Who we are

About FootballHer

At Lois Cook Foundation, dba FootballHer, we are passionate about transforming the landscape of women’s football and empowering the next generation of athletes. Founded by Lois Cook, a trailblazer in women’s football, FootballHer bridges the gap between passion and opportunity by offering mentorship, community engagement, and education for young girls and women in football.

FootballHer is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under section 509(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. Through this nonprofit, we mentor aspiring athletes, provide essential resources, and host community events that champion inclusivity, leadership, and empowerment.

Our social media platform, @CleatsAndStilettos, elevates the visibility of women’s football through innovative marketing strategies, compelling storytelling, and powerful brand partnerships that expand reach and recognition for female athletes nationwide.

Located in the DMV area and operating nationally, we are proud to be a catalyst for change in women’s sports, driven by values of integrity, resilience, and collaboration. Whether it’s through youth flag football, NFL events, motivational seminars, or social media content, FootballHer is more than an organization—it’s a movement.

Join us in paving the way for women to take their place in football and beyond.

Awards & Recognitions

  • DC Divas Coach’s Award (2023)
    In 2023, Lois Cook was honored with the DC Divas Coach’s Award, recognizing her exceptional dedication, leadership, and influence on the team both on and off the field. This award celebrates individuals who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the team’s success and serve as a powerful example for others to follow. Lois’s drive, determination, and support for her teammates reflected the spirit of the Coach's Award, as she consistently stepped up as a leader, inspiring her team with her passion, work ethic, and commitment to excellence in women’s football.

  • DC Divas Daddy Nat Award (2021)
    In 2021, Lois Cook received the first ever DC Divas’ Daddy Nat Award, an honor named after Nate Randolph, affectionately known as "Daddy Nat," whose legacy of selfless service has profoundly impacted the Divas and the broader community. This award is a tribute to individuals who exemplify the same unwavering dedication to serving others as Daddy Nat, who, as a volunteer trainer, gave countless hours to the team without expecting anything in return. Nate was a beloved figure known for his compassion, humor, and commitment to the well-being of each player, providing care and support at every practice and game. Lois’s receipt of this award highlights her dedication to uplifting and serving her teammates and the women’s football community, embodying the spirit of selflessness and care that Daddy Nat championed throughout his life.

  • DC Divas Owners' Award (2019)
    In 2019, Lois Cook received the DC Divas Owners' Award, one of the team’s highest honors. This prestigious award celebrates individuals who go above and beyond in embodying the team’s mission and values. Lois was recognized for her outstanding leadership, dedication, and impact, both within the organization and the broader community, as she tirelessly promoted and supported the growth of women’s football. Her commitment, influence, and passion for the sport made her an invaluable asset to the team and a deserving recipient of this esteemed award.

  • DC Divas Hard Hat Award (2018)
    In 2018, Lois Cook was honored with the Hard Hat Award from the DC Divas, recognizing her relentless work ethic, toughness, and dedication on and off the field. Known for embodying the team’s core values of resilience and commitment, Lois consistently demonstrated a level of grit and determination that set her apart as a leader among her teammates. This award symbolizes her unwavering dedication to the game and her team, as she put in the “hard hat” work day in and day out, inspiring those around her with her relentless drive and passion for football.

  • Got Milk Athlete | "Gonna Need Milk" Campaign (2021-2022)
    In 2022, Lois Cook was featured as a Got Milk Athlete in the national “Gonna Need Milk” campaign, representing her commitment to strength and resilience in football. Her image graced a prominent billboard just outside of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA for the Super Bowl, with a powerful message: “There are giants among us.” The campaign celebrated athletes breaking boundaries and promoted women in football. During the big game, Lois was also featured in a commercial that championed equality in football, resonating with the impactful slogan “Football is football.”

  • In 2022, Lois Cook was featured in the children's book "A D.C. Divas Football Story," authored and illustrated by Richard Torrey. This book narrates Lois's journey, emphasizing themes of self-belief and perseverance. It is part of the Champions for Literacy series, which aims to inspire young readers through stories of notable athletes.

    https://championsforliteracy.com/lois.html\

  • Media Features and Appearances

    • Optimum Nutrition
      Lois Cook featured as an Optimum Nutrition Ambassador (2024)
      View profile

    • Arlington Magazine
      "14 Stories of New Hope" - addressing housing and homelessness in Arlington
      Read more

    • Washingtonian
      "The Washington Football Team You Should Be Rooting For" (June 1, 2022)
      Read more

    • The Gist Sports
      Parity becomes the official development partner of the Women’s Football Alliance
      Read more

    • FOX 5 DC Interview
      Lois discussed the DC Divas and an upcoming football clinic
      Watch here

    • Cronkite News - Arizona Super Bowl Partners
      Lois discusses efforts to fight human trafficking
      Read more

    • Washington Post
      Fundraiser to end homelessness with Lois’s participation (May 7, 2022)
      Read more

    • Washington Spirit
      DC teams unite to form the Washington Coalition of Women’s Professional Sports (March 25, 2022)
      Read more

    • Girls on the Run DC
      “Getting to Know Lois Cook, DC Divas Football”
      Read more

    • MightyMeals
      Lois Cook featured in "Spotlight"
      Read more

    • City Lifestyle
      "Divas of the Gridiron" feature
      Read more

    • Champions for Literacy
      Lois Cook’s profile and contributions
      View more

    • FanSided
      "Lois Cook does it for the love of the game" (March 6, 2023)
      Read more

    • YouTube - SportsLife Talk
      Lois’s journey in the sports world
      Watch here

    • Fathead
      Lois Cook's game wall art and memorabilia
      View here

    • Parity Locker
      Game-worn Lois Cook jersey available on Parity
      View here

    • Loot Mogul
      Lois Cook influencer profile
      Explore more

    • YouTube - MoreJoy Media
      Featuring Lois Cook
      Watch here

    • WFA - NFL Alumni Academy
      Lois’s selection as part of the NFL Alumni Academy
      Read announcement

    • Rolling Out Magazine
      Feature on Lois Cook, "Money in the Making" (August 24, 2023)
      Read article

    • DC Divas Facebook Video
      Highlights of Lois Cook's impact in women's football
      Watch here

    • DC Divas Instagram Reel
      Highlighting Lois Cook’s career in football
      View here

    • VIP Alexandria Magazine
      Get to know the DC Divas and Lois Cook’s role
      Read more

    • Pizetta Media TikTok
      TikTok feature on Lois Cook’s football journey
      Watch here

    • Morning Honey
      Lois's inspiring story as a pioneer in women’s football
      Learn more

    • WFA Facebook Video
      "Football is football" pregame commercial featuring Lois Cook and DC Divas
      Watch here

    • Girls on the Run DC (Spanish)
      Profile on Lois Cook
      View here

    • LA Stories with Giselle Fernandez
      National 30-minute segment spotlighting Lois’s journey in football (February 19, 2022)
      Watch here

    • Spectrum News Feature
      Coverage of Lois's influence on the sports world (February 20, 2022)
      Read more

    • Got Milk? Athlete
      Lois featured as a Got Milk Athlete in the 'Gonna Need Milk' campaign (2022)
      Explore the campaign

    • Fansided
      "Women in Football: Changing the Game" (February 2, 2022)
      Read more

    • Morning Honey
      Lois's inspiring story as a pioneer in women’s football (February 2022)
      Learn more

    • NBC4 Washington
      Lois inspires girls to play football in the local DC community (February 2022)
      Watch the feature

    • Boston.com (Mention)
      Celebrating Lois’s impact on women’s football (January 27, 2022)
      Read more

    • WJLA
      Highlighting women’s path in the NFL through Lois’s journey (February 2022)
      Watch here

    • The Zebra
      Interview with Lois on the Alexandria D1 Training location launch (October 12, 2021)
      Read more

    • WMBF News
      Empowering young girls to play football – Lois shares her story (October 22, 2021)
      Watch here

    • WUSA9
      "Great Day Washington" — Lois discusses the DC Divas' new season (February 2022)
      Watch here

    Podcast Appearances

    • Gridiron Beauties
      Insightful discussions on women in football (May 2021 & February 2022)
      Listen to May episode | Listen to February episode

    • The Huddle with Monica D. Livingston
      Episode 4: "Service to Others, Touchdowns in Life" (February 2022)
      Listen here

    • On and Off The Field
      Tagging along with Lois in this special episode (February 2022)
      Watch here

    • Cleat Sheets
      "I Carry My Sisters Everywhere" episode (October 18, 2021)
      Listen here

    • Breaking Down the Tape
      Lois dives into the game from a unique perspective (February 2022)
      Listen here

    • SportsLife Talk
      Lois’s journey in the sports world (February 2022)
      Watch here

    Special Features

meet lois jackson cook

Lois Cook is a powerhouse when it comes to exposing the game of football for women. She is proudly a walking, talking advocate for women's football while also a single mom of four boys, Social Media Influencer, TV/Radio Show Host, Professional Wide Receiver, and Vice President of the DC Divas.

Beginning her love of football at an early age, Lois decided that she wanted to be the first woman in the NFL. In 2002, her dream somewhat came true as she began her football career with the Atlanta Leopards -which was not quite the NFL but for her, even better - a league for all women at the highest level. She then joined the DC Divas in 2004 where she still plays today among a host of all women’s and co-ed flag football teams. The fear of a collision sport is not a factor as Lois has overcome several injuries including a broken ankle, tibia, fibula, toe, and 3 fingers among a host of other minor aches and sprains. Never wavering in her dedication to the sport and her determination to play, she always returned to the game quickly.

Lois' career has been nothing short of exciting and is now completely dedicated to football. In 2021, she coached at her very own high school, Bethesda Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, MD where the team went undefeated for the first time in over 40 years! She was also selected to attend the prestigious NFL Alumni Academy as an intern coach in Canton, OH where she worked directly with the Offensive Line, Running Backs, and then lastly the Defensive Line. A short time later, she became the host of “Lo On The Go”, a fun and lighthearted segment of the WFA pre-game TV Show, “Road To Canton” which can be seen on local channels in Arizona, Minnesota, and nationally online and Women’s Sports TV Network. Each year, for the WFA Championship, Lois becomes a part of the ESPN2 broadcast production as a sideline reporter and color commentator for the 4-game weekend.

Lois has extended her passion for playing the game on the field to serving and growing the game off the field. She started a non-profit organization in 2020, Lois Cook Foundation aka FTBLR, designed to empower women and girls through football, to educate and mentor both boys and girls who play, to financially support the women who already play, and to help bring girls’ tackle football teams to schools. With her intention to serve women’s sports, Lois has partnered with several brands including Always, ESPN, TiVo, Got Milk?, Hulu, Xenith and many more. Additionally, for the first time in history, female football was featured on a billboard outside of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles for the 2022 Superbowl among numerous other advertisements, where Lois was highlighted as a Team Milk athlete with the Got Milk? campaign, showing the world that "football is football" regardless of gender. She can also be seen on a host of media outlets, local news interviews, a 30-minute spotlight on the primetime show, LA Stories with Giselle Fernandez, a variety of podcasts, and advertisements near and far all while representing her team, her league, and the sport of women's football. Lois also achieved several awards and honors including the 2023 Coaches’ Award, 2021 Daddy Nat Award for Selfless Service, the 2019 Owner's Award, the 2018 Hard Hat Award, and numerous flag football championships for her performance and dedication to the game.

Today Lois' mission continues and her message is simple; be active in your passion and grow the game of football for all.

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