For the second straight year, the San Francisco 49ers will honor one of America's top sports executives by providing an opportunity for a female to work in the team's front office.
CEO Jed York established the Denise DeBartolo York Fellowship last summer to honor his mother, a professional sports pioneer.
The Denise DeBartolo York Fellowship is a 12-month entry level position in the 49ers marketing department. The organization is actively soliciting applications from talented and driven women interested in a career in the National Football League.
Denise York started her career in professional sports with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL. As team president, she transformed the downtrodden franchise into a Stanley Cup Champion in 1991.
Since taking ownership of the 49ers franchise in 2000, Denise and husband, John, have been Bay Area leaders in community projects and philanthropic causes. York holds NFL leadership positions, including serving on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Committee and she helps oversee the League's on-going support of museums that pay tribute to NFL legends. She has been named as one of the most powerful women in sports by Forbes' Magazine. Among her contributions include a $500,000 endowment for women's athletics at Youngstown State and she continues to give generously toward sports programs for young people at Cardinal Mooney High School.
"This is an incredibly unique and prestigious opportunity and is extremely competitive. Last year we had more than 600 young women apply and this year I expect even more," said Ali Towle, the 49ers Director of Marketing. "To be considered, candidates need to clearly demonstrate the qualities of Mrs. York and the San Francisco 49ers: leadership, integrity and concern for the community."
The recipient will spend a 12-month term working in the 49ers marketing department tackling a variety of projects. The Fellow will be given ownership of projects, based on her specific career interests, in either the discipline of advertising, event management, game day presentation, online and social media or graphic design.
The York and DeBartolo families have had a long history of honoring women. The 49ers training facility and team headquarters are named for Marie Patricia Montani DeBartolo, Denise DeBartolo York's mother.
Information and an online application for the Denise DeBartolo York Fellowship can be found at TeamWorkOnline.com.
