The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation and the New York Jets have announced a $250,000 grant to the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a national movement co-founded by the organization nearly 40 years ago. This gift, directed by Woody Johnson, will strengthen the Women's Sports Foundation's efforts to expand opportunities for women coaches across collegiate and professional sport, directly impacting careers for women in football, and support professional development and training resources to strengthen the coaching pipeline.
"The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation is proud to support the Women's Sports Foundation, an organization that has shaped the landscape of sports leadership for girls and women in sports for more than 50 years," said Woody Johnson, Director of the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation.
The awards support two Women's Sports Foundation's funds, the Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching and the Scott Pioli & Family Fund for Women Football Coaches and Scouts. Both funds facilitate the ability to hire and adequately pay coaches in entry-level positions. In addition, the programs provide various developmental resources in the form of education and mentorships to current and past grant recipients.
Amanda Ruller is the head flag football coach at Eastern University, a school that will participate in the Jets ECAC Women's Flag Football League supported by the BWJF. A recent recipient of the Scott Pioli & Family Fund for Women Coaches, Ruller also serves as the TE/RB coach of the men's team. She played running back for team Canada in 2017, did a lot of volunteering and pursued Bill Walsh Fellowship opportunities in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals and in the CFL with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. She later served as the RB coach at Central Washington University in 2003-04.
"Receiving the grant from the Women's Sports Foundation means the world to me," Ruller said. "As a passionate football coach, I'm committed to breaking barriers and paving the way for women in sport. So, this support not only validates my journey but kind of fuels my mission to grow as a leader in football. It empowers me to keep pushing forward and kind of create opportunities for others and represent the next generation of women's coaches with pride and purpose. I'm deeply grateful for their investment in my future development."
Both funds underscore the late Betty Wold Johnson's commitment to improving opportunities for women and expanding female leadership across all sectors.
"Working with the Women's Sports Foundation was a natural next step for us, since we've already invested in women's flag football through the Jets ECAC Women's Flag Football League," Johnson said. "Both investments support female athletes and coaches and create more opportunities for future leaders in sport."
Since its founding in 1974, the Women's Sports Foundation has advocated to increase female representation in sports, both collegiately and professionally. In the United States, women hold less than 40% of head coaching positions and less than 30% of assistant coaching positions in women's NCAA sports. This donation and the programs that the Women's Sports Foundation supports play a direct role in addressing these leadership gaps.
"During National Girls & Women in Sports Day celebrations, this investment underscores what we at the Women's Sports Foundation know to be true. When we invest in women in sport, we expand opportunity, leadership, and long-term impact," said Danette Leighton, CEO of the Women's Sports Foundation. "We are grateful to the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation for supporting our efforts to strengthen the coaching pipeline and expand opportunities for women leaders in sport."
In December 2025, the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation and the Jets announced a $1 Million commitment to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) to launch the Jets ECAC Women's Flag Football League, the largest collegiate flag football league in the United States. The league will begin play in March 2026, following a Media Day on February 27th.
