Formerly known as the National Gymnastics Foundation and created from the excitement generated by the success of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the USA Gymnastics Foundation supports the sport of gymnastics while serving as the philanthropic arm to USA Gymnastics.

Led by Executive Director Debbie Hesse, the USA Gymnastics Foundation focuses on giving in three broad areas:

  • Supporting athletes as they pursue their dreams at all levels of the sport
  • Accelerating the growth of gymnastics nationwide
  • Empowering athlete health, well-being and safety both in and out of the gym

Executive Director Debbie Hesse

Introduced as the Foundation’s executive director May 29, 2024, Hesse brings a history of expansive organizational growth and impact to the USA Gymnastics Foundation. As the first executive director of the USA Swimming Foundation from 2010-2019, she led the organization through a period of expansive growth, more than tripling annual revenues. Also focused on community impact, the foundation’s flagship learn-to-swim program, “Make a Splash,” expanded during her tenure to teach nearly 2 million children to swim each year.

Hesse served as president and CEO of USA Diving from 2007-2010, where membership increased by 39 percent and the organization more than doubled sponsorship and broadcast revenues. She also was executive director of USA Synchronized Swimming from 1994-2001. The former president and CEO of Special Olympics Indiana, Hesse most recently served as assistant vice president of the Texas A&M Foundation.

Hesse is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where she competed on the varsity swim team.

“Providing a pathway for individuals to support athletes in tangible ways is important for the growth of the sport, from grassroots all the way to the top of the podium.”
– Debbie Hesse
Foundation Executive Director

Board of Directors

The USA Gymnastics Foundation Board of Directors includes a range of lifelong contributors to the sport, accomplished “change agents”, and respected executives in a range of industries. The board will continue to grow and evolve in the next phase. Current board members include:

John Deary
Chair, owner of Deary’s Gymnastics Supply
Kimberly Till
Vice Chair, former executive at Disney, Sony, AOL Time Warner, and Microsoft
Patti Conner
Secretary, USAG Trampoline & Tumbling Committee chair
Jess Zeiss
Treasurer, Managing Director Fixed Income Institutional Sales & Business Development
Ashley Davis
Director, Founding Partner, West Front Strategies
Elodie Dupuy
Director, founder and managing partner at Full In Partners
Leslie Ferraro
Director, NYU Professor at Stern School of Business. Former President at Disney and QVC/Home Shopping Network
Molly Parker Prince
Director, Philanthropic Advisor, Former NCAA Gymnast, TN USAG Hall of Fame

Ex-officio Board Members