The new U.S. Center for SafeSport in Denver, Colorado is set to open in January 2017, and now the organization has found its new CEO.
Shellie Pfohl, former Executive Director of President Obama’s Youth Fitness Initiative, has been hired to lead the SafeSport center, whose mission is to promote safe, supportive environments for athletes across all sports.
“Shellie is a natural leader who brings three decades in healthy lifestyle, fitness, and the wellbeing of young athletes to her new role,” said Frank Marshall, Chairman, U.S. Center for SafeSport. “It is a seminal moment in SafeSport’s evolution and Shellie’s the right person to lead our organization into this critical period.”
The United States Olympic Committee is contributing more than $10 million to fund the center’s first 5 years, with other sports federations collectively providing another $5 million. According to SafeSport, ‘the center will work collaboratively with sports organizations to ensure a culture of safety through awareness, best practices, education and training.’
“I am incredibly grateful to have served the American people through the work of the President’s Council,” said Pfohl. “SafeSport’s mission is tremendously important and I look forward to seeing the positive impact we can have on the lives of athletes at all levels of sport.”