Shaping the Mission: The Evolution of Western Sports Foundation
Photo by Kaycie Timm
Since its inception in 1998, Western Sports Foundation (WSF) has adapted to address the evolving needs of Western sports athletes. What began as an effort to support injured bull riders has expanded into a comprehensive organization offering a wide array of services to all levels and ages of Western athletes. Here, we examine WSF’s journey over the past 26 years, highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped our mission and future.
A Community Comes Together
WSF’s roots trace back to Jerome Davis’ career-ending injury in 1998. Without insurance or a financial safety net, Jerome relied on the compassion and solidarity of the rodeo community to help him through his recovery.
“Jerome’s injury really marked the birth of what became the Rider Relief Fund,” Aubrey O’Quin, WSF Executive Director explains. “The community rallied around him in a time before GoFundMe, pooling resources to help him get through.”
Tiffany and Jerome Davis pose together at the 2024 WSF Gala. Photo courtesy of the Austin Gamblers
That community effort spurred the founding of a proactive, organized effort to provide financial assistance to athletes and their families throughout recovery from sport-related injuries. Initially known as the Resistol Relief Fund due to sponsorship ties, the organization primarily supported bull riders and bullfighters.
“Probably 90 percent of the athletes we served were strictly PBR [Professional Bull Riders] athletes,” Aubrey shares. “We had most of PBR’s CEOs on our board at some point, which reflected our close ties to that community.”
Expanding Services
One of the transformative figures in WSF’s history was WSF board member Clay Learned, who served for nearly two decades. Clay’s knack for negotiating medical bills changed the scope of the organization’s services.
“Clay negotiated millions of dollars in medical bills for athletes,” Aubrey recounts. “He’d call hospitals, saying, ‘We can pay 10 percent now, or they’ll file bankruptcy, and you’ll get nothing.’”
This approach allowed WSF to move beyond simply providing financial aid to directly addressing athletes’ mounting medical expenses. However, the process was labor-intensive, becoming almost a full-time job for Clay, despite his board status being a volunteer role.
A Broader Mission
By 2018, it was clear that WSF needed to evolve to further meet the needs of Western athletes.
“We were having internal discussions about how to expand our reach and services,” Aubrey recalls.
A tragic catalyst accelerated this shift: the untimely death of Ty Pozzobon, a beloved athlete who struggled with mental health challenges.
“Ty’s loss made us realize that we needed to be proactive, not just reactive,” Aubrey shares.
This pivotal moment inspired WSF to rebrand and broaden its mission from these roots grew a larger effort to not only financially assist injured athletes, but provide additional resources that promote success in all areas of athletes’ lives. The organization rebranded as Western Sports Foundation and launched mental health and neurological services while maintaining its core focus on financial assistance.
“We realized that athletes face more than physical injuries—they battle mental and emotional challenges, too,” Aubrey emphasizes.
Current Initiatives
Today, WSF provides an array of services, including crisis counseling, career planning, financial literacy and so much more, with a mission to support athletes throughout their careers and beyond.
Photo by Kaycie Timm
“It’s about giving them a sliver of hope,” Aubrey explains. “Whether they’re at their lowest or planning for life after competition, we want them to feel supported.”
Numerous athletes have played an instrumental role in shaping these initiatives to best meet their needs. Feedback from recipients and industry partners has helped WSF fine-tune its offerings.
A Vision of Growth
Looking ahead, WSF aspires to serve even more athletes and reach a broader donor base.
“Our goal is to make sure there isn’t a Western sports athlete who doesn’t know what we stand for,” Aubrey states. “Whether you’ve used our services or not, we want everyone to know who we are.
The foundation also plans to continue expanding its services to meet the unique challenges faced by athletes in Western sports.
“Our ultimate goal is shaping a brighter future for Western sports,” Aubrey concludes. “We want athletes to feel there’s always another chapter in their lives—and we’ll be there to help them write it.”
WSF’s evolution is a testament to the resilience of the Western sports community and its commitment to taking care of its own. From its grassroots beginnings to its current role as a multifaceted support system, WSF exemplifies the power of compassion and innovation in addressing the diverse needs of athletes.