MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan University received a $350,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to launch a leadership program for female student-athletes. The university announced the gift on Feb. 1 during its National Girls and Women in Sports Brunch.
The new initiative, named EmpowHER Leadership, is designed to build confidence, resilience, and career readiness among participants. The program will provide mentorship and experiential learning opportunities to help student-athletes prepare for professional roles after graduation.
The program is scheduled to launch this fall with an initial group of 10 student-athletes and is expected to grow to 30 participants by its fifth year.
Participants in the program will attend workshops covering topics such as communication, emotional intelligence, public speaking, and decision-making. Students will also be paired with mentors who are women leaders in the business, education, government, and nonprofit sectors. The curriculum includes an annual retreat, leadership summits, and networking events.
Amy Folan serves as the director of athletics at CMU. She co-hosted the announcement brunch with CMU First Lady Leanne MacKinnon. Folan emphasized how the funding will support student-athletes in multiple roles. “We’re incredibly grateful to The Bob & Parsons Foundation for equipping our female student-athletes with the skills, networks, and opportunities necessary to thrive in their academic, professional, and community roles,” Folan said. “This gift will have a profound and lasting effect on the young women in our program and their success well beyond their time at CMU.”
Parsons is a 1991 CMU alumna and a Mount Pleasant native who studied hospitality and business. She co-founded the foundation in 2012 with her husband, Bob Parsons, and currently serves on the board of directors for the golf equipment company PXG. Parsons described the personal significance of supporting her alma mater. “As a CMU alumna, this is especially meaningful to me,” Parsons said. “I believe deeply in helping young women see their own strength, find their voice and build futures they’re proud of, both on and off the field.”
The Bob & Parsons Foundation supports nonprofit organizations focused on education, health care, and basic needs. The foundation’s work is driven by the belief that all people deserve access to quality services regardless of their background, identity, or economic status.
The EmpowHER Leadership program will launch this fall. Information about the first cohort of 10 student-athletes will be available as the new academic year begins.