, and I hope others are inspired to make a similar investment and support the meaningful work of Women Leaders."
The generous contribution from Sandy will set the tone for others to follow and help support the organization’s mission of empowering women and girls everywhere.
"We are thrilled to launch Champions for Change and to have Sandy Barbour as our first PowHer Pledge donor," said Women Leaders CEO, Patti Phillips. "Champions for Change” is more than just a way to give back; it is a call to action for individuals to invest in our purpose. With Sandy's leadership and support, we know that Champions for Change will make a lasting impact on our members and our organization.”
Champions for Change contributions impact Women Leaders in several ways including funding:
- Membership and programming scholarships for women at all levels
- The sustainability of our transformative Leadership Institutes, which advance 1 in 2 women within one year of participating
- Enhancements to our member services to ensure women have access to best-in-class career resources and leadership training to propel their careers
"We believe that everyone has the power to be a Champion for Change, and we invite you to join us as we empower women in sports," said Director of Development, Kristin Crites. "Together, we can create a path to leadership for women in sports.”
Women Leaders would like to thank their current donors:
NEW CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE -
Betsy Alden, Sheri Fella, Lynn Holleran and Pam Borton, Angie Jabir, Louise McCleary, Gloria Nevarez, Diana Sabau, Chesney Sallee
Endowment Seed Donors:
Pioli Family Endowed HBCU Scholarship Fund: Scott Pioli and Family
Jan R. Gentry Memorial Scholarship Fund:
Tara Bertram, Mary Lou McCully Gentry and Family
PowHER Pledge Donors:
Sandy Barbour, Heather Lyke
Presidents Fund Donors:
Susan Bassett, Bridget Belgiovine, Jane Betts, Vicky Chun, Sheri Fella, Pamela Gill Fisher, Robin Harris, Lynn Holzman, Kelley Kish, Louise McCleary, Jacqie McWilliams, Jean Lenti Ponsetto, Patti Phillips, Chris Plonsky, Desiree Reed Francois, Barbara Schroeder, Julie Soriero, Judy Sweet, Sharon Taylor, Chris Voelz, Natalie Winkelfoos
Platinum 5n5:
Sarah Baumgartner, Amanda Braun, Joni Comstock, Julie Cromer, Joan Cronan, Sandy Hatfield Clubb, Lori Hendricks, Samantha Huge, Heather Lyke, Felicia Martin, Erin McDermott, Joan McDermott, Bernadette McGlade, Nicki Moore, Alanna Shanahan
5n5 Donors:
Val Ackerman, Joeleen Akin, Betsy Alden, Keri Becker, Jill Bodensteiner, Janna Blais, Darlene Camacho, Jen Cohen, Melissa Conboy, Susan Cross Lipnickey, Brian Curtis, Tiffany Daniels, Derita Dawkins, Sherryta Freeman, Beth Goetz, Kelley Hartley Hutton, Jen Heppel, Lynn Hickey, Lynn Holleran, Lesley Irvine, Angie Jabir, Sara Liebscher, Katreshia Louis Verrett, Maggie McKinley, Gloria Nevarez, Stephanie Rempe, Diana Sabau, Chesney Sallee, Kelly Schukart, Tamica Smith Jones, Meg Stevens, Robyn Theodorakis, Etienne Thomas, Lisa Thuer, Christina Turner, Tanya Vogel, Doug Voss, Tracy Warren, Ingrid Wicker McCree, Jennifer Williams
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To learn more about Champions for Change and how you can become a donor, please visit the Women Leaders website.
For more information, please contact: Kristin Crites, Women Leaders Director of Development
About Women Leaders in College Sports
Founded in 1979, Women Leaders in College Sports is the only nationally recognized collegiate professional membership organization whose mission is to develop, connect and advance women leaders working in intercollegiate athletics and beyond. More than 5,000 members strong, Women Leaders promotes the growth, leadership and success of women as athletics administrators, conference commissioners, professional staff, coaches and student-athletes. Read about the recent advancement landscape for women athletic directors in CEO Patti Phillips’ May 2021 USA Today op-ed, and follow Women Leaders on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @WomenLeadersCS.