Pro Softball Star Danielle Henderson Joins The Advisory Board Of The Young Women Leaders Of Tomorrow Program
April 09, 2007
NEW ENGLAND RIPTIDE PITCHER LENDS HER SUPPORT TO DIRECT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION’S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Needham, MA – Danielle Henderson, a pitcher for the New England Riptide of the National Pro Fastpitch softball league and a graduate of UMass-Amherst, is joining the advisory board of the Young Women Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship program. The program was created by Direct Federal Credit Union with the goal of recognizing today’s female athletes and tomorrow’s leaders. The program focuses on high school female athletes that participate in field hockey, ice hockey, basketball, or softball in either the Bay State Conference or the Tri-Valley League of Massachusetts. The high school coaches, principals and athletic directors will help evaluate and choose the recipients that best exemplify leadership, sportsmanship, athleticism and academic excellence on their specific team. Sixty-six $1,000 scholarships are then awarded to the chosen athletes. Henderson joins other successful athletes- including basketball’s Rebecca Lobo and Medina Dixon; ice hockey’s Cammi Granato; field hockey’s Megan Donnelly and Dina Rizzo; and baseball/softball’s Mary Pratt - in supporting this program.
“I want to teach the girls about softball, but more importantly I want to inspire them to pursue their dreams, and motivate them to become leaders,” said Henderson. “I am proud to support the Young Women Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship program because it acknowledges and values female athletes.”
Throughout Henderson’s college years at UMass, she was a three- time All-America selection, a four-time All-Atlantic 10 selection and a four-time A-10 Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Henderson is often referred to as one of the most potent strikeout pitchers in NCAA history, and set an NCAA record in 1999 for the most consecutive scoreless innings (105). In 2ooo, she was a member of the U.S. Olympic Softball Team, which won a gold medal in Sydney, Australia. The following year, Henderson became the first ever UMass softball player to have her jersey retired. In 2004, she joined the Riptide, and has been a key member of the team’s pitching staff ever since.
“It is an amazing opportunity for the girls to have such a positive role model like Danielle,” said Jean Geiwitz, Direct Federal’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Operations. “We’re proud to have her support, and the girls will certainly look up to her.”
In addition to awarding scholarships, the program has also purchased new uniforms for several high school teams and the program will be hosting an awards dinner on May 24th, at which time the winners will be awarded their scholarships.
A friend of mine once told me, ‘God never wastes the work of a worker.’ I believe this is true. Even if you don't immediately get the results you want after working hard for something, there is always a reward. It might take a while to understand what the reward is, but it's always there. Hard work is never a waste of time. 
