Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Soccer Foundation today announced that Heather Higginbottom, Chief Operating Officer at CARE USA, has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Ms. Higginbottom joins a board comprised of leaders and executives from a range of fields who are actively working to increase access to quality soccer programming and building safe places to play the game, with a special emphasis on underserved communities.
“We are delighted to welcome Heather to our Board of Directors,” said Charles Stimson, Chairman of the Board for the Foundation. “Heather brings a passion for soccer and a wealth of policy experience to the Foundation. Her to work to create opportunities for children in underserved communities will be extremely beneficial as the Foundation continues to expand its programs.”
“Heather’s experience in both the government and non-profit sectors will further enhance the remarkable talents that our Directors currently bring to the Foundation,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “Heather’s proven leadership and successes in advancing policies that improve children’s lives will further propel our work forward. We are honored to have her on our Board.”
As CARE USA’s chief operating officer, Ms. Higginbottom leads overall operations throughout the organization and is responsible for day-to-day execution of CARE USA’s strategy. Prior to joining CARE, Ms. Higginbottom served as the first female Deputy Secretary of State and managed operations and foreign assistance programming for the State Department and USAID. She also served as Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), where she was the Chief Operating Officer and a principal architect of the federal budget. From January 2009 to January 2011, Ms. Higginbottom served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.
She also served in senior positions on Capitol Hill for many years and on two presidential campaigns.
Ms. Higginbottom holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rochester and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the George Washington University.
About the U.S. Soccer Foundation
The U.S. Soccer Foundation’s programs are the national model for sports-based youth development in underserved communities. Since its founding in 1994, the Foundation has established programs proven to help children embrace an active and healthy lifestyle while nurturing their personal growth beyond sports. Its cost-effective, high-impact initiatives offer safe environments where kids and communities thrive. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Soccer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit https://ussoccerfoundation.org or follow us on Twitter at @ussoccerfndn and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ussoccerfoundation.