espnW and the U.S. Department of State today announced the final roster of 15 companies participating in the recently announced Global Sports Mentoring Program. To create sustainable sports opportunities for underserved women and girls worldwide, espnW and the Department of State will pair women from around the world, ages 25-45 and identified as emerging leaders, with American executives in a sports-related field. This fall, 17 women will travel to the United States and spend more than three weeks working at their host company. The emerging leaders hail from Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Macedonia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Developed to empower women and girls through sports, the mentoring program, a collaborative effort between espnW and the Department of State, was introduced on June 21 by ESPN President John Skipper and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
“espnW is thrilled to collaborate with the Department of State on this program,” said Laura Gentile, vice president, espnW. “It enables us to pursue our mission of serving female sports fans in an ambitious and innovative way. We’re extremely grateful to the outstanding lineup of host companies who will provide an invaluable learning experience to these young leaders.”
“espnW has effectively mobilized leading women in sports and their companies to mentor and engage emerging leaders from around the world,” said Ann Stock, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. “This mentoring program builds on Secretary Clinton’s global efforts to empower women and girls in all societies so that they have the opportunity to pursue their God-given potential.”
The 15 Global Sports Mentoring Program host companies are:
– Burton
– Colavita
– ESPN (hosting two emerging leaders)
– Gatorade
– LPGA
– NCAA
– Procter & Gamble
– Saatchi & Saatchi (hosting two emerging leaders)
– Stanton & Company
– Under Armour
– University of Oregon
– USA Gymnastics
– U.S. Olympic Committee
– Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT)
– Women’s Sports Foundation
The program is part of the State Department’s larger “Empowering Women and Girls Through Sports Initiative,” which aims to increase the number of women and girls who participate in sports worldwide.
About espnW:
espnW’s mission is to connect female fans with the sports they love and follow. espnW.com provides an engaging environment where women are an integral part of the sports conversation, share their perspective on men’s and women’s sports and find the motivation and support for their athletic goals and interests. Founded in July 2010, espnW, [espnW.com], is an emerging business that consists primarily of a digital product suite including pc web, mobile web and social media. Founding partners include Nike, Gatorade and P&G espnW is also supported by a strong social media presence on Twitter and Facebook. The Women’s Sports Foundation is a charity of choice of espnW.
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