History of Women in Flight

In 2013, University of Oregon donors Nancy and David Petrone ’66, MBA ’68 approached athletic department administrators about bridging a gap for UO women’s athletics. The Petrones saw an opportunity for UO to increase their programmatic support for its female student-athletes. After conducting research and examining other fundraising programs around the country with a focus on women’s athletics, the UO Athletic Department recognized the opportunity to create a first-of-its-kind support program in intercollegiate athletics dedicated to raising awareness, building community, and securing philanthropic resources specifically for female student-athletes. Women In Flight took off in 2014 with a generous founding donation of $1 million from the Petrones. Since inception, Women In Flight has directly impacted over 1,920 UO female student-athletes.

Program Highlights

2014

Women In Flight Founded

Women In Flight launched with the support of Dave and Nancy Petrone and a transformational commitment to advancing women's athletics at the University of Oregon.

2022

"Go Do Anything" Title IX Campaign

In 2022, Women In Flight committed to recognizing the 50th Anniversary of Title IX through the "Go Do Anything" campaign. Creating a unique specialized logo designed by famed Nike designer Tinker Hatfield, this campaign aimed to bring together educational institutions, athletic departments, businesses, and organizations nation-wide to collectively celebrate, support, and accelerate women’s athletics. Throughout the duration of the campaign, more than 2,000 donors collectively fundraised over $15 million across multi-year pledges, making it the largest fundraise to date.

2024

WIF10

In 2024, Women In Flight celebrated WIF10, marking a decade of empowering female student-athletes at the University of Oregon. Over ten years, WIF served as a driving force for Duck women’s athletics. The WIF10 campaign rallied supporters to raise vital funds, highlight program achievements, and honor the donors driving the mission forward. That first decade provided a strong foundation, and WIF10 offered a glimpse into an even brighter future for Oregon’s female athletes.

2026

GoDucksW

GoDucksW is the digital home for Oregon women’s athletics, launched by Oregon Athletics in partnership with Women In Flight. This Instagram-based platform celebrates Oregon’s female student-athletes through original content, in-season coverage, and student-athlete takeovers. By centralizing storytelling and engagement, GoDucksW highlights achievements, personalities, and impact, while strengthening community connection and supporting growth opportunities for Oregon women’s athletics.

Take Flight
with Us

Since the launch of Women In Flight in 2014, Women In Flight and the University of Oregon have served as pioneers in advancing support for women’s athletic programs. As peer institutions and athletic departments seek inspiration, Women In Flight actively welcomes collaborative opportunities by inviting other programs to connect, exchange best practices, and brainstorm innovative strategies to elevate female student-athletes nationwide.