US Squash, the national governing body for squash in the U.S. and a member of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), today announced the launch of the U.S. Squash Foundation (“the Foundation”). The Foundation is anchored upon its mission to drive the most important initiatives for the growth of squash in the United States.

Marshall Pagon, the U.S. Squash Foundation’s inaugural Chair and former Chair of US Squash, commented, “The recent successful conclusion of the campaign to secure the inclusion of squash in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles culminates a fifteen-year period of significant achievement for US Squash. Today’s launch of the U.S. Squash Foundation is the logical next step representing the opening of a new chapter in the development of our sport and its national governing body – the creation of a foundation whose purpose is to serve as an inclusive “big tent” to support squash organizations and initiatives in attacking our sport’s most important strategic priorities.”

“US Squash has driven squash’s growth trajectory with increased player participation, a national center in the Arlen Specter US Squash Center and Olympic inclusion in the LA28 Games,” said Ned Edwards, US Squash Hall of Famer, who will serve as the inaugural Executive Director of the Foundation. “Now, the U.S. Squash Foundation is the next crucial step to ensure squash has a strong position alongside other burgeoning sports for many years to come.”

“I’m excited to see such a proactive step being taken in establishing the U.S. Squash Foundation,” said Amanda Sobhy, Team USA Squash Ambassador to the Foundation and seven-time Pan American Games gold medalist and recent world No. 3. “US Squash’s support for the professional athletes has been an important part of our recent success on tour and in major regional and world team events. This support and focus on the pipeline of young players is now more vital than ever. The Foundation will make people aware of the most impactful initiatives to support.”

The inaugural four core initiatives of the Foundation are:

1. Develop courts that can be easily and inexpensively installed in schools, public parks and indoor and outdoor public spaces.
2. Expand scholastic, collegiate and community squash programs nationally.
3. Provide national coaching and training programs to support America’s best squash players in becoming world and Olympic champions.
4. Advance the “Squash United Fund”, a unified funding resource to facilitate collaboration and mutual support of all U.S.-based organizations dedicated to the growth and vitality of squash.

For more information on the U.S. Squash Foundation and how to support, please visit www.ussquashfoundation.org.

About US Squash

US Squash is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which serves as the only national governing body and membership organization for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1904 and headquartered in Philadelphia, it is a member of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the Pan American Squash Federation and the World Squash Federation.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240509658550/en/