Wendy Hilliard Foundation

Wendy Hilliard has long been a major force in women's sports. In 1978, she became the first African American to represent the United States and remained on the Rhythmic Gymnastics National Team a record-setting nine times; serving twice as National Team Captain.  She was a four-time US National Team Coach and coached 1996 Olympian, Aliane Baquerot. This year, 2008, she will be inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Wendy Hilliard was the first African American and gymnast to become the President of the Women’s Sports Foundation in 1995. Wendy’s own non–profit organization, the Wendy Hilliard Foundation, has provided free gymnastics for over 5000 inner city youth in NYC since 1996. Ms Hilliard was the athlete representative for gymnastics to the United States Olympic Committee and served on the Executive Committee of USA Gymnastics for over ten years. Wendy has been a TV commentator for many sports and gymnastics events, including the Olympic Games. She has performed on numerous television shows and tours with the world’s top gymnasts and also performed on Broadway. Wendy is a Founding Member and Associate Choreographer for ANTIGRAVITY and was Director of Sports for NYC2012. NYC2012 was the U.S. Olympic Bid City, vying for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As a member of the Senior Staff, her responsibilities included overseeing all of the sports and athlete issues concerning the bid; including over 2000 Olympians and Paralympians worldwide that supported the bid. She also traveled to International Olympic Committee meetings representing NYC2012. In 2006, she designed and opened a 15,000 square foot gymnastics center for Aviator Sports and Recreation; a new multi- million/multi-sport complex in Brooklyn, NY. Along with her foundation, Ms. Hilliard is currently a sports consultant with Aviator Sports and Recreation and Riverbank State Park. Wendy resides in Harlem with her husband, Robert Mensah and sons Kennedy and Bailey.