From A League of Their Own to the First-Ever All-Women's Sports Museum

SARASOTA, Fla. - Sept. 27, 2016 - PRLog -- Local nonprofit the Women's Sports Museum is excited to announce its intent to build the first-ever all-women's sports museum in Sarasota, Florida. The initial capital campaign event, the Fundraising Kick-Off Gala, will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2016, at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.

The Women's Sports Museum's mission is to present and preserve historical documents, artifacts and personal recollections of the participants, reporters, fans, families and friends of all those dedicated to excellence in women's sports. It will also promote and recognize the achievements of women in sports by establishing and maintaining a place for their accomplishments to be admired, studied and experienced.

The non-profit is under the direction of Sue Parsons Zipay, former All American Girls Professional Baseball Player for the "Rockford Peaches" as seen in the blockbuster hit "A League of Their Own." As founder of the Women's Sports Museum, Zipay also hopes the museum will serve as a place of inspiration.

"I started manifesting the idea about two years ago. The All American Girls Professional Baseball League was hosting its 71^st reunion, and the ladies started discussing what would happen to our memorabilia once we were all gone. From there, I started looking for a place to preserve our history and came upon the realization that there is not one single place in the entire United States dedicated to preserving the history, past, present and future, of all women in sports," said Zipay. "I thought to myself, this just won't do – And what better place than Sarasota, where we recently earned an Excellence in Sports Tourism Award, and general tourism is high."

When asked about the museum, Zipay stated she can see it now – "An interactive museum where documents and artifacts aren't just displayed on the wall, but engaged with; A place that triggers excitement and curiosity, and ultimately encourages females young and old to continue to break the barriers within sports and related careers."

The Women's Sports Museum Fundraising Kick-Off Gala has been scheduled alongside the All American Girls Professional Baseball League's 73^rd Reunion. Several players will be in attendance, as this museum is inspired by them as well as other great women in sports.

About Women's Sports Museum

The Women's Sports Museum is a non-profit 501©(3) corporation that is all about women in and around sports – past, present and future. The mission of the museum is to present and preserve historical documents, artifacts and personal recollections of the participants, reporters, fans, families and friends of all those dedicated to excellence in women's sports. It will also promote and recognize the achievements of women in sports by establishing and maintaining a place for their accomplishments to be admired, studied and experienced. For more information on the Women's Sports Museum or the Fundraising Kick-Off Gala, contact Peter Fanning at 404-313-7776 or visit the website at www.womenssportsmuseum.org.

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