TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ritchie Hockey Foundation has named Desiree Phelps its first executive director, a milestone for the organization Donna Ritchie founded in 2009 in memory of her son Jason. Phelps joined RHF on Sept. 1 and will lead its programs, fundraising, and partnerships as the Foundation helps more young athletes pursue hockey without being held back by financial barriers.

Jason first stepped onto the ice at age six and grew into a dedicated goalie and teammate. Hockey gave him a place to work hard, belong, and form friendships that lasted beyond the rink. RHF carries that part of his life forward by awarding scholarships and offering skills clinics to student athletes who share his drive. Its community events also create opportunities for children in other sports.

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“Jason loved hockey, but what stayed with him were the people and the lessons that came with it,” said Donna Ritchie, RHF founder and president. “Every child we help is a chance to give someone the encouragement, coaching, and opportunity that meant so much to him. Desiree understands that this is personal for our family and full of possibility for the children we serve.”

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Phelps brings more than a decade of experience in professional sports, business operations, revenue generation, and community engagement. Her career includes leadership roles with the Toronto Blue Jays and USA Patriots Veteran Athletics and helping build Tampa Bay Sun FC, Tampa Bay’s professional women’s soccer club. She has helped sports organizations grow attendance and philanthropic support while bringing athletes, fans and communities together.

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RHF’s work extends from hockey scholarships and goalie clinics to its annual Legends of Sport Weekend, featuring a youth baseball clinic, along with its highly successful celebrity golf tournament fundraiser. Its most recent tournament attracted more than 40 professional hockey, baseball, football, and basketball players, and more than 30 foursomes. The Weekend will include a football clinic for the first time in 2027.

As its first executive director, Phelps will bring dedicated leadership to those efforts, deepen relationships with donors and partners, and help the Foundation reach more deserving student athletes.

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“Donna and I started this Foundation because Jason’s story did not end with his passing,” said Bob Ritchie, RHF co-founder. “It lives in the young goalie who gets coaching, the student athlete who can stay in the game, and the child who discovers what a team can bring out in them. Bringing in Desiree is how we take the next step: honoring Jason by building more of those opportunities, year after year.”

Phelps met her husband while both were working in professional baseball, and they are now raising two boys. Her professional and family experiences have shaped her belief in what sports can give young people beyond competition.

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“I am honored to work alongside the Ritchie family and everyone who has built this Foundation around Jason’s memory,” said Phelps. “A scholarship or a clinic can change the course of a young athlete’s season, but the real impact can last much longer. I want to help more children find a coach who believes in them, teammates who count on them, and the confidence to keep going. I look forward to working with our board, volunteers, donors, and partners to make that possible.”