We’re Here to Make a Difference

Founded in 2021, the NFL Foundation UK is the charitable arm of the NFL within the UK

The Foundation aims to tackle inequality and lack of opportunity faced by young people, aged 11-20 in underserved communities across the UK. The NFL Foundation UK will address these challenges by providing grants, training, and equipment to local community organisations, enabling young people to access activities and support that will help them understand and realise their potential.

Our Trustees

Paraag Marathe

Trustee

Paraag is the San Francisco 49ers chief contract negotiator and salary cap architect, in conjunction with presiding over 49ers Enterprises business ventures and investments. Notably, on the business investment side, Paraag is chairman of Leeds United Football Club of the English Football League Championship, as 49ers Enterprises holds full ownership of the club. Beyond the 49ers, Paraag is a faculty member at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Paraag is a philanthropist, sitting on the Board of Directors for Andrea’s Voice, Project HEAL, and Sequoia Hospital Foundation.

Dawn Aponte

Trustee

Dawn is the NFL’s Chief Football Administrative Officer, responsible for driving football operations. Previously she was with RSE Ventures and has worked for the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and the NFL Management Council during a 25-year career in football. She serves on USA Football’s Board of Directors, leading the sport’s development for youth, high school, and other amateur players.

Patricia Keiko Hamzahee

Trustee

After 20 years in investment banking and financial communications, Patricia now helps social enterprises attract private capital and advises private capital providers on responsible investment through her consultancy, Integriti Capital. Among many interests, she is co-founder of Extend Ventures; co-founder of the Black Funding Network; a trustee of Ballet Black and Areté Network; and a director of the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival.

Anna Isaacson

Trustee

Anna is the NFL’s Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility, directing the league’s social, charitable, and philanthropic efforts, including how the NFL addresses social justice, domestic violence, sexual assault, and other critical societal issues. She also oversees the work of the NFL Foundation and has led the development of Inspire Change, a new social justice campaign focused on opening access to opportunity for communities.

Leah Kreitzman

Trustee

Leah is a partner at Freuds Communications. Previously she was at the Greater London Authority, where she was Sadiq Khan’s Mayoral Director for External and International Affairs from 2016 until earlier this year. She is a former Director of Public Affairs for UNICEF UK and has led advocacy campaigns for Save the Children and ONE.

Gavin Lewis

Trustee

Gavin is Managing Director at BlackRock, where he is responsible for the strategic direction and growth of the UK Local Government Pension Scheme segment. He has held various financial leadership positions and is Co-Chair of the Global BlackRock Black Professionals Network and Sponsor of the EMEA Black Professionals Network. He is a member of the asset management industry’s Diversity Project and a trustee board member of the Old Vic Theatre Trust.

Ian Ritchie OBE

Trustee

Ian is one of the most respected administrators in UK sport, having served as chairman of Premier League Rugby, CEO of the Rugby Football Union for five years and CEO of the All-England Lawn Tennis Club for six years. He is a non-executive director of the Ryder Cup Committee and was previously non-executive director of the Football League and a Wembley Stadium board member. Among his previous roles in media, he was Chief Executive at Channel 5.

Osi Umenyiora

Trustee

Osi is a two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants. Since returning to London, where he was born, he has become a two-time Royal Television Society Award winner for his work on BBC TV’s The NFL Show. He is an ambassador for the NFL Academy in London, helped develop the league’s International Player Pathway programme and works with many good causes in Nigeria, from where his family originates.