Cecelie “Ces” Owens is a proud Buffalo native and the Founder and Executive Director of the G.I.R.L.S Sports Foundation, Inc. (GSF), a nonprofit empowering underserved girls ages 8–18 through sports and mentorship.
A pioneer in athletics, she made history as the first African American female inducted into the Buffalo State College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999 and was later honored as a Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame inductee in 2024.
Ces built GSF to give young women the same opportunities, mentorship, and support that shaped her own journey. She holds multiple degrees in education and leadership and retired in 2024 after 33 years with the Buffalo Public School District, where she served as an Elementary Principal. She also led the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) at Buffalo State for a decade.
Outside of work, she enjoys deejaying, traveling, and House music, and is a proud member of Elim Christian Fellowship.
Executive Director
E: girlssportsfoundationwny@gmail.com P: (716) 931-2180
