CHICAGO (December 22, 2022) – Chicago Fire FC Vice President of Community Relations and Executive Director of the Chicago Fire Foundation, Jessica Yavitz, has been awarded the WISE Women of Inspiration Award for her continued work in the non-profit and sports business space throughout the Chicago community. Â
WISE (Women in Sports & Events) recognizes women who have achieved a standard of excellence in sports business, with the Women of Inspiration Awards honoring women who exemplify the WISE mission, while making a positive impact on the business of sports and serving as a role model and mentor.
With more than 20 years of experience in professional sports and the non-profit industry, Yavitz has grown the Fire Foundation into one of the most successful organizations in professional sports. Under her leadership, the Foundation was recognized as a finalist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Best Commitment to Education Award in 2021 and 2020. The Foundation also won the ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year Award in 2019 and was a finalist for the ESPN Sports Award in 2018.
In addition, the Club was recognized as the 2016 Beyond Sport Team of the Year among finalists Arsenal F.C., FC Barcelona, the Detroit Pistons, and the San Francisco Giants. Yavitz was also named the 2007 MLS Community Relations Executive of the Year and has guided the Club to a League-leading six Community Relations Department of the Year awards, including most recently in 2018.
“I want to thank WISE for this award,” Yavitz shared. “It is an honor to be recognized alongside so many other amazing women in sports and entertainment, including fellow nominee for Woman to Watch, Shelby Klose. I'm so lucky to have the opportunity to work in this field and give back to the Chicago community. I share this award with my incredible team, along with the rest of the Club. I am grateful to be surrounded by individuals dedicated to the same mission of improving and enhancing the lives of those most in need here in our community.”
In her current role, Yavitz is responsible for the strategic direction of the Club’s overall philanthropic and community outreach efforts. Yavitz was instrumental in spearheading the organization’s shift from grant-giving to a programmatic focus. In 2013, she assisted in the creation of the Foundation’s internationally recognized proprietary P.L.A.Y.S. (Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth, Soccer) Program, tying soccer with social and emotional learning to help improve academics. Since its inception, the program has grown 400 percent, serving more than a thousand elementary students from Chicago's most under resourced schools.
Yavitz is also a member of the Chicago chapter of WISE and has served as a mentor for WISE Within for two years.
This year, WISE added the Woman to Watch award category, recognizing a rising star within the sports industry with less than 10 years of experience who is passionate, innovative, and showcases a commitment to meaningful work. The Fire’s associate general counsel Shelby Klose was nominated in this category, alongside nine other nominees from across the Chicago sports industry.
