US Rugby Foundation Announces Anne M. Barry as New Chair

The US Rugby Foundation announces Anne M. Barry as Chair of the Board.

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Barry, the first woman to lead the 61-year-old US Rugby Foundation (USRF), was the foundation’s CFO and treasurer and brings over 30 years of public service experience in her native Minnesota to the organization. Previously she served as the Treasurer and President of USA Rugby and was inducted into the US Rugby Hall of Fame in 2014.

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Bill Fraumann, the outgoing Chair, stated, "Anne did a great job while serving on our Board and I am very excited to have her succeed me as Chair. She brings the experience and tools we need as we grow and enhance our support of youth rugby."

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“I am honored to take on the role of Chair for the US Rugby Foundation,” said Barry. “Rugby has been a transformative force in my life, and I am excited to work alongside my fellow board members, supporters, and the broader rugby community to expand opportunities and resources for players of all ages.”

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The US Rugby Foundation, a non-profit organization, has for six decades supported the growth and development of youth rugby in the United States. The Foundation accomplishes this by funding and promoting grassroots programs, college scholarships, coach and referee development, and health and safety.

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Barry recently retired as Director of the St. Paul Ramsey County Public Health Department. Working under four different governors, she served as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health, Deputy Commissioner of Finance, and the inaugural Chief Compliance Officer for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Throughout her career, she has been a dedicated advocate for health equity and systemic reform.

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Her rugby career included playing for the Twin Cities Amazons and selection to state and regional all-star squads. Barry was president of the Minnesota Rugby Union for nearly 20 years.

“Anne’s unparalleled leadership experience and lifelong dedication to the sport of rugby make her the ideal person to lead the Foundation into the future,” said USRF President and CEO, Jon Hinkin.

Barry holds a Juris Doctor from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, a Master’s in Public Health Administration from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Arts in Occupational Therapy from St. Catherine University. She is an adjunct faculty member at both the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions.

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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Jon Hinkin at jhinkin@usrugbyfoundation.com.

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For more on Anne M. Barry, https://www.usrugbyfoundation.org/board-of-directors/anne-barry