Michelle Kang, a Korean-American businesswoman who is leading the development of women’s sports.
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(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Bae Jin-nam = President Michelle Kang (65), a Korean-American businesswoman who runs prestigious women’s soccer teams in the U.S. and Europe, made a large gift of $30 million (approximately 41.8 billion won), asking for it to be used for the development of U.S. women’s soccer. presented.
The United States Soccer Association announced on the 20th (Korean time), “President Michelle Kang has pledged to donate $30 million over the next five years for the association’s women’s and youth programs.”
He continued, “This is the largest donation ever to the U.S. Soccer Federation’s women’s and youth programs and the largest donation by a woman to the U.S. Soccer Federation.”
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The United States Soccer Association plans to use President Kang’s donation to expand competitive opportunities for youth athletes, discover and develop talented players, and promote the professional development of female players, coaches, and referees.
“Michelle Kang’s gift will transform women’s and youth soccer in the United States,” said Cindy Fallon, president of the United States Soccer Association. “It will impact generations of women and youth in our soccer community, including players, coaches and referees.” “Thanks to Michelle, we will be able to provide more support and opportunities to women and girls,” he said.
“Women’s sport has been underestimated and overlooked for too long,” said Chairman Kang. “I want to raise the standard of women’s football on and off the pitch by providing female players with the support they need to reach their full potential and the professional support they deserve.” “I’m going to focus on lifting it up,” he said.
The U.S. Soccer Association’s SNS shared the news of President Michelle Kang’s donation.
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Chairman Kang is the daughter of former lawmaker Lee Yoon-ja, who contributed to the advancement of women’s rights as a member of the 11th and 13th National Assembly. After attending Sogang University, he went to study abroad in 1981.
Chairman Kang served as vice chairman and general manager of Northrop Grumman Infotech, a global defense company, and founded Cognosant, a public sector healthcare consulting company, in Falls Church, Virginia, in 2008.
Recently, we have been focusing on women’s soccer business.
Chairman Kang, who entered the women’s soccer world starting with the acquisition of the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in February 2022, became the owner of the England Women’s Championship (Second Division) London City Lioness at the end of last year.
In February of this year, he secured a majority stake in the prestigious Olympique Lyon Feminine, which won the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) eight times, and took full control.
In addition, in July of this year, the world’s first multi-team global organization ‘Kiniska Sports International’ was established, focusing on the professionalization of women’s soccer.
The United States Soccer Federation introduced Chairman Kang as “a pioneering business leader and investor dedicated to advancing women’s sports around the world.”
hosu1@yna.co.kr
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2024/11/20 08:42 Sent
What specific initiatives or programs will the U.S. Soccer Association undertake to ensure the long-term impact of Michelle Kang’s donation on women’s and youth soccer?
Thank you for your interest in interviewing Michelle Kang and the representative from the United States Soccer Association about this significant donation. Here are some questions we can ask:
1. Can you tell us more about Michelle Kang’s background in sports and what inspired her to make such a large donation towards the development of women’s and youth soccer in the United States?
U.S. Soccer Association Representative: Michelle Kang has been involved in sports her entire life, playing soccer and basketball until college. She studied business and law, and eventually became a successful entrepreneur. Her passion for women’s rights stemmed from her mother’s work as a politician advocating for women’s rights in South Korea. Seeing the disparity in resources and support between men’s and women’s soccer inspired her to make this generous donation.
Michelle Kang: I believe women’s sports have been undervalued and underfunded for too long, and it’s time for a change. As the owner of multiple women’s soccer teams, I saw firsthand the talent and dedication of these athletes, as well as the need for more resources to grow the game. My hope is that this donation will help raise the bar for women’s and youth soccer in the United States and provide opportunities for more girls to get involved in the sport.
2. How do you plan to use the $30 million donation from Michelle Kang to further develop women’s and youth soccer in the United States?
U.S. Soccer Association Representative: The funds will be used to expand competitive opportunities for youth athletes, discover and develop talented players, and promote the professional development of female players, coaches, and referees. We will also invest in infrastructure, training facilities, and coaching education programs. Additionally, we plan to use the funds to support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the sport.
Michelle Kang: My priority is to ensure that these resources reach the grassroots level, which includes investing in community soccer programs and providing scholarships for youth players. I also want to see more women in leadership roles within the sport, from coaches and referees to executives. By empowering women and raising the standard of professionalism across all levels, we
