Women's Sports Foundation and "Mother of Judo" Create Fund for Women
Women’s Sports Foundation Announces Endowment Supporting U.S. Women’s Judo
NEW YORK (January 14, 2009) – The Women’s Sports Foundation today announced the creation of the Rusty Kanokogi Fund for the Advancement of U.S. Women’s Judo, named in honor of the first U.S. female judo practitioner (judoka) to earn a seventh-degree black belt. The fund, created through the generosity of the Richard and Pamela Ader Foundation, will help U.S. female judokas finance travel and training.
“This fund would have been unthinkable 30 years ago,” said Kanokogi, who competed disguised as a man in the 1950s, when women were barred from judo leagues. After being discovered and disqualified, Kanokogi dedicated herself to the sport and would later be credited with bringing women’s judo to the Olympic Games. “After 50 years of competing and advocating for women’s judo, it is both stunning and rewarding to receive recognition and to see opportunities for up-and-comers arise,” she continued. Kanokogi has also received the World Pioneer of Women’s Judo honor, the prestigious John Osako Award for excellence in refereeing and, most recently, the Emperor's Award of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government.
The Richard and Pamela Ader Foundation donated $100,000 to create the endowment, which will be distributed in grants of up to $5,000. “Rusty is a giver by nature—I discovered that after serving with her on the Women’s Sports Foundation Board,” said Richard Ader. “After she received the Emperor Award and we heard the way people spoke of her and her generosity, we decided it was time to do something in Rusty’s name.”
“Thanks to trailblazers like Rusty, women have more chances than ever to play,” said Women’s Sports Foundation founder Billie Jean King. “The Women’s Sports Foundation will continue to salute pioneers like Rusty and to play a role in the creation of opportunities until we’ve reached the end of the road—equality.”
Applications will be available in March of 2009 to U.S. female judokas who have demonstrated the potential to achieve high performance and rankings but lack support from traditional sources.
The Women’s Sports Foundation—the leading authority on the participation of women and girls in sports—advocates for equality, educates the public, conducts research and offers grants to promote sports and physical activity for girls and women. Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, the Women’s Sports Foundation builds on her legacy as a champion athlete, advocate of social justice and agent of change. We strive for gender equity and fight discrimination in sports. Our work shapes public attitude about women’s sports and athletes, builds capacities for organizations that get girls active, provides equal opportunities for girls and women, and supports physically and emotionally healthy lifestyles. The Women’s Sports Foundation is recognized worldwide for its leadership, vision, strength, expertise and influence.
For more information, please call the Women’s Sports Foundation at 800.227.3988 or visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.
Contact: Jaime McBeth
646.912.8099 (o)/ 516.528.7044 (c)
JMcBeth@WomensSportsFoundation.org
Read more about Rena "Rusty" Kanokogi, the Mother of Women's Judo.
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