WHO we are, WHAT we do, WHY we do it

"I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn her back on life." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Our focus at the Julie Foudy Leadership Foundation is twofold: build on the benefits sports can provide and in the process, help our students find their voice to enact positive change in their communities. When a young person discovers the confidence to find their voice and vitally important, uses it to inspire others, the power of Gandhi’s quote becomes a reality: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Every donation, whether it is $10, $100, or $10,000 helps to impact the lives of these young women. Thank you so very much for your support and for CHOOSING TO MATTER!

Thanks to the generosity of our many donors, we have accomplished so much since the Foundation’s inception.

Since its inception in 2006, the Foundation has awarded more than $594,000 in scholarships to 618 recipients across the country. Each scholarship has provided a deserving student the opportunity to spend a week at the Julie Foudy & espnW Sports Leadership Academy (the “JFSLA”). With help from other local youth programs and non-profit organizations the Foundation works to identify girls and young women who lack accessibility to leadership training in their own community.
We have also provided funding for 89 phenomenal leadership projects that were facilitated by students who exhibited an unwavering commitment to make a difference through our “Choosing to Matter” Grant program.

By donating to the Julie Foudy Leadership Foundation you will help support us in our mission: Building on a foundation of sports and fitness, we empower girls and young women from all socioeconomic backgrounds to become leaders who positively impact their communities.

Our goals for 2023 are to:

  • Provide no less than 70 need-based scholarships to young women who wish to attend the Julie Foudy & espnW Sports Leadership Academy.

  • Award 15 “Choosing to Matter” grants (seed funding) to students to help assist leadership projects in their respective communities.

  • Support leadership projects and initiatives with mentors for students.

For girls, studies have shown that participation in sports and fitness:

  • Fosters success in the workplace: 80% of female Fortune 500 senior executives participated in sports (study conducted by the University of Virginia, Bunker)

  • Reduces teenage pregnancy rates, drug and alcohol use, smoking, teen suicide, obesity and long term health risks

  • Promotes higher self-esteem, positive body image, emotional strength, social skills, and leadership skills