Jan. 24, 2005

The Yale University Athletic Department, in partnership with nine women varsity athletes who pioneered women's sports at Yale in the 1970s and 1980s, will announce on Jan. 28 a new fund dedicated to women's varsity athletics at Yale. The fund, named W.I.S.E.R. (Women's Intercollegiate Sports Endowment & Resource), has already raised nearly a half million dollars toward a one million dollar year-end goal.

W.I.S.E.R. is dedicated to supporting women's varsity athletics at Yale. The fund will be used to enhance the quality of training and competition for athletes across all 18 women's sports as well as to enhance opportunity and development for coaches. In the spirit of Yale's tradition of educating future leaders, resources from this endowment will also be used to cultivate post-graduate connections between women athletes and alumnae.

W.I.S.E.R. is the first general athletic endowment established by former Yale athletes. Its members chose the endowment as a means of showing their continuing passion for women's athletics at Yale, and for propelling their legacy.

"With W.I.S.E.R., we hope to make a legacy connection between women athletes of different generations, so that we can create mentorship opportunities and connections that benefit women athletes throughout the country," said Nancy Cahill '79, a member of the W.I.S.E.R. committee and a former Eli swimmer who is now an attorney in Seattle WA. "My experience as a student athlete at Yale continues to be a significant influence on my life today. I use the skills that I developed as an athlete and teammate to be an effective business owner, employer, volunteer coach, nonprofit board member, parent, school volunteer and community leader."

W.I.S.E.R's co-founders include: Lisa Brummel '81, Nancy Cahill '79, Anne Keating '77, Susie Krentz '80, Carol McPhillips Roberts '81, Celia Neiman Rodriques '81, Lisa Rosenblum '75, Susan Doten Wellington '81, and Karen Yarasavage '87.

The nine founding members created the concept for the endowment and kicked off the campaign. A small group of former women athletes then donated to the fund. In all, these former Bulldogs represent 11 different women's sports - basketball, crew, cross country, field hockey, gymnastics, lacrosse, squash, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

A reception to formally launch the campaign on Friday, Jan. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Kiphuth Trophy Room in Payne Whitney Gym. If you are interested in attending the Jan. 28 event, please call (203) 432-1434.