About Women In Flight
MISSION
Women In Flight aims to raise awareness and financial support to achieve and maintain excellence across all Oregon women's athletic programs. The funds raised through Women In Flight provide dedicated support to enhance the female student-athlete experience. By focusing on sustainable support, developing lifelong skills, and building a community around women's athletics, the program strives to set up female student-athletes for success not just in sport, but in life.
HISTORY
In 2013, University of Oregon donors Dave and Nancy Petrone approached athletic department administrators about bridging the gap for women’s athletics. The Petrones inquired about specific support for women's athletics and encouraged Oregon to go above and beyond for its female student-athletes. After conducting research and examining other fundraising programs around the country with a focus on women’s athletics, the University of Oregon Athletic Department recognized the opportunity to create something new and groundbreaking. With a generous $1 million donation from Dave and Nancy Petrone, Women In Flight was officially founded in 2014.
Since its inception, Women In Flight has impacted more than 1,920 female student-athletes. In 2022, the program launched the "Go Do Anything" fundraising campaign in honor of Title IX's 50th anniversary, raising more than $15 million for Oregon women's athletics.
AREAS OF FOCUS
Women In Flight recognizes the power of sport to positively impact the lives of young female leaders. The program focuses on improving the entire female student-athlete experience through a multitude of facets, including:
- Scholarships
- Student-Athlete Experience
- Team Building
- Career Development
- Team Foreign Tours
- Community Events
TYPES OF FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funds raised through Women In Flight enhance resources for the women's athletic programs at Oregon and establish leadership for supporting female student-athletes everywhere. You can make an impact with OUTRIGHT GIFTS, PLEDGED GIFTS, ESTATE GIFTS, or ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS.
Outright and pledged gifts provide aid for the given year of education to support scholarship, the athletic experience, nutritional assistance, and professional development all tied to Women In Flight's areas of focus listed above. Outright and pledged gifts can often be attributed to a special project and made via cash, stock, or asset transfer. Endowed scholarships are established in your (or a loved one's) name for a female student-athlete to cover full or partial costs of tuition and fees.
Make a gift today to join the Women In Flight community. For endowed scholarships, pledged giving or information on including Women In Flight in your estate, please contact Alexis (Cross) Smith, Director of Women In Flight, at womeninflight@uoregon.edu.
WIDESPREAD INFLUENCE OF WOMEN IN FLIGHT
Since the launch of Women In Flight in 2014, the program and the University of Oregon have been pioneers in advancing the support of women’s athletic programs. As other collegiate institutions look to us for inspiration and example, Women In Flight continuously shares best practices and provides guidance to help support female student-athletes across the country.
There’s power in numbers, and through the “Go Do Anything” message, Women In Flight aims to bring together educational institutions, athletic departments, businesses, and organizations across the nation to collectively celebrate, support, and accelerate women’s athletics.
OUR STORY BECOMES HER STORY
At Oregon, we believe in the power of sport in the lives of young women and the enduring lessons preparing student-athletes for success in their careers and life after college.
- Today, the are our daughters' role models. Tomorrow, they speak to millions.
- Today, they compete in front of the community. Tomorrow, they ARE the community.
- Today, they hustle and hustle hard. Tomorrow, they lead and lead well.
