Sport Oregon 4/4/24 Sport Oregon 4/4/24

Meet the Women of the Portland Timbers — KATU

For the Portland Timbers, it's all men on the field. Off the field, it's a group of women running the show.

Meet Ashley Highsmith, Sarah Keane, Robin Beavers, PhD, and Heather Davis.

You won't see their faces as much as the athletes', but they're just as crucial to the organization.

"You got to work hard and show up every day," said Chief Operations Officer Ashley Highsmith. "It's no different when you're on the field or off the field."

A sports fanatic and athlete, Highsmith knew at a young age that she wanted to work in the sports realm.

After graduating from Oregon State University in 2003, she left the Beaver Dam to start her career as a Group Ticket Sales Manager at Providence Park Stadium. She had a front-row seat to the club's expansion into Major League Soccer, and Providence Park's numerous renovations.

Over the next few decades, Highsmith continued to climb the sports management ladder. In 2023, her hard work paid off when she earned the position of COO.

Highsmith, a wife and mother of four, says her colleagues at the Timbers Club are her "second family."

Just like the athletes on the field, she and her colleagues play as a team.

"We all want the best for the club, we all want the best for the Timbers [and] we all want the best for the stadium," said Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Sarah Keane. "So, to be able to work together with these amazing women, it's just inspiring all the time."

Keane has an extensive career in nonprofit finance and administration, including roles at Oregon Food Bank, New Avenues for Youth, and the Oregon Zoo.

Growing up, Keane participated in as many sports as she could, but her real love was lacrosse. Her first foray into sports management was back in 2006 when she served as Treasurer for the Oregon Women's Lacrosse Umpire Association.

"I was kind of shy, but sports gave me that confidence," Keane said.

This sentiment rings true for Dr. Beavers, the Timbers' Vice President of Community and Social Impact.

"[Sports] make me feel like I can do anything," she said. "On or off the field or the court, I can do anything anybody else can do."

Dr. Beavers joined the Timbers Club back in 2022. With over 20 years of experience working in nonprofits, youth and family services, higher education, and the mental health field, Dr. Beavers is truly a jack of all trades. She has always made equity and inclusion the heart of her work, and this role is no different.

"It means a lot to be able to use the position to not just uplift communities of colors, but also the city in general," she said.

Working as a female sports executive does come with a set of challenges that will sound familiar to most women.

"We have to prove ourselves in a male-dominated world, and I think that's always a challenge," Dr. Beavers explained.

As a Black woman, this feeling is even more pronounced to her.

“When you grow up as a Black person, there's all these barriers," she said. "And on top of that, being a woman. I just feel like I have to constantly prove myself over and over again.”

Being in leadership at the Timbers means that Dr. Beavers and her colleagues can chart their own path.

"That in itself is just empowering - to be able to work in a sport that is male-dominated, but to be led by women," Dr. Beavers said.

Leading this trio of women is Chief Executive Officer Heather Davis.

Davis was appointed as CEO back in January 2023, making her one of the highest-ranking female sports executives in Oregon's history. "It's been really empowering for me to have support in what is a male-dominated industry, in men's professional sports, to be able to find my own leadership style," she said.

Before joining the club, she spent nine years at the NFL office as the lead legal counsel for international operations.

"Sports has always been an industry and environment that I've felt comfortable in," she said.

She also has experience working in the realm of politics. From 1981-2001, she was a Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Presidential Scheduling during the Clinton Administration. Between 2001 and 2002, she served in the Office of Senator Hilary Clinton as her Director of Scheduling.

With vastly different experiences and areas of expertise, each of these women found a home at the Timbers Club.

"There's lots of roles in a sports team," Keane said. "So, figure out what you wanna do. Maybe you're passionate about accounting, maybe it's marketing, maybe it's on the sporting side and just go out there and get that experience."

Whether it's running on the field or running the whole team, there are roles for women in sports everywhere.

Heather Davis is the highest-ranking female sports executive in Oregon history. Courtesy: Portland Timbers

KATU and the Women's Foundation of Oregon are proud to support SHE FLIES by sharing the stories of influential girls and women in sports throughout 2024.

The Women's Foundation of Oregon is harnessing the power of teamwork to champion girls in sports. We're a group of people who work together to support and promote gender justice. We believe in being free and fair, working as a team, finding happiness, growing, being honest, showing bravery, and making things right.

KATU Story

Sport Oregon 3/4/24 Sport Oregon 3/4/24

George Fox University Women's Golf Team Overcomes Odds and Wins National Championship — KATU

CANBY, Ore. — George Fox University started its women's golf team only 17 years ago, but that hasn't stopped its players from making history.

On May 12, 2023, the team won the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division Three Women's Golf Championship.

"So many people thought that we could never do it from Oregon because of the rain and everything we have going on here, and we're competing against California schools and Texas schools," said Coach MaryJo McCloskey. "Just getting it done felt like such an amazing accomplishment for everyone."

That victory was sweet, and not just because of the massive trophy. It's because the team did it together.

"This last year, winning the national championship together as a team was one of the most special moments we've had," said team co-captain Makensie Toole, a senior at George Fox.

It was an emotional moment for co-captain Alison Takamiya, also a senior at George Fox. "I just remember, I was the last one to putt out in the group, and then as soon as I made the putt, everyone started rushing toward me with water bottles," she said. "[They] started spraying me and each other, and then we all gave each other a big hug and it was just a 'wow, we did it' moment.

Takamiya and Toole are highly decorated golfers, with first-, second-, and third-place awards from the NCAA, the Northwest Conference (NWC), and the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA).

They know that the foundation was built right here for any future success they have on their own.

Takamiya says "Having that support system is really important" for her personal growth.

It's the same for Toole.

“It's really cool to have the opportunity to be around a bunch of women who inspire me every day to get better," she said. "We kind of inspire each other to get better together.”

McCloskey believes the connection between the players is the key to her team's success.

“We care about each other, and it's not about, 'I want to beat you, I want to beat you,''' McCloskey explained. "It's more about, let's all do this together.”

What's just as important as supporting teammates is giving that same support to yourself. It's something McCloskey had to do herself. When she started as a coach at Lewis and Clark College, she was the only woman in her conference.

"I have been on this journey for the last 25 years or so, and I've just really learned a lot about mental toughness and what it takes to be ready for that magic moment," she said. "It took me a long time to get this information and I want girls to get it quicker."

That inspired McCloskey to write her book, 'When Girls Win.'

“Everyone has greatness inside, and in order to bring that greatness out, you have to say great things to yourself," she explained. "That's what I really want people to get out of my book. I want people to realize that we get in our own way so much.”

With an NCAA Championship under their belts, it's safe to say that nothing is getting in this team's way.

KATU and the Women's Foundation of Oregon are proud to support SHE FLIES by sharing the stories of influential girls and women in sports throughout 2024.

KATU Story

Sport Oregon 2/6/24 Sport Oregon 2/6/24

Oregon Nonprofit Empowers Young Girls Through Running — KATU

PORTLAND, Ore. — Two years ago, Cary Sampson joined the Oregon-based nonprofit Girls on the Run as a coach. "It's a really empowering experience for the girls and the coaches," she said. At that same time, her daughter Antwanna joined as a runner. Seeing her daughter participate in the program makes Cary feel "great as a mom."

Since then, Cary has noticed changes in 10-year-old Antwanna. "I've noticed that she has a lot of empathy," she said. “That's something that maybe we were lacking before, but I think Girls on the Run teaches girls to have empathy for other people, and I think that's one of the things I've noticed that's improved in her.”

Antwanna feels some physical changes in herself. "I run a lot faster now," she said. She's also discovered some mental changes. "If you're mad about something, you can take it out in running," she explained. "And then, just completing a goal that you make makes it better."

Teaching young girls emotional regulation and goal-setting is exactly what Girls on the Run strives to do. "At Girls on the Run, we use a research-based curriculum that pairs social-emotional learning with physical activity to support girls in our community with the skills they need to thrive," said Mavia Haight, Executive Director of Girls on the Run. She became executive director five years ago. "It's so incredibly rewarding to be with Girls on the Run," she said.

For Mavia, one of the most rewarding parts is watching the girls run a 5k. "Every season, the girls build up to completing a 5k at the end," Mavia explained. The 5k is an opportunity for the girls to demonstrate their growth after 10 weeks of practice. "I mean, even thinking about watching those girls cross the finish line on 5k day makes me a little emotional, it's just so rewarding," Mavia said. The first step in accomplishing this 5k is helping the girls believe in themselves first.

That's where the coaches come in. "We get to go through these lessons together about how we can build each other up, make each other better, and encourage each other," said Cary.

These lessons help girls like Antwanna build resilience. "It feels really good to complete a mission," she says.

Aside from the 5k and the amazing snacks waiting at the finish line, Antwanna's most grateful to Girls on the Run for making her feel noticed.

Girls on the Run is for 3rd-5th grade girls. Spring season lasts from March 18, 2024-June 1, 2024. Registration opens for coaches on February 16 and for participants on February 21. If you're interested in coaching, click here. For participation, click here. Email info@girlsontherunpdx.orgor call (503)318-5212 for more information.

KATU and the Women's Foundation of Oregon are proud to support SHE FLIES by sharing the stories of influential girls and women in sports throughout 2024.

KATU Story

Sport Oregon 2/2/24 Sport Oregon 2/2/24

Fuel the Future benefiting SHE FLIES, Sport Oregon Foundation to be held May 10

Signature new fundraising and awards event to take place at the Multnomah Athletic Club

Excitement is building for a new fundraising and awards celebration this spring, as Sport Oregon presents Fuel the Future benefitting SHE FLIES and the Sport Oregon Foundation. The inaugural event will be held at the Multnomah Athletic Club on Friday, May 10, from 5-8 p.m.

Fuel the Future will feature a host of new and familiar highlights, including the introduction of the SHE FLIES Community Grant recipients for 2024. It also will include a new awards program, as the organization will celebrate the winners of the inaugural SHE FLIES Pillar Awards. These annual awards will recognize local girls, women and organizations that best exemplify one of the three SHE FLIES pillars: keeping girls in the game, empowering women in coaching and fitness for life.

Fuel the Future will serve as a critical fundraiser for the Sport Oregon Foundation and its flagship initiative, SHE FLIES. The event will feature a live and silent auction, and several sponsorship opportunities are available to help the organization fulfill its mission of breaking down barriers to physical activity, with an emphasis on underserved youth, and the SHE FLIES initiative and its work to support, uplift and celebrate girls and women in sports.

Guests at Fuel the Future will have the opportunity to purchase $25 raffle tickets that allows them the opportunity to choose a bottle of mystery wine from the Wine Wall. Each bottle is valued at $25 or above, and as each bottle is uncovered, guests will learn what bottle they get to take home.

A host of great sponsors are already partnering on the inaugural event, including AAA, Enterprise Mobility, Hyphn, PNC Bank, Stoller Winery, US Bank and the Women’s Foundation of Oregon. The sponsorship opportunities offer local businesses a way to continue supporting the Sport Oregon Foundation and SHE FLIES mission as part of this special night.

For those interested in sponsorship opportunities and tables for the event, please contact Kristin Spear, Sport Oregon director of strategic partnerships, at kristin@sportoregon.org. Those interested in donating auction items are encouraged to contact Anita Moreno, executive assistant and member relations manager with Sport Oregon, at anita@sportoregon.org.

We look forward to everyone’s support in helping us fulfill the Sport Oregon Foundation’s mission by joining us for this special night of connecting with fellow athletes, business leaders, community partners and SHE FLIES ambassadors from across our wonderful sports community.

Sport Oregon 1/29/24 Sport Oregon 1/29/24

2024 SHE FLIES Community Grant Application to Open After Awarding Over $100,000 in 2023 Through the Sport Oregon Foundation

Grant application process for 2024 opens Feb. 7 on SHEFLIES.org

Sport Oregon today announced that the organization is opening its 2024 SHE FLIES Community Grant cycle Wednesday, Feb. 7, through the Sport Oregon Foundation. Grant-seeking organizations aligning with the SHE FLIES mission and corresponding focus areas are encouraged to apply for 2024 grants at SHEFLIES.org.

SHE FLIES is the flagship initiative of the Sport Oregon Foundation, with a mission to connect girls and women across Oregon to sports, and to create inclusive communities through its programs, partnerships and networks. It aims to do so through three focus areas: keeping girls in the game, empowering women in coaching and promoting fitness for life.

In 2022, SHE FLIES awarded grants to six deserving groups, including Active Children Portland, The Children’s Course, Hood River Outrigger Canoe Club, Ophelia’s Place, the Rose City Rollers and Skate Like a Girl.

In 2023, SHE FLIES built on that momentum by awarding nearly 500 percent more total funds to eight deserving non-profits, including Adaptive Sports Northwest, Adelante Mujeres, Bridge City Soccer Academy, Elite Sports Academy, Friends of Baseball, Girls on the Run Greater Oregon, Portland Tennis & Education and Special Olympics Oregon.

Thanks to a substantial financial commitment of $200,000 from Alaska Airlines in late 2022, Sport Oregon has been able to increase the amount awarded through the SHE FLIES Community Grants program in 2023 and 2024.

“At Alaska Airlines, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to play, grow and thrive in athletics,” said Harry Cheema, public affairs manager at Alaska Airlines. “We are proud to support Sport Oregon through the She Flies Community Grant program to level the playing field for girls and women in sports. Alaska is committed to improving access to sports and contributing to the growth and development of athletes, and this partnership allows us to reach communities all across the great state of Oregon.”

The application period for this year’s SHE FLIES grants will end Friday, April 5 at 5 p.m. (PST), and applicants will be notified in early May. Sport Oregon will recognize the 2024 SHE FLIES grant recipients during its annual fundraising gala. Fuel the Future benefiting SHE FLIES and the Sport Oregon Foundation will take place on Friday, May 10 at the Multnomah Athletic Club. Funds will be distributed to grantees in June.

In addition to the community grants program, Sport Oregon annually produces a number of special events and relevant programming in support of the SHE FLIES initiative.

The 2024 calendar of SHE FLIES events begins Wednesday, Feb. 7, with Sport Oregon’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day Trivia Night at the Sports Bra in Northeast Portland. The event, which will be held from 6-8 p.m., is first come, first served, with no RSVP required, so interested participants are encouraged to arrive early. Help us celebrate the achievements and contributions of girls and women in sports and test your women’s sports trivia knowledge for a chance to win! Trivia teams can have a maximum of six people, with the top three teams receiving prizes.

For more information on SHE FLIES and additional events and activities on tap this year, go to SHEFLIES.org.

Sport Oregon 1/9/24 Sport Oregon 1/9/24

Breaking Down Barriers in Athletics at Adaptive Sports Northwest — KATU

PORTLAND, Ore. — Sports are all about defying odds, whether that's defeating an opponent or beating a record. However, for the athletes at Adaptive Sports Northwest (ASNW), breaking down barriers is a daily routine.

ASNW is a nonprofit that provides adaptive sport opportunities at all levels, from recreational to competitive. With the help of a grant from Sport Oregon's 'SHE FLIES' initiative, ANSW is able to hold monthly practices just for female para-athletes. These monthly practice sessions are part of ASNW's 'She's On the Move' program. So far, ASNW offers practice sessions for adaptive basketball and goalball, with a similar initiative in other sports to come.

ASNW Executive Director, Jen Armbruster, says 'She's On the Move' opens new possibilities for female para-athletes. "What's really nice about this initiative is that we can have that younger generation as well, looking up and finding that community," she said. "And for older women as well, for them to be able to say 'hey, I can be an athlete, I can go recreate and go wherever I want to go,' whether that's playing division three ball, going to college with wheelchair basketball or goalball. . . or just finding that community with the group of women."

Armbruster is a para-athlete herself, she knows how playing sports can benefit a person on and off the court. "Sports, for me, has just been such a huge thing in my life, whether that's been time management, getting through school, making sure my grades are good enough, and then, just having those goals and working toward them."

After losing her vision at 14 years old, Armbruster was introduced to goalball. She made the U.S. Paralympic team at just 17, then went on to compete in the games seven times and win four medals - one gold, one silver, two bronze.

Now, she helps others accomplish their goals and experience the joy of playing.

This means everything to athletes like Evita Rush. "I never got the chance to play as a younger kid. It was introduced to me at 15," she explained. "I never got to play on team sports at my school or anything like that."

Rush is a player on ASNW's adult wheelchair basketball team, the 'Portland Wheelblazers.' After nearly a decade at ASNW, she's a familiar face on and off the court. On top of playing for the Wheelblazers, she volunteers at many of ASNW's events.

Events like those hosted through 'She's On the Move' give para-athletes like Rush the space to excel in the sport they love, while building community.

For Armbruster, it's a pleasure "to see the smiles on the court [and] to see the comradery amongst both young and old," but what she finds most rewarding is "just watching folks get to enjoy what they love to do."

Rush says the space for female para-athletes is powerful. "It breaks down barriers," she said. "It's huge, and it's very helpful."

KATU and the Women's Foundation of Oregon are proud to support SHE FLIES by sharing the stories of influential girls and women in sports throughout 2024.

KATU Story

Sport Oregon 10/10/23 Sport Oregon 10/10/23

KeyBank Partners With Portland Thorns To Donate $200,000 to Local Nonprofits Supporting Girls and Women in Sports

Four nonprofits benefit from program partnership

PORTLAND, Ore., October 10, 2023 /3BL/ - KeyBank has partnered with the Portland Thorns and Team Captain Meghan Klingenberg during the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) regular season to create “Assist Off the Pitch.” Throughout the regular season, for every assist recorded by the Thorns, KeyBank donated $5,000 up to $200,000. With the season coming to an end, KeyBank has proudly awarded four local Oregon-based nonprofits with $50,000 donations to support programs dedicated to women and girls in sports.

Recipients include The Portland Thorns Academy, She Flies, Girls Inc., and New Avenues for Youth, each of whom joined KeyBank on the pitch during the Thorns game October 7 for a special ceremony. KeyBank also partnered with the Thorns to create a video series where each organization had the opportunity to share more about their mission, goals and the communities they impact.

“We are honored to partner with the Thorns on this great initiative,” said Josh Lyons, KeyBank’s Market President for Oregon and S.W. Washington and Commercial Banking leader. “Not only did we get to celebrate each assist throughout the season, we knew they would make an impact on women and girls across the region. We proudly support each of these nonprofits and the work they do in our community. And of course, Go Thorns!”

“The Portland Thorns are proud to partner with KeyBank on this initiative,” said Todd Spear, SVP of Corporate Partnerships for the Portland Timbers & Thorns. “Each recipient nonprofit deserve these funds and we look forward to watching them make true impact.”

ABOUT PORTLAND THORNS FC
Portland Thorns FC is an American professional women's soccer team based in Portland, Oregon that plays their home matches at the iconic Providence Park. Established in 2012, the team began play in 2013 as one of the founding teams of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) – the top-ranked professional women's soccer league in the United States. Thorns FC rank among the best globally in attendance across male and female professional soccer clubs. The team has won eight trophies – three NWSL Championships (2013, 2017, 2022), two NWSL Shields (2016, 2021), NWSL Challenge Cup (2021), Women’s International Champions Cup (2021), NWSL Community Shield (2020).

ABOUT KEYCORP
KeyCorp's roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $195 billion at June 30, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

# # #

CONTACT: KeyBank | Laura Suter | 206.343.6953 | laura_suter@keybank.com

Sport Oregon 4/11/23 Sport Oregon 4/11/23

Second-Annual SHE FLIES Community Festival Coming May 21

Sport Oregon Foundation to award $125,000 in Community Grants at this year’s festival

The second-annual SHE FLIES Community Festival is coming soon, with this year’s event set for Sunday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Overlook Park in North Portland (1599 North Fremont Street).

Designed for the whole family, the event will feature live fitness activities, interactive exhibits and the awarding of $125,000 in grants to deserving organizations already advancing the SHE FLIES mission. The SHE FLIES Community Festival is free and open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend.

The event invites anyone wanting to learn more about the Sport Oregon Foundation’s flagship SHE FLIES initiative or to get directly involved the chance to come out and hear from athletes, coaches and parents, meet the grant recipients and hear about the great work they do. Interactive activities will include a variety of workouts and fitness activities, aimed at educating and reinforcing the importance of a fit-for-life lifestyle.

It has been roughly two years since Sport Oregon formally introduced its new SHE FLIES initiative. The goal, from the start, was to build a community to support the organization’s efforts to foster safe community spaces where all girls and women have equitable opportunities and are greater empowered to use sports to take flight and realize the many benefits that participation provides. Pleased with the success of the first-ever SHE FLIES Community Festival in 2022, organizers are excited to continue to grow the event.

“We have been very pleased with the initial support our SHE FLIES initiative has received in a relatively short amount of time, and we are looking forward to building on last year’s Community Festival,” said Julia Mayfield, director of foundation relations for Sport Oregon. “Our goal is to offer an event where community members and families can learn more about our mission while enjoying free fitness and educational activities, and learning how to stay active and involved.”

At its core, SHE FLIES is inspired by a fundamental belief that, through sports, people learn to soar as confident individuals, team players and strong leaders. Further, its mission is to connect girls and women across Oregon to sports, and to create inclusive opportunities through its programs, partnerships and networks.

The SHE FLIES initiative includes three primary areas of focus, and also aims to bring together like-minded groups already doing great work in the community. With girls being twice as likely to drop out of sports by age 14 than boys and participation rates ranking statistically lower for girls of color or from low-income households, a key focus area is that of “keeping girls in the game.” Secondly, the initiative aims to empower women coaches, with statistics showing less than 30 percent of youth coaches being women. Thirdly, SHE FLIES strives to inspire a “fitness-for-life” mentality, encouraging a life-long pursuit in sports and of staying healthy through regular exercise.

A big part of the SHE FLIES mission is focused on engaging parents, and promoting the many benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle not only for younger girls, but as a lifelong pursuit to enhance anyone’s quality of life, regardless of age.

We look forward to seeing everyone at this year’s SHE FLIES Community Festival!

Join Us
The second-annual SHE FLIES Community Festival is a free event open to anyone who would like to attend. No RSVP required. It will be held at Overlook Park in North Portland (1599 North Fremont Street) on Sunday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For More Information on SHE FLIES
To learn more about SHE FLIES, its grants program and overall mission to connect girls and women across Oregon to sports, and to create inclusive communities through the organization’s programs, partnerships and networks, go to www.sheflies.org.

Sport Oregon 1/30/23 Sport Oregon 1/30/23

Sport Oregon Foundation Offers $125,000 in Grants Through SHE FLIES Initiative in 2023

2023 grant application process opens Feb. 2 on SHEFLIES.org; Alaska Airlines to contribute $200,000 over next two years to grants program

PORTLAND, Ore. – Sport Oregon today announced that the organization is opening its 2023 SHE FLIES Community Grant cycle Thursday, Feb. 2, with $125,000 available this year through the Sport Oregon Foundation. Grant-seeking organizations aligning with the SHE FLIES mission and corresponding focus areas are encouraged to apply for 2023 grants at SHEFLIES.org.

For Sport Oregon COO Maika Janat-Vennemann, “Last year was really about building a network and constructing what SHE FLIES is, and can be. As a connector and trusted voice in sports, Sport Oregon is uniquely qualified to uplift girls and women in sport. When girls are in, we all win.”

Thanks to a substantial financial commitment from Alaska Airlines, Sport Oregon has increased the amount awarded through the SHE FLIES Community Grants program, from $25,000 in the program’s first year to $125,000 in 2023. Alaska Airlines has committed $200,000 in support of the SHE FLIES Community Grants program over the next two years ($100,000 per year for 2023 and 2024).

The application period for this year’s SHE FLIES grants will end Friday, April 7 at 5 p.m. (PST), and applicants will be notified in early May. Sport Oregon will recognize the 2023 SHE FLIES grant recipients during its second-annual SHE FLIES Festival later in May, and funds will be distributed to grantees in June.

In addition to the community grants program, Sport Oregon annually produces a number of special events and relevant programming in support of the SHE FLIES initiative.

The SHE FLIES calendar of in-person events for 2023 kicks off this week with Sport Oregon’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day Panel. The event, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at PNC Live Studio in downtown Portland on Wednesday, Feb. 1, will feature speakers of different ages, sports and levels to compare and contrast how their experiences got them to where they are today. The panel will celebrate these amazing athletes and advocates, but also engage them in real conversations about pressures and challenges faced along the way, and why they ultimately stuck with it to make sport such a big part of their lives.

For more information on SHE FLIES and additional events and activities on tap this year, go to SHEFLIES.org.

Sport Oregon 1/12/23 Sport Oregon 1/12/23

An Important Part of the Journey: Athletes Redefined Assisting Athletes in Preparations for Post-Playing Pursuits

Program aims to help the athletes of today become the professional leaders of tomorrow

High-level athletes face a number of challenges on their way to the ultimate success they strive to achieve on the field of play, regardless of the sport. But what gets left out of the equation, more times than not, is planning for their post-playing days.

Shannon Boxx – a three-time Olympic gold-medal winner and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion while playing for the U.S. Women’s National Team in soccer – has first-hand experience with the difficult transition from the playing field to the board room, so to speak. Upon retiring in 2015 – after 12 years with the national team and 14 years as a professional soccer athlete – Boxx actually thought she had done a good deal of planning for her future beyond the field. She felt very fortunate to end her playing career exactly how she wanted to, and on her own terms. But she quickly found out that it was going to be more difficult than expected to really find that one thing she was passionate about pursuing off the field.

Her immediate focus upon retirement was on raising a family. She had a daughter near the end of her playing career, and welcomed a son roughly a year after retirement. Beyond this focus on family, though, Boxx – a finalist for the 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year and a 2022 inductee into the National Soccer Hall of Fame – found it difficult to pinpoint the right path professionally, at least at first. When describing her immediate professional exploration upon retirement, Boxx says she “said yes to a lot of different things” but that it took time to really figure out what she wanted to do.

“I definitely had to figure out my identity past sports,” Boxx said. “What else am I good at, what else am I passionate about?”

In 2019, she attended a conference that focused on females in the corporate world, and it just clicked. As a psychology major at the University of Notre Dame and through the leadership and teamwork skills gained during her playing days, Boxx quickly realized how to transfer her love for empowering others with her love of sports. And from this inspiration, her new endeavor, Athletes Redefined, was born.

Under the umbrella of the company, Ethos Mentality Group, Boxx and the company’s co-founder, Jen Croneberger, have set out to redefine how female athletes, in particular, go about planning for their future through Athletes Redefined. While still in the thick of their playing careers, there is a bit of a stigma attached to planning for the day when athletes no longer take the field of play. It can be viewed as a distraction, when in reality, according to Boxx, developing a plan ahead of time can actually boost how one performs on the field. Boxx says this planning can release a lot of stress and anxiety, and through Athletes Redefined, she and Croneberger – a sought-after, four-time TEDx speaker and compassionate leadership and culture change consultant – hope to inspire athletes to see the many wonderful possibilities that lie ahead by providing a blueprint for success.

Boxx and Croneberger have set out on this mission to empower current and former women’s athletes with the firm belief that the skills gained through sports are extremely valuable – and appealing to employers – in the corporate world. The focus of Athletes Redefined, first and foremost, is in helping athletes make the transition. The aim is to help athletes find their identity, give them the necessary confidence and get them to see the skills they gained as an athlete, and shine a light on how those skills are ultimately beneficial and transferable to what they want to do next with their career.

“Our goal is to get these athletes to see this as an important part of their journey,” Boxx said.

The efforts and mission of Athletes Redefined is well-supported by studies that show 95 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs were athletes, and that 80 percent of female Fortune 500 executives have a background in competitive sports.

While Athletes Redefined is still in its development phase, Boxx and Croneberger are focused on networking and connecting people who really want to help make a difference by getting involved. A key part of this development stage for the program is raising interest from companies that see the value in empowering women. Boxx says a primary goal of the program is to provide workshops and mentorship at no cost to the participating current and former athletes, so building the sponsorship piece is key to its success.

To help further its reach in these areas, Athletes Redefined has partnered with Sport Oregon as a primary connector. With its flagship SHE FLIES initiative, the mission of Sport Oregon and Ethos Mentality Group’s Athletes Redefined are essentially mirror images of one another, with a foundational goal of helping the girls of today to become the athletes and business leaders of tomorrow.

The two groups are working closely on producing an upcoming two-day workshop, targeted for the spring. The two-day workshop will be followed by a 90-day period of ongoing mentorship to help athletes implement their action plan, continue to refine their strategy for success and execute on the “playbook” provided during the workshop.

Sport Oregon also is helping to identify sponsors for the developing program, to ensure the service and mentorship is free to those interested.

“The partnership with Sport Oregon is amazing,” Boxx said. “We all want the same thing – to empower girls and women – so it’s just such a great partnership.”

How To Get Involved
Whether you’re a company interested in supporting Athletes Redefined through sponsorship, or you’re an athlete interested in learning more about professional planning and goal setting, additional information is available at www.ethosmentality.com and on LinkedIn.

Sport Oregon 11/21/22 Sport Oregon 11/21/22

Portland Lands First-Ever NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland has been announced as the official host city for the 2030 Division I NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four, per official NCAA statement this morning. It will be Portland’s first time hosting this world-class event, and the bid process has been driven collaboratively by Sport Oregon, Travel Portland, the Rose Quarter / Portland Trail Blazers, and the University of Portland Pilots.

“To say we are excited is a massive understatement – this is a huge win for our community and our bid partners,” said Sport Oregon CEO Jim Etzel. “It is a testament to the culture and passion of women’s basketball fans in Oregon. We are deeply appreciative of the Women’s Basketball Committee and the NCAA for choosing Portland, and we can’t wait to show everyone what we already know, that this is the best place in the world for women’s athletics.”

Portland was a finalist for the 2025 and 2026 Women’s Final Fours back in 2020, but ultimately fell short in securing either of those events. In 2019, Portland hosted one of the most successful Women’s Basketball Regionals in history, and were set to do the same in 2020 before the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament. The University of Portland will act as the host school for the Portland Women’s Final Four.

“It is a tremendous honor to serve as institutional host on this successful bid to bring the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Final Four to Portland,” University of Portland Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam said. “The University of Portland is home to women’s athletic programs that were at the forefront of the growth of women’s sports in our great city and state and this is a great way for us to continue that legacy.”

The bidding group has worked for the bulk of this year on making their pitch to the NCAA. Representatives from the NCAA and Women’s Basketball Committee were in Portland in September for the official site tour, and had a chance to analyze critical venues, and meet several stakeholders in the community. The bidding group’s final presentation to the NCAA was held November 16th in Dallas.

Now, Moda Center and the overall the Rose Quarter will serve as the epicenter of women’s basketball in 2030.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to hold the NCAA Women's Final Four in Portland at the Rose Quarter in 2030,” said Chris Oxley, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs & Strategic Initiatives, Portland Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter. “The success of the women’s regional in 2019 held at Moda Center, last year’s men’s tournament, and the continued success of other collegiate basketball events on our campus is a testament to the passionate basketball fans that make up our community. We’re thrilled to continue bringing high level women’s basketball to Portland.

A Women’s Final Four will be an economic boon for the Portland hospitality community, as the WBCA Coaches Convention will also make Portland its home over the same weekend. Between the WBCA and the Women’s Final Four, an estimated 11,000 hotel rooms will be utilized for the overall event between downtown and the Lloyd District.

“It is with immense pleasure and pride that Travel Portland celebrates the NCAA’s Women’s Final Four coming to Portland,” said Jeff Miller, President & CEO of Travel Portland. “With over 50 years of supporting women’s athletics, there is not another city in the country that will embrace this event and what it stands for more than Portland. Travel Portland - along with our partners - enthusiastically looks forward to welcoming the world of women’s basketball to our inclusive, diverse and women’s-sports-loving city.”

The Oregon Convention Center will host the WBCA Coaches Convention, along with Tourney Town, a free public fan festival for basketball fans. Several other events will be held around Final Four weekend throughout the city, along with legacy-building community opportunities in the years prior. An official Local Organizing Committee will also be developed, inclusive of the bidding organizations. Portland was among seven finalist cities for the five open years of hosting.

“We’ve put in a lot of work to get to this day, and this is certainly a great feeling,” said Etzel. “But the work we have ahead of us is even more substantial. Our bidding partners are aligned, our community is hungry, and Portland is ready to host a Women’s Final Four.”

Outside of Portland, the other winning host cities were Columbus, OH (2027); Indianapolis, IN (2028); San Antonio, TX (2029); and Dallas, TX (2031).

Sport Oregon 11/17/22 Sport Oregon 11/17/22

SHE FLIES Celebrates Impactful First Year, Sets Sights on Greater Accomplishments in 2023

Sport Oregon to host Holiday Bash Dec. 6 to benefit flagship SHE FLIES initiative

When Sport Oregon launched its new SHE FLIES initiative last year, the organization had clear objectives for the signature endeavor. In its most simple terms, 2022 would take a building approach, with more ambitious goals in store for 2023.

As the flagship initiative of the Sport Oregon Foundation, the focus of SHE FLIES is connecting girls and women across Oregon to sports, and creating inclusive communities through its programs, partnerships and networks. It aims to do so through three focus areas: getting girls in the game, empowering women coaches and promoting fitness for life.

Now, as the holiday season approaches and 2022 winds down, it’s rewarding for the organization to look back at the first full year of SHE FLIES and see the strategic work behind building such an impactful initiative from the ground up come to life.

“The past year was really about building a network and constructing what SHE FLIES is, and can be,” said Maika Janat-Vennemann, COO of Sport Oregon.

As Sport Oregon continues growing the initiative to achieve increased impact, awareness and support, it is hosting The Sport Oregon Holiday Bash benefitting SHE FLIES. The event is set for Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Cosmopolitan Ballroom at Hotel Eastlund in Portland. The Holiday Bash will feature an online auction, a raffle and a live auction with exclusive packages, such as a Grand Slam trip for two to New York to take in the 2023 US Open for tennis and a VIP access experience for next year’s INDYCAR Grand Prix of Portland.

Individual tickets and tables for The Sport Oregon Holiday Bash are currently available for purchase.

The goal all along has been to build a solid foundation for SHE FLIES, with the focus of 2023 centering around boosting its programs and increasing its impact.

“This first year was more about friends raising than fund raising,” Janat-Vennemann continued.

Still, while it’s a relatively new initiative, it’s safe to say SHE FLIES is off and soaring on the strength of a great first year. In 2022, SHE FLIES has generated upwards of $100,000 in revenue thus far. Through SHE FLIES, Sport Oregon awarded $25,000 in Community Grants in the spring. Additionally, the organization launched a new SHE FLIES content series, produced a free SHE FLIES Festival event, hosted a Women in Motorsports panel event in conjunction with the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Portland, and SHE FLIES became the exclusive non-profit partner and beneficiary of The Red Gala. Notably, the organization has established a number of strategic partnerships that have set a great foundation for the organization to experience continued growth for SHE FLIES.

Looking ahead to next year, Sport Oregon is looking to substantially add to and further enhance its events and fundraising efforts around SHE FLIES. For starters, the organization aims to give a minimum of $125,000 in Community Grants, with the new cycle beginning February 2023. Additionally, plans are in place to make the SHE FLIES Festival a much larger event, with future plans to expand it to additional communities across Oregon.

While there are plenty of successes to celebrate at the upcoming Holiday Bash, there is still work to be done to ensure 2023 is even bigger and better than expected. The organization hopes you can join them in their efforts to connect girls and women across the state to the many benefits of sports participation.

Sport Oregon 10/31/22 Sport Oregon 10/31/22

Celebrating the First Three-Time NWSL Champions

While the Portland Thorns have spoiled us a bit with their resumé of success over their 10 years, we will never take their championship achievements for granted. This week, we celebrate the FIRST THREE-TIME NWSL CHAMPIONS in their return to the Rose City, and we couldn’t be more proud. From everyone at Sport Oregon, we congratulate the Portland Thorns and revel in the celebration of our true champions.

In the end, it was a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. that sealed the title. But, really, the accomplishments from this past season already made them champions in our book.

It was a season of standout performances, and ultimate team effort in support of the guidance, direction and tutelage of first-year Thorns coach Rhian Wilkinson and general manager Karina LeBlanc. No fewer than four Thorns players dotted the NWSL Best XI at season’s end, including Sophia Smith, who was also crowned the league’s regular-season MVP and NWSL Championship MVP for her standout efforts. Smith and Sam Coffey were named to the Best XI First Team, while defenders Becky Sauerbrunn and Kelli Hubly made the Best XI Second Team.

It was with laser-focus that the Thorns became the league’s first three-time champ, with a dominating performance in the title game over the weekend. Smith set the tone early lead with a fourth-minute strike, and Portland doubled its lead in the 56th minute on its way to a 2-0 victory over the Current. The win gave the Thorns their third Championship in 10 years, with Portland being crowned champs in 2013 and again in 2017. They are two-time NWSL Shield winners (2016, 2021), and in 2021 they won the NWSL Challenge Cup.

At Sport Oregon, we’ve been oh-so proud to support the Thorns for these many years, and couldn’t be more thrilled for the team, its passionate supporters, and the entire city and state. The Thorns women are an inspiration to thousands and thousands of youth in our state. As the team’s playoff run commenced, we were privileged to partner with the team to raise funds for our SHE FLIES initiative. As a result of the team’s semifinal win over San Diego played before 22,000 at Providence Park, we were able to generate important funds for SHE FLIES, a Sport Oregon Foundation initiative that aims to empower girls and women through sport to overcome barriers and challenges, ultimately to unleash their full potential.

For this, we are extremely grateful.

The Thorns championship efforts provide yet another boost for Portland, and are a tangible reminder of how sports impact and bond us as a community. As we revel in our champions’ accomplishments together, we’ll be front and center at Tuesday’s Championship Rally at Providence Park.

Our Portland Thorns are proven champions, and will always be as much to us, win or lose. But we are simply thrilled to celebrate their championship achievements this season.

If You’re Going
In celebration of Portland Thorns FC’s 2022 NWSL Championship victory against the Kansas City Current on Oct. 29 at Audi Field, the club invites fans to come celebrate with the team at an NWSL Championship rally on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Providence Park beginning at 6 p.m. Stadium gates will open to fans at 5:30 p.m.. The rally is free and open to the public, and fans will have the opportunity to purchase food and beverages as well as NWSL Championship merchandise and gear.

The championship rally will feature remarks by Thorns FC players as well team and local leaders. The entire event will also be live streamed on the Thorns website.

Time: Gates open at 5:30 p.m., event begins at 6:00 p.m.
Gates: Gates D and F only—The rally is free and open to the public. (Fans will be required to go through magnometers and bag checks)
Food: Concession locations will be open on the north end of the stadium
PTFC Authentics: Both main store locations at the stadium will be open with NWSL Championship gear on hand for purchase

Sport Oregon 9/22/22 Sport Oregon 9/22/22

With Playoff Spot Secured, Thorns Aim for More as Season Draws to a Close

Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer, Portland Thorns

First-place Portland takes steady approach to postseason prospects and season goals

As is oftentimes the case, the fate of the NWSL postseason once again is coming down to the wire. But with a 3-0 victory over Racing Louisville FC at Providence Park on Wednesday night, Portland Thorns FC locked up their spot in the NWSL playoffs, and remain in strong contention for the NWSL Shield. The win vaulted Portland into first place with two games remaining, but as of Thursday morning, only six points separate the top seven teams in the 12-team league. The Thorns lead is just one point over San Diego and OL Reign, and just two points over Houston and Kansas City.

Having made the playoffs all but once since serving as a founding member of the league in 2013, there’s an established standard of excellence with the Thorns. A two-time league champion and two-time NWSL Shield winner, it’s no surprise, then, that Portland once again is aiming for more than a mere playoff spot as the regular season comes to a close with their final two games.

As a former player, first-year Thorns head coach Rhian Wilkinson knows all too well the pitfalls and traps players are confronted with as any season draws to a close and teams jockey for position. Sure, the pressure ratchets up with every passing game, but it’s simply too easy to get caught up in table-watching and worrying about things out of one’s control, including pundit prognostications and expected results.

So, as simple as it seems, Wilkinson emphasizes a very steady, common-sense approach as the season draws to a close, and the pressure ramps up. For her, it essentially just comes down to the team taking care of its own business and letting the cards fall where they may. In this way, she makes it a priority to support the players, first and foremost, and try to keep them in the moment.

“It’s so easy to get caught up in another narrative,” Wilkinson said. “If we keep doing what we’re doing, that’s the biggest piece. It’s really about us, and it’s always been about us from the beginning.”

Wilkinson, who played briefly in Portland during the 2015 NWSL season, came to Portland as its new head coach at the conclusion of the 2021 season. Previously serving as an assistant coach with the England Women’s National Team (2021) and as an assistant with the Canada Women’s National Team (2019-20), she came to Portland with a well-rounded base of experience.

But that’s no assurance of success, especially in a league like the NWSL where the unexpected can happen on any given match day, seemingly. With a new coach, a new system, and the inevitable roster turnover due to attrition and injury, Wilkinson is very pleased with how the team has responded this year, especially considering the degree of change.

Every player on the current roster has started at last one game, young players are stepping up, and others are taking on greater responsibilities to complement the strong core that helped Portland win its second Shield in 2021.

“They’ve just consistently found a level of play that, as their new head coach, I’ve just been so impressed with,” Wilkinson said. “Their willingness to fight through the challenges – it’s a testament to the culture here, the club and the team itself. No matter what happens, these women just get on with it.”

The top six teams in the 12-team NWSL advance to the postseason, with the top two teams receiving a bye in the first round of playoffs. This year’s quarterfinals will take place Oct. 15-16, the semifinals will be Oct. 22-23, and the 2022 NWSL Championship will be held Saturday, Oct. 29, at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

Next up, the Thorns look to keep their hold on the top of the table when they host the Chicago Red Stars at Providence Park on Sunday. The team will then round out the regular season with a road game at Gotham FC on Oct. 1.

Any way you slice it, it’s shaping up to be an eventful end to the season. Sport Oregon is joining in with the season-ending excitement when the Thorns play their final home game of the regular season Sunday. The organization is hosting a special happy hour and fundraiser for its SHE FLIES initiative at its offices, conveniently located across the street from Providence Park. Offering tickets for $35 each, Sport Oregon is inviting interested fans for a pre-match party – featuring mimosas, beer, wine, cider, water, soft drinks and pastries – at 11 a.m., followed by the game at 1 p.m.

Click here to purchase tickets – which include access to the pre-match party and general admission entrance to the game. Proceeds raised will directly support SHE FLIES, a Sport Oregon Foundation initiative that aims to empower girls and women through sport to overcome barriers and challenges, ultimately to unleash their full potential.

For more information on the event, contact Sport Oregon Event Manager Hannah Roxas at hannah@sportoregon.org.

For the Thorns, it’s been a successful season so far, one that has positioned them well to make some noise in the postseason. But while a good regular season is always nice, the Thorns have their eye on greater achievements in 2022.

“It’s clear to the team: we’re giving everything we have to bring home the Shield and then the championship,” Wilkinson concluded.

Sport Oregon 8/25/22 Sport Oregon 8/25/22

First Women in Motorsports Panel Event Set to Kick Off Grand Prix of Portland Weekend

Grand Prix weekend caps off eventful summer of top-level racing’s return to PIR

As a much-anticipated bookend to an eventful summer of racing at Portland International Raceway, the Grand Prix of Portland makes its return to the venerable track the weekend of Sept. 2-4.

The action-packed weekend will feature nine total races and five different racing series, including the marquee NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on Sunday. Friday’s slate features USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 races, and Indy Lights and ARCA Menards Series West practice sessions. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice and qualifying takes place on Saturday, a day that also includes a USF2000 race at 10:15 a.m., an Indy Pro race at 2:20 p.m., Indy Lights practice and qualifying and the ARCA Menards Series West Race at 5:30 p.m. Sunday features an Indy Lights race at 10:20 a.m., followed by the NTT INDYCAR Series Grand Prix of Portland at 12:30 p.m.

As a special kickoff to this year’s Grand Prix of Portland, Sport Oregon is teaming up with PNC Bank to present a panel event on Thursday, Sept. 1. The event – An Evening with Women in Motorsports Powered by PNC – includes an engaging panel discussion with five prominent female leaders in motorsports. The panel includes SJ Luedtke, the vice president of marketing for INDYCAR; two members of the Chip Ganassi Racing team, Angela Ashmore and Anna Chatten; engineer Claire Binci and 14-time road racing champion and team owner, Cindi Lux. The invite-only event will be held from 6-9 p.m. at the Alpha Media Live Studio at 1210 SW 6th Ave. in Portland.

Earlier this year, PNC, which also sponsors INDYCAR driver Scott Dixon – a six-time champion and Indianapolis 500 winner – and his No. 9 PNC Bank Honda, teamed up with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) to launch a new gender-equality initiative – Women in Motorsports Powered by PNC – to create awareness and hands-on experiences to educate, advocate and advance career path opportunities for women in traditionally male-dominated careers, such as motorsports.

“PNC Bank is committed to creating more opportunities for women innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders,” said J.T. Hutchinson, PNC regional president of Portland. “Our Main Street Bank model allows us to be intentional in how we impact the communities where we live and work, and this program is a great example of how we are doing just that.”

The program provides a three-month paid internship at Chip Ganassi Racing to five college women in roles ranging from mechanic and athletic training to engineering and IT. The program also launched a video content series showcasing women leaders in the industry that CGR already employs, including engineers, mechanics and drivers. The inaugural class of student workers is nearing completion of the first group of internships provided by the program, with applications for the second class opening this fall.

Women in Motorsports has received great interest and overall engagement thus far in conjunction with other NTT INDYCAR SERIES races throughout the country, and Portland PNC officials are excited for the opportunity to showcase the new initiative on the local level in conjunction with this year’s Grand Prix of Portland.

“The response has been overwhelming and this is our contribution to that overall effort of promoting our new Women in Motorsports initiative,” said Brian Stewart, PNC’s director of client and community relations. “We’re lucky to be able to partner with Sport Oregon on the event, and it promises to be a fantastic panel discussion.”

From a Sport Oregon perspective, the Women in Motorsports initiative is a natural extension of the organization’s SHE FLIES initiative. Through SHE FLIES, Sport Oregon strives to empower girls and women through sport to overcome barriers and challenges, ultimately to unleash their full potential.

Those goals are very much in line with that of Lux, a featured panel participant and lifelong native of the Pacific Northwest. Growing up around the sport, she knows first-hand the barriers women wanting to enter the field can often face. But she’s quick to point out that, especially with how much more sophisticated and involved the industry is, the opportunities do exist but that there’s no substitute for hard work and persistence to succeed, especially in such a competitive field.

“Any position available on a race team is open to a female,” said Lux, whose Lux Performance Group is based in Aloha, Ore. “There are so many other avenues besides just the driver on professional teams these days. That’s kind of what the journey is, to really open up these doors.”

Through her vast experience, she can list off a dozen or so different areas of expertise available to women within the sport just off the top of her head, including team executive positions, truck drivers, engineers, mechanics, accountants, marketing and public relations, social media and the many functions of the sport’s expansive hospitality programs, to name a few.

Lux enthusiastically embraces her role as a leading voice for women in the sport, especially her upcoming participation in the Women in Motorsports panel discussion in her hometown where she hopes to make connections that continue well after the event.

“Being involved with this event is really important to me,” she said. “If there’s a handful of people from the Portland area that I can be a local resource for, that’s great. Basically, if you want to talk further, give me a call.”

It’s a great time to be involved with motorsports in general, but particularly so here in Portland and at Portland International Raceway. After more than a decade without top-level events, the track once again is rumbling with premier races as it did in its previous glory years. This summer marked the return of a NASCAR series event to PIR for the first time in more than two decades, and with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returning in 2018 after an extended absence of its own, Northwest racing fans are being treated to a host of high-level racing action once again.

“For a city-owned facility like PIR to have two top-tier racing events on each end of the summer is a huge win for the entire city,” said Sport Oregon CEO Jim Etzel, who credits Green Savoree Racing Promotions for its vision and partnership in making the two race weekends such a success. “Premier motorsports events are back as they should be in Portland, and that’s been huge for fans of the sport in the Pacific Northwest.”

For those who can’t make this year’s Grand Prix of Portland, the race will be televised live on NBC, including locally on KGW, with race coverage beginning at 12 noon.

If You’re Going to the Grand Prix of Portland
Ticket prices start as low as $20 for single-day general admission and $70 for single-day grandstand seats. Three-day tickets remain available for purchase and offer the best value. General admission for the entire weekend is $65, and three-day grandstand reserved seats start at $85, which includes gate admission. For more information or to purchase tickets online, click here.

Sport Oregon 6/23/22 Sport Oregon 6/23/22

As Title IX Turns 50, Sport Oregon Continues to Inspire Female Athletes Through SHE FLIES

Foundation initiative aims to facilitate greater girls’ and women’s participation in sport

Fifty years ago this week, Title IX – a 37-word passage written to address gender discrimination in public education and federally assisted programs – was passed into law as part of a larger education bill. Despite its relative brevity, Title IX’s passage on June 23, 1972, proved to be a milestone in gender equity.

Though not specifically written to address girls’ and women’s athletics, Title IX is most commonly associated with sports. In essence, its passage meant any federally funded school from the elementary to college level had to provide fair and equal treatment of the sexes in all areas, including athletics. It opened doors and reduced barriers for girls and women to participate in a variety of sports and to have equal access to educational opportunities and academic disciplines.

Sport Oregon has long celebrated the achievements of high school, collegiate and professional female athletes as part of the Oregon Sports Awards and through its programs and initiatives. It’s simply hard to imagine how that landscape would differ had it not been for Title IX.

Today, a significant amount of the work Sport Oregon does through its foundation is focused on continuing to reduce barriers to play, especially for females. While there are many more opportunities available to participate in sports for girls and women as a result of Title IX, many of today’s challenges relate to dwindling participation numbers, lack of resources and not enough mentorship and inspiration to encourage continued participation.

Specifically, Sport Oregon’s SHE FLIES initiative is the signature platform for its foundation. At its core, SHE FLIES is inspired by a fundamental belief that people learn to soar as confident individuals, team players and strong leaders through sport. Its mission is to connect girls and women across Oregon to sports, and to create inclusive opportunities through its programs, partnerships and networks.

Teresa O’Neill is the vice president of global strategic partnerships for Travel Oregon, a state agency that works to enhance Oregon’s economy by developing world-class visitor experiences and inspiring travel to the state. She is connected to sports in the state in many ways, including her work as an executive board member for Sport Oregon and as a founding member and supporter of SHE FLIES.

On a personal level, O’Neill appreciated the opportunities available to her as a teenager as she participated in swimming and running programs while growing up in Montana. Granted, these opportunities are essentially a given in today’s world – at least in the United States – but it’s not lost on her the impact that Title IX had on making them possible.

“The opportunity to not even question whether you could participate at the same level as the male athletes was a big deal,” she said. “It really did open my eyes that women can do anything.”

Travel Oregon is actively involved in helping to attract large events to the state, but particularly it is committed to its mission to assure Oregon remains a welcome destination that celebrates diversity. It is keen on attracting and supporting sporting events that celebrate women’s athletics, like the encouraging pursuit of the Women’s Final Four for basketball and the upcoming World Athletics Championships Oregon22, which will celebrate a day of special programming honoring female athletics with a “Women in the Spotlight” day on July 18.

“These things are important to Oregon,” O’Neill said.

Fifty years after Title IX, most would suggest that support for women’s sports and female athletes is still not enough, and that there is still work to be done. There’s also a growing concern with the decline of girls and women’s participation in sports. According to studies, girls are two times more likely to drop out of sports participation by age 14 when compared to boys.

The decline in participation for female athletes is a major area of focus for the SHE FLIES initiative. First, it strives to get more girls in the game, specifically by reducing barriers to access and promoting the many positive advantages of participation. Additionally, there is a broader focus on empowering more women coaches in sports, with statistics showing women making up less than 30 percent of youth coaches nationwide. Lastly, SHE FLIES promotes a lifelong, fit-for-life mentality that encourages fitness as a lifelong pursuit for increased health and wellness.

With many resources already available from a variety of like-minded groups, SHE FLIES has been designed, intentionally, as a supporting resource to tackle the issue. Sport Oregon has embraced its role as a supporter, connector and as an overarching entity that can shine a light on the work being done and to further rally the cause. This commitment, notably, includes a significant fundraising element aimed at supporting the many groups and causes already working to make a difference, especially in areas disproportionally affected.

Like O’Neill, Elisha Lutz sits on the board of directors with Sport Oregon and has both a professional and personal connection to sports, including the development of SHE FLIES. Lutz is the general manager and vice president for accounts and client partners for Ideas Collide, a digital marketing agency and Sport Oregon sponsor. Ideas Collide began its work with SHE FLIES at an inflection point, collaborating and lending its collective expertise in refining the initiative’s mission, vision and values, and developing the tools to help amplify its message.

Lutz can relate to the troubling statistics related to girls dropping out of sports. Personally, she played high school sports until she was about 15. She says that it then stopped becoming fun, started being over-competitive and frankly, it just wasn’t seen as being “cool” by her peers at that age.

“I didn’t have anyone to pull me back in, to help me see different options,” Lutz said. “I really didn’t have a relationship with a coach like that, and my parents didn’t really push me in that way; so that’s where it ended for me.”

She says she regrets missing out on what a team environment provides and the benefit of those team-related experiences. But her experience as a teenager inspires her even more to help make a difference through her work with Sport Oregon and SHE FLIES.

“Personally, I just feel really compelled to help change that and give girls, women and the community more resources to support girls and the cause,” she said.

Jack Elder is a noted area Olympian and historian with a varied and interesting relationship with sports over the decades, highlighted by his experience and achievements at the international level. He founded the Oregon Sports Authority (now Sport Oregon) in 1991 and was part of a group that explored the potential of bringing the Olympics to Portland. As a broadcaster and a 1972 Winter Olympian in luge, he essentially had a front-row seat for the progressive era of change that was the 1960s and 1970s. He remembers well witnessing the rise of women’s athletics and the fight that athletes like Billie Jean King and Steve Prefontaine endeavored in taking a leading role in the rapid changes for the better that were occurring across sports.

“Title IX and the rights of athletes in general was finally coming to a head in the early 1970s; all of these things were happening around the same time,” Elder said.

You can’t have a conversation about Title IX without King, who worked tirelessly for women’s parity in sports for years while helping to pass Title IX and prohibit sex discrimination in all federally funded school programs.

“When Title IX passed, the explosion was just stunning,” Elder remembers. “The growth of women’s sport was just amazing.”

Prefontaine fought for athletes’ rights against the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), which held tight controls on where athletes could compete and essentially all aspects of an athlete’s life. Elder could relate to this plight on a personal level, as he was held out of the 1968 Winter Olympics basically for not being at the right race at the right time.

Elder, who is the current historian for the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association, points out that one of the great benefits of Title IX and the advancement of women’s athletics can be seen off the field of play, with women taking a leading role in the business side of sport, from the operational level to the executive level to the political side. It also paved the way for the creation of women’s professional sports leagues, like the WNBA and NWSL, which features Portland Thorns FC.

Things have come a long way in 50 years, but there’s still work to be done. For Sport Oregon’s part, it will remain sharply focused on advancing women’s athletics and continuing to foster and inspire participation amongst girls and women through its programs and initiatives.

For More Information on SHE FLIES
To learn more about SHE FLIES and Sport Oregon’s work to keep lifting girls and women through sport, click here.

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