The Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative (BJKLI) salutes Founder Billie Jean King's 75th birthday and fundraises for the permanent display and digitization of the sports champion and equal rights advocate's archives at the New-York Historical Society

NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative (BJKLI) hosted a tribute night in honor of Founder Billie Jean King's 75^th birthday at the New-York Historical Society on November 14, 2018. The event titled "BJK 75" served as a platform to raise funding for a permanent exhibition of King's collection at the museum and the digitization of her archives to ensure future generations have the opportunity and access to learn from King's life story.

"Ensuring that Billie Jean King and her collection remains a permanent fixture in our halls is an important statement in the history of women who have a significant impact on American history," said Dr. Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of the New-York Historical Society. "While the museum is an incredible place to visit, we are conscious that not everyone has access. The digitization of the collection will ensure we can share Billie Jean's story and message about inclusion and equality with people all over the world."

The tribute night included musical performances from Alan Cumming, Emma Stone, Cyndi Lauper, Sara Bareilles, Nona Hendryx and tap-dancing group The Syncopated Ladies. Robert Kraft, Jeanie Buss, Maria Sharapova, Mary Carillo, John McEnroe, Holly Hunter and Kate Clinton shared anecdotes about their friendships with King.

Thanking the co-chairs and supporters of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, Billie Jean King said, "If you can see it, you can be it and that's why it is so important to support the museum in its continued efforts to educate the next generation of leaders and share the lessons of those who have come before us. The more you know about history, the more you know about yourself."

After the tribute performance, friends and family of King and Kloss had the opportunity to view "Billie Jean King: The Road to 75" an exhibition at the New-York Historical Society, curated in honor of King's 75th birthday and celebrating her life and career through more than 75 photographs. The exhibition is available to the public for viewing until January 27, 2019.

Among her many achievements, King led the way in founding the Women's Tennis Association in 1973; lobbied for, and obtained, equal prize money at the US Open in 1973; co-founded World TeamTennis in 1974; and is renowned for her celebrated win over Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes" match on September 20, 1973, with an estimated worldwide audience of 90 million people. Named one of Life magazine's "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century," she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, by President Obama. In 2006, the National Tennis Center, home of the US Open, was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in honor of her accomplishments on and off the court. King continues to work to advance social justice causes, serving on the boards of the Women's Sports Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In 2014, she launched the BJKLI to advocate for equality and inclusion in the workplace.

ABOUT THE BILLIE JEAN KING LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
BJKLI was founded in 2014 by equality champion and sports icon Billie Jean King and her partner Ilana Kloss in an effort to move the needle forward on issues impacting equality and inclusion in the workplace. Every year the BJKLI brings together diverse leaders from a range of industries to have honest, constructive dialogue on the state of equality and how to broker tangible positive change. Individuals who have used their power and platform to level the playing field are recognized with "Inspiring Leader" awards. The BJKLI has worked with a number of corporations on leadership and gender equity goals both in pay and representation.

Members of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative Advisory Board include: Billie Jean King, Co-founder; Ilana Kloss, Co-founder; Paul Keary, Co-founder and COO, Teneo Holdings; Pablo Salame, Former Global Co-Head, Securities Division, Goldman Sachs; Christiane Amanpour, Chief International Correspondent, CNN; Jason Collins, Former NBA Player and Civil Rights Advocate; David Furnish, Chairman, Elton John AIDS Foundation and CEO, Rocket Entertainment Group; Maritza Gomez-Montiel, Former Vice Chairman and Deputy CEO of Deloitte; Sir Elton John; Jonathan Kraft, President, The Kraft Group; Robert McCann, Chairman, UBS Group Americas; Pat Mitchell, Founder and CEO, POW! Strategies and Executive Producer of TEDWomen; Robin Roberts, Anchor, ABC's Good Morning America; Michael Strautmanis, VP of Civic Engagement for the Obama Foundation; Serena Williams Professional Athlete & Entrepreneur, Venus Williams Professional Athlete & CEO/ Founder, EleVen and V Starr Interiors.

For more information on the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, visit www.bjkli.org. 

ABOUT THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The New-York Historical Society, one of America's preeminent cultural institutions, is dedicated to fostering research and presenting history and art exhibitions and public programs that reveal the dynamism of history and its influence on the world of today. Founded in 1804, New-York Historical has a mission to explore the richly layered history of New York City and State and the country, and to serve as a national forum for the discussion of issues surrounding the making and meaning of history. Among the more than 1.6 million works that comprise the museum's art collections are all 435 preparatory watercolors for John James Audubon's Birds of America; a preeminent collection of Hudson River School landscapes; and an exceptional collection of decorative and fine arts spanning four centuries.

For more information on the New-York Historical Society please visit www.nyhistory.org

SOURCE Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative