Women's Sports Foundation

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Established in 1974 by Billie Jean King, former husband Larry King and Jim Jorgensen – originally with a $5,000 check from Bob Hope that Billie Jean King had won as the Gillette Female Athlete of the Year [1], the Women's Sports Foundation – WSF - "is a charitable educational organization dedicated to ensuring equal access to participation and leadership opportunities for all girls and women in sports and fitness."[2] In 1990, Life magazine named King one of the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century," in part because of projects such as the Women's Sports Foundation.

The WSF began its multi-sport emphasis at the 1975 ABC TV show “Women’s Superstars” which was held at the Houston Astrodome at which Olympic swimmer Donna de Varona and other women’s sports stars became interested.

From 1975 to 1990, under the direction of Executive Director, Eva Auchincloss, Deputy Director Holly Turner, and Chairwoman Billie Jean King, the Board of Trustees was expanded beyond Billie Jean, Larry King, Jim Jorgensen and Donna de Varona to include influential persons like Peggy Fleming, Snoopy creator Charles Schultz, and Bristol-Myers executive Marvin Koslo.

During this period, WSF created the Women’s Sport Hall of Fame and its annual award dinner which has become one of the most prestigious award nights in women’s sports in the US (2006 event highlighted by Sheryl Crow. With initial guidance from Donna de Varona and the public statements of Billie Jean King, the WSF has been a proponent and defender of Title IX which passed in 1972.

Elton John has been an active supporter of the WSF including being the headliner at the newest WSF award event, the Billies. “The Billies is a new awards program recognizing media excellence in women’s sports and physical activity”. [3]

Past presidents include Julie Foudy, Dawn Riley, Donna Lopiano- current CEO, Jim Jorgensen, Donna de Varona and Dominique Dawes. The current Chairwoman of the WSF is Illona Kloss.