Sheila Johnson was honored as a Women Who Inspire by Donna Karen for her contribution to the Street Soccer USA Lady Salamander initiative.  Ms. Johnson is the CEO of Salamander Hotels, a founding partner of BET, an owner of three professional sports teams.  Ms. Johnson is also the producer of the film Kicking It featuring Street Soccer USA's journey to the homeless world cup.

     In 2012 at the Donna Karen event in New York City, Ms. Johnson spoke about her inspiration for founding the Lady Salamanders. After producing the film Kicking It, she noticed the lack of female players at the Homeless World Cup.  Women are in need of the most support and help in our society, yet they are often ignored, Ms. Johnson said. Street Soccer USA gives homeless women the chance to succeed by forming a family and network of support, something many of them are lacking.  "Ms. Johnson has made a huge impact on the lives of our female players.  She has given them hope, friends and most importantly a family," said Lawrence Cann, CEO of Street Soccer USA.  We are honored to have Ms. Johnson as part of the Street Soccer USA family.

     At the Donna Karen event, Ms. Johnson donated a portion of the sales to the Lady Salamander program.  In addition, Ms. Johnson is launching a scarf collection that features photos from her travels in Uganda, Haiti and Rwanda.  Ms. Johnson is donating a portion of the sales to the Lady Salamander programs.

     Thus far, with the support of Ms. Johnson, the six women's teams of Street Soccer USA have been able to thrive.  By providing life and job skills through the power of soccer, 75% of women in Street Soccer USA programs find housing, gain employment or enroll in school within two years of the joining.  "We are only beginning this journey, and our ready to expand our Lady Salamander initiative," said Lawrence Cann.

 
     Over the next year, SSUSA is recruiting advocates and partners to help the Salamander program double in size.  Currently, the Salamanders exist in Charlotte, New York, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco and Minneapolis. "With the success of our Lady Salamander program thus far, I believe that it is our duty to bring SSUSA to as many women shelters as possible."  Lawrence said.


     "The Lady Salamanders is a sisterhood-celebrating women's courage, strength, and resilience.  I sponsored and helped start the team to unite and empower its players: brave, capable women who are overcoming homelessness and building better lives. Salamanders were once believed able to walk through fire unscathed. The women of the Lady Salamanders have already walked through fire, and this team is there to support them as they emerge on the other side."-- Sheila Johnson