Minnesota native Tony Sanneh is one of the most accomplished soccer players to come out of the state. He is the all-time leading scorer and was Second Team All-American at the University of Milwaukee and played professionally for over 15 years. Tony made his debut for the United States National Team in 1997 and became an important part of the U.S. Team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Tony established The Sanneh Foundation in 2003 to support community-based organizations and to assemble a supportive network within the community that provides positive environments for urban youth to become positive and productive adults. After officially retiring from professional soccer in 2010, he became the organization’s full-time President and CEO and the foundation began its meteoric growth.
In addition to his executive leadership role with The Sanneh Foundation, Tony serves as a Sports Envoy on behalf of the SportsUnited Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. In this capacity, he has worked in Cyprus, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Malaysia and Bolivia to further American cultural values of gender equity and respect for diversity.
Tony believes in giving all children the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed and with The Sanneh Foundation, he seeks to accomplish that goal through its programs, partnerships and events.