Murphy invests as significant owner of Sky Blue Soccer
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
By: Sky Blue Soccer
Murphy has held post of Finance Chair for the Democratic National Committee since 2006, long-time member of U.S. Soccer Foundation Board of Directors
BEDMINSTER, N.J. (March 18, 2008) – Philip D. Murphy, the national finance chair for the Democratic National Committee, has invested as a significant owner of Sky Blue Soccer, the company that will operate the New Jersey/New York team in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), which will begin play in the spring of 2009. A member of the Sky Blue Soccer Board of Directors, Murphy has also served on the U.S. Soccer Foundation's Board of Directors since 2005, with the goal of enhancing, assisting, and growing the sport of soccer in the United States.
On behalf of Sky Blue and WPS, Murphy will play a supporting role in the 2008 Streets to Fields Gala Banquet on Wednesday, March 19, co-hosted by MLS W.O.R.K.S. and the U.S. Soccer Foundation. All proceeds of the event will benefit the Harlem Youth Soccer organization to help build a soccer field for its players and develop an after-school soccer and leadership training program.
"Soccer is the world's 'beautiful game' because it's built on teamwork and sportsmanship, values that will make a difference in players' lives long after they've left the pitch," said Murphy. "In order for the game to grow - and for more players to be exposed to those core principles - every soccer player in the United States, whether female or male, must have the opportunity to advance to the highest level in the sport. For females, that opportunity now exists with WPS and I'm honored to play a role in helping women of all ages realize that their dreams of playing professional soccer can now become reality."
Murphy was first introduced to women's soccer a couple years ago by U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist (and now an informal Sky Blue team consultant) Julie Foudy. At the time, Foudy was an ambassador of the Women's Soccer Initiative, Inc. (WSII), a non-profit organization founded in 2004 tasked with the goal of creating a new and viable business model for returning professional women's soccer to North America. In September 2007, the league was formally announced with seven teams - based in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. - beginning play in 2009. This January, the league revealed its name of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), unveiled a logo featuring the silhouette of female soccer pioneer Mia Hamm, and launched its website at www.womensprosoccer.com.
"Phil brings to Sky Blue an unmatched passion for growing the sport of soccer in the United States, making him an invaluable asset to our team and the entire league," said Thomas Hofstetter, principal owner of Sky Blue Soccer. "Women's soccer couldn't ask for a more genuine and influential ambassador than Phil."
Formerly a management committee member of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., where he spent more than 20 years leading a number of global businesses and managing thousands of professionals, Murphy currently serves the following organizations as a volunteer:
* Local Initiatives Support Corporation Executive Committee Chairman
* NAACP Special Contribution Fund Board of Trustees
* Center for American Progress Board of Trustees
* Atlantik-Brücke's International Advisory Council
* 180 Turning Lives Around Board President
* University of Pennsylvania's Huntsman Program Advisory Board
About Sky Blue Soccer
Sky Blue Soccer is a highly-respected soccer organization both in the United States and internationally. Based in Bedminster, NJ, Sky Blue has developed an integrated program that allows soccer players to progress from the youth game to the amateur level to the professional ranks. Sky Blue Soccer is a founding member of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) - the new women's professional soccer league that will kick off in April, 2009. Sky Blue Soccer also operates Jersey Sky Blue, which will kick off its second season in the W-League in 2008.
Website: www.SkyBlueSoccer.com
About Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
The mission of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) is to be the premier women's soccer league in the world and the global standard by which women's professional sports are measured. Play kicks off in the spring of 2009, with WPS teams based in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.
Website: www.WomensProSoccer.com