To hear tennis legend Billie Jean King speak is to feel you can climb any mountain. She is that inspiring.
King donated her galvanizing presence – along with $10,000 – to Fairfield County’s Community Foundation: The Fund for Women & Girls during yesterday’s benefit at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich. The fund, which raised more than $700,000, is celebrating 20 years of empowering underserved girls and women to do everything from leaving abusive relationships to getting college educations to starting their own businesses.
But the former world No. 1 – who has spent her professional life championing women’s and LGBTQ rights, women in sports and professional tennis en route to 39 singles and doubles Slam titles – said it’s not about empowering women over men or one minority over another. It’s about listening with empathy to all and going forward to serve humanity.
She thanked The Foundation for its efforts before making her pledge of $10,000, noting that “women have been underserved so we still have this need. But women are leaders. This is not just for women but for children and nonprofits. When you help girls, you help people.”
For more, visit FCCFoundation.org and billiejeanking.com. And look for more on Billie Jean King’s career and the event in May and June WAG and on my blog at thegamesmenplay.com.
– Georgette Gouveia
