In its second year as an initiative within the Oregon athletic department, ‘Women in Flight’ is not backing down from expansion.
Women in Flight was launched early last year after a lead gift from Dave and Nancy Petrone. It has grown to more than 200 donors in the last year, raising over $200,000. The initiative includes a fundraising component for UO women’s teams, while also creating awareness and a platform for support.
But they’re not stopping there.
Perhaps Women in Flight‘s most tangible component comes as a team bonding experience. The initiative allocates a chunk of money to each of Oregon’s 11 female sports annually. The head coach of each team makes the final call, with many deciding to call upon “The Program,” a military-style training seminar designed to improve team chemistry and mental toughness.
“Team chemistry in women’s teams is monumental,” said Lisa Peterson, senior women’s associate athletic director. “You can have a lot of talent and not be successful.”
Women in Flight is also financially supporting a program called ‘Road to Success,’ which is a senior women’s symposium providing workshops, networking and resumé help for senior Ducks. It’s designed to give Ducks an opportunity to be successful through mentorships and training once they graduate from UO.
“Of course we want our teams to be successful on the field… We also really value having them really prepared for experiences after their collegiate career,” Callie Wagner, assistant director of development for Women In Flight, said.
This summer, a collection of student-athletes will travel on a community service trip to the Dominican Republic to Batey 7 in a partnership with Courts for Kids. Women in Flight helped to fund parts of the trip for Oregon’s representatives, making the experience possible financially.
Peterson and Wager both agree that women sports present a unique opportunity and want to give back to Oregon’s 220 female student-athletes.
“It’s the first of its kind. It’s unbelievable,” Oregon lacrosse senior Allison Sharkey said, who also serves on the student-athlete advisory board. “It’s given us, as women athletes, support, not just financially, but also emotionally… I think it’s made a statement across the nation.”
This month, Oregon will break ground on a new softball stadium, sparked by a $10 million lead gift by Robert Sanders. Though the gift isn’t included in Women in Flight’s budget, its excitement will hopefully create a snowball effect, the initiative hopes.
Women in Flight recently teamed up with Nike to create a new logo and develop its brand, something that Wagner said she felt was missing from the picture.
“We were looking to have a new energy,” Wagner said. “We’re always trying to stay innovative with this program, because it’s nature of the program.”
Wagner said the logo has sparked newfound interest in the program among female student-athletes and donors. Each Oregon athlete now has a shirt with the new mark, which helps to create awareness around campus and in the community.
“Other schools don’t have an exact program like Women in Flight that we have here,” Wagner said. “We’re really on the cutting edge to provide opportunities.”
Those opportunities, Wagner said, are constantly evolving, especially as the annual donor base grows.
Peterson also said she thinks Oregon coaches talk about the initiative in recruiting conversations, because it’s an affirmation of support for potential Ducks.
“It’s another proof that we’re trying to put them in the forefront as well,” Peterson said.
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne