October 2024 – News and events

SANTA CLARA, California. Oct 11, 2024 – Bay FCThe new professional women's soccer franchise representing the Bay Area in the National Women's Soccer League and its founding partner PNC Bank are today donating $25,000 in grants to Santa Clara University's Bronco Ventures Accelerator (BVA). The grants will benefit five female entrepreneurs participating in BVA, a startup accelerator program.

Co-founder of Bay FC, US Women's National Team legends and Santa Clara University graduates Brandi Chastain '91, Leslie Osborne '05, Danielle Slaton '02 and Aly Wagner '02will also be honored as Entrepreneur of the Year at the BVA Demo Day celebrations this evening.

“Bay FC’s Bronco founders are true ambassadors of Santa Clara values ​​– demonstrating excellence in the classroom and on the field, possessing a successful entrepreneurial mindset and a drive to give back and support other female entrepreneurs,” said Chris NorrisManaging Director of the Ciocca Center. “We are extremely pleased to recognize her as this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year.”

Goals for grants

The grants come from Bay FC's Goals for Grants Powered by PNC initiative, in which the team committed to donating $1,000 – up to $25,000 – for every Bay FC goal scored this season . Part of the B Empowered platform sponsored by PNC Bank, Goals for Grants is designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs achieve their personal and professional financial goals.

“PNC Bank is an important partner for us in providing financial empowerment programs for our players and community and gives Bay Area women who own or manage businesses the opportunity to further their dreams through the Goals for Grants program to pursue,” said Brady, CEO of Bay FC Stewart. “The B Empowered partnership with PNC continues to make a difference in the Bay Area community by helping women achieve financial success and continuing to support them as community leaders.”

The five recipients of the funding are: Claire Venezia MBA '84 (E-POPS), Julia Benner '10 (Failures), Madeline Eiken '19 (Intero Biosystems), Megan Welsh '08 (Dropsite), And Sonia Hoshmand '25 (Intelligent Apply). Each entrepreneur receives $5,000 to continue funding and research for their business. Present the recipients BVA demo daysponsored by PNC Bank, Friday, October 11th.

“It was a great honor to be a part of Bay FC’s inaugural season and witness the team’s remarkable success on and off the field,” said Megan Schoettmer, PNC Northern California regional president. “PNC is passionate about making a real difference in the lives of women by supporting their financial growth, and we are proud to support women entrepreneurs to drive meaningful change in companies and their communities through Goals for Grants .”

Designed to support women financial decision-makers, the B Empowered platform includes grants, thought leadership, financial literacy training and more. Bay FC and PNC Bank will continue to expand their offerings in the 2025-26 season and beyond.

About Bay Football Club
Bay Football Club (Bay FC) is the new professional women's soccer franchise representing the Bay Area and the 14th team to join the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Founded in April 2023, Bay FC was co-founded by USWNT legends Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner in collaboration with global investment firm Sixth Street and an investor group of leading technology, business and sports executives. Sixth Street's investment is the largest institutional investment to date in a professional women's sports franchise. Bay FC is changing the face of women's football as we know it. As we begin the 2024 season, we are building a squad that will play the beautiful game with strength, passion, energy and creativity. Tickets for Bay FC are on sale now https://bayfc.com and fans can follow Bay FC's social channels (@wearebayfc) for the latest news, merchandise and events.

About Santa Clara University
Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University is located in the heart of Silicon Valley – the most innovative and entrepreneurial region in the world. The university's stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís. According to US News & World Report, SCU is ranked in the top 15 percent of national universities. It has one of the best four-year graduation rates in the country and is in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates, according to PayScale. SCU has produced top Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum combines high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information, visit www.scu.edu.

Media contact
Deborah Lohse | SCU media communications | [email protected] | 408-554-5121