The U.S. Squash Foundation was formed in 2024 following successful campaigns led by US Squash in the building and opening of the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in 2021 and the successful bid for Olympic inclusion in 2023. Long in consideration, the Foundation's launch signified the next logical strategic expansion for US Squash towards its mission, while providing the sport a much needed U.S.-based, mission-driven philanthropic organization solely focused on growing squash. The Foundation also allows US Squash to properly engage and recognize the sport's most generous benefactors. The Foundation is led by Executive Director Ned Edwards and a Board of Managers.
Ned Edwards pictured in the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Philadelphia, during construction.
Edwards comes to the role with seven years of experience with US Squash and a lifetime of achievements in the sport. Edwards, a U.S. Squash Hall of Fame member himself, was the number one ranked amateur in 1979 and 1980, a giant of the 1980’s professional hardball tour, and coached the men’s team at his alma mater Penn for 5 years in the 1990’s. More recently, he led the fundraising and construction of the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, opened in 2021 in Philadelphia with Edwards serving as its first Executive Director. He also played a significant role in the collaborative effort among the World Squash Federation, the Professional Squash Association and US Squash to earn squash’s place in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games program.
Marshall Pagon pictured in the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Philadelphia, awarding the President’s Cup.
Mark is the founder and CEO of The Pegasus Companies, a family of closely held companies active in the development, construction & operation of solar and renewable energy projects; acquisition and development of wireless and satellite spectrum; provision of telecommunications services to agencies of the U.S. government; and management of an investment portfolio. Mark was also the founder and CEO of Pegasus Media & Communications, a publicly traded satellite television, cable television and broadcast TV company serving 1.5 million subscribers throughout the U.S. Before founding Pegasus, Mark was Managing Partner of BDI Associates (private equity) and an Executive Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of Butcher & Singer, Inc. (investment banking). Mark has served on the Board of Directors of numerous industry and trade associations, including the Wireless Communications Association (WCA), where he also served as a member of WCA’s Executive Committee and Treasurer, as well as the Satellite Business & Communications Association (SBCA), where he served as a member of SBA’s Executive Committee. He has also served as a member of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Media Security & Reliability Commission.
As a junior, Amanda became the first U.S. player to win a world junior title, and the first sixteen-year-old to win four professional titles. Following her junior career, Sobhy attended Harvard where she earned a degree in Anthropology with a minor in Global Health & Health Policy upon graduating in 2015. Amanda achieved a remarkable 62-0 undefeated college career, including three team titles and becoming just the third player in history to win four college individual titles.
Amanda is the first U.S.-born male or female to reach the world’s top ten rankings, which she cracked in 2015. Sobhy has spent forty-six consecutive months in the world’s top ten since 2019 and reached a career high of world No. 3 in 2021. She has captured twenty titles on the PSA Tour, and has won six U.S. Women’s Championship titles. Amanda has been supported by the US Squash Elite Athlete Program since 2015.
Amanda has represented Team USA in three Pan American Championships, three Pan American Games and five World Team Championships. At the 2015 Pan American Games, Amanda became the first squash athlete to win three gold medals in the same year: women’s singles, women’s doubles with Natalie Grainger and women’s team with Grainger and Olivia Blatchford. Sobhy then repeated her historic triple gold medal performance at the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru.
Sobhy led Team USA to its all time best finish of second place at the 2022 Women’s World Team Championship.