Kim Pegula: Businesswoman, Philanthropist, Activist

As the weather starts to get warmer, people are starting to partake in more outdoor activities. One activity I highly recommend is a game of catch with a football– or, for those who love to run, have someone throw the ball to you during your light jog!

Speaking of football, one of the most influential Asian female business owners out there is Kim Pegula. Owner/President of the Buffalo Bills, Pegula oversees the overall operations of the team. She also owns the ice hockey team Buffalo Sabres. In fact, she recently became the first female president in both the NFL and NHL. 

Aside from managing teams in the NFL and NHL, she created Pegula SPorts and Entertainment in 2014 to oversee business operations in multiple sports teams such as the Buffalo Bandits, Rochester Knighthawks, and National Lacrosse League.

Aside from managing sports teams, she donated $102 million for the creation of the Pegula Ice Arena at Penn State to encourage growth in the sports community. She also supported Houghton College with $12 million to build the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex which became a Division 3 program.

During the Pandemic, Pegula Donated $1.2 million to multiple relief efforts in New York and served on Governor Andrew cuomo’s re-opening advisory board in New York State. She always involves herself in the biggest issues and has consistently shown her generosity to those in need.

Outside of sports, she serves on the Board of Directors of Republic Services, an industry that recycles non-hazardous wastes. Not only does she support sports programs and COVID relief efforts, but she is an advocate for environmental health and safety. 

With the recent events involving the Asian-American hate crimes, Pegula expressed her support for the Asian community. She tweeted: “We stand beside the AAPI Community” and “We are deeply saddened by the shootings of multiple Asian Americans last night in Atlanta, and the recent acts of violence and hate nationwide towards the Asain Community. Devastating tragedies like this are far too common in our society today. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families and loved ones.” As someone who is not afraid to speak up against the hatred shown towards the Asian community, Kim Pegula serves as a role model in both activism and leadership.