DALLAS, Texas - Bills Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning Mary Owen has been selected to serve on the board of the newly created National Football League Foundation, NFL Commissioner Roger Gooddell announced today.
Youth football, health and safety, and community will be the focus areas of the newly created National Football League Foundation.
"I am deeply honored to have been chosen to serve on the Board of the National Football League Foundation," Owen said. I look forward to serving with all of the Board members to fulfill the Foundation's mission."
Joining Mary Owen on the board is:
- CHARLOTTE JONES ANDERSON,Executive Vice President/Vice President of Brand Management/ President of the Charity Foundation, Dallas Cowboys
- MICHAEL BIDWILL, President, Arizona Cardinals
- SHAHID KHAN, Owner, Jacksonville Jaguars
- MIKE REINFELDT, Senior Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, Tennessee Titans
- ARTHUR J. ROONEY II, President, Pittsburgh Steelers
- LEONARD WILF, Owner/Vice Chairman, Minnesota Vikings
The announcement follows the restructuring of the NFL's previous charitable arms -- NFL Charities and the NFL Youth Football Fund. As a result of this change, the NFL will be able to devote more resources to its goal of making a difference in the lives of those touched by football – from players at all levels of the game to the broader community.
The foundation will award more than $23 million in grants in 2013 to support youth and high school football programs, health and safety efforts, as well as community health initiatives, including NFL PLAY 60.
"We are proud of the NFL's long-standing history of giving back to communities," said Commissioner Goodell. "The board of our new foundation is a passionate group of individuals who will help to ensure the NFL continues to be a leader in philanthropy."
As Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning for the Bills, Owen has a variety of responsibilities; including overseeing the team’s Community Relations department and working closely with ownership as an advisor on league level issues. In that role, Owen is a member of the NFL's Super Bowl Advisory Committee and the league's International Committee. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation and is the President of the Buffalo Bills Youth Foundation. Most notably, Owen manages the Bills' games played in Toronto at the Rogers Centre and the Southern Ontario regionalization strategy to develop the team's brand and fan base in Canada.
The National Football League Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation represents the 32 NFL clubs and supports the health and safety of athletes, youth football, and the communities which support our game.
For more information on The National Football League Foundation, visit: http://www.nfl-foundation.org/.
