The NFL Foundation today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors. Joining the NFL Foundation Board are SUSIE SPANOS, philanthropist and wife of San Diego Chargers Chairman Dean Spanos, and STEVE TISCH, New York Giants chairman and executive vice president.
The NFL Foundation is the league's nonprofit organization that supports the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football and the communities which support the game. The Foundation works with the league, its 32 Clubs, and current and former players to give back to NFL communities. The NFL Foundation provides certified athletic trainers in underserved schools, refurbished fields for use by sports and community organizations, and various grants for the philanthropic efforts of more than 500 current and former NFL players in 2016.
"We are thrilled to welcome Susie Spanos and Steve Tisch to the NFL Foundation Board," said NFL Foundation Chairman Charlotte Jones Anderson. "Their steadfast dedication to philanthropy is immeasurable and we look forward to working together on important initiatives to support athletes and their communities."
Susan Spanos is a fifth-generation Californian with a proud record of service to her community. She is on the board of the Chargers Community Foundation and is active in Foundation's Chargers Champions program. To date the Foundation has provided more that $15 million in financial support to youth, education and health programs in San Diego County. She was named Woman of the Year by the Leukemia Society of San Diego for her outstanding fundraising efforts on their behalf and Chaired the San Diego Zoo's annual RITZ Gala, raising a record breaking amount at the time.
The San Diego Blood Bank benefitted greatly from her support after she joined their governing and foundation board. In particular, she was a founder and has been a dedicated supporter of their cord blood program, which collects the blood from umbilical cords and makes a difference in patients' lives. She continues to work tirelessly on the San Diego Chargers Annual Blood Drive in support of the Blood Bank. Spanos has also given years of dedicated service to the San Diego Museum of Art, including chairing their annual ART ALIVE, which attracted a record 17,000 people during her year. She has taken on leadership roles for many deserving charitable organizations, including the Campanile Foundation at San Diego State University, the University of San Diego, and the St. Germain Child Abuse Prevention Foundation where she has also chaired their annual Silver Tea. She is an Advisory member for San Diego's leading philanthropic group, Las Patronas, which annually raises and contributes nearly $1 million into the community. For her unceasing service, the Salvation Army honored her as a "Woman of Dedication" at their annual Gala and she went on to co-chair the event in 2016 again raising the largest sum to date. The San Diego Hall of Champions also recognized her outstanding community service with their most prestigious award: their Community Champions Award.
"I am excited and proud to join the members of the NFL Foundation in their important philanthropic work," said Spanos. "I look forward to continuing the Chargers' long-standing support of our community as a member of the Foundation board and supporting the league's unwavering commitment to this important endeavor."
Steve Tisch has been involved with the New York Giants since his father, Preston Robert Tisch, purchased 50 percent of the franchise in 1991. He joined the organization as Executive Vice President in July 2005, and after his father passed away, assumed the additional title of Chairman. In May 2014, at a White House summit on youth and sports concussions, President Obama announced Steve's leadership gift to the David Geffen School of Medicine for the UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Program. The donation is the single largest gift from an individual to a medical center for a concussion-related initiative. The gift creates the first U.S. fellowship program to train pediatric neurologists who specialize in sports concussions, and establishes the world's most sophisticated research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment program for concussions and brain injuries with a particular emphasis on young athletes.
"The NFL Foundation has a longstanding history of charitable giving and community impact," said Tisch. "I am honored to join the Board of Directors in their commitment to work on behalf of underserved communities and organizations across the country."
Spanos and Tisch join Chairman Charlotte Jones Anderson, Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer of the Dallas Cowboys; Michael Bidwill, president of the Arizona Cardinals; Kim Pegula, owner of the Buffalo Bills; Arthur J. Rooney II, president of the Pittsburgh Steelers; and Leonard Wilf, owner of the Minnesota Vikings on the NFL Foundation Board.
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About The NFL Foundation: The National Football League Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation represents the 32 NFL clubs and supports the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. For more information on The NFL Foundation, visit: www.NFLFoundation.org.
NFL Foundation Names Susie Spanos and Steve Tisch to its Board of Directors
Dec 14, 2016 at 04:09 AM
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