Founded in 1991 by legendary sabre fencer and Olympic bronze medalist Peter Westbrook, the Foundation has served more than 4,000 scholar-athletes with tremendous success.
The Peter Westbrook Foundation addresses social, physical, academic, and health barriers by leveraging the unique sport of fencing to offer structured physical activity, academic support, and world class coach-mentors to help underrepresented youth excel.
Our Programs
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Olympians in Life Enrichment Program
Our innovative Olympians in Life program provides an invaluable opportunity for our scholar-athletes to learn from and train with elite Olympians, national fencing champions, world class coach-mentors, and tutors to help them learn, grow, and compete to achieve their highest potential – both on and off the strip.
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Competitive Athlete Program
Our Competitive Athlete program is recognized internationally for producing top fencing athletes. We provide a pathway for our accomplished and promising talent from our Olympians in Life program to participate and compete in year-round tournaments at national and international levels.
About Peter Westbrook
Peter Westbrook is a legend among American fencers. He is the history making winner of the bronze medal in the individual men’s saber event at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, 6 time US Olympian, and 13 time US national champion. Peter Westbrook is the first African-American to win an Olympic fencing medal, and at the time, the 1st US man in fencing to win an Olympic medal in 36 years.
In 1991, Peter Westbrook founded the Peter Westbrook Foundation where he has transformed the lives of thousands of children from the greater New York City’s underserved communities by providing youth with fencing and academic improvement opportunities.
Over the past 30 years, PWF grew from just 6 fencing students to more than 150 students a year, graduating more than 4,000 students over that period.
Meet the Board
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Arthur Ashe (Posthumous)
Tennis Legend and Philanthropist
‘68 U.S. Open, ‘70 Australian, and ‘75 Wimbledon Champion -
Rod Brayman
President, Phoenix Beverage, Inc.
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Robert Cottingham (Chairperson)
CEO, Sabre88
’88, ’92 Olympian -
Robert Dow (Treasurer)
Chairman of the Board Emeritus, Lord Abbett & Co.
’72 Olympian -
David O’Brien
Retired Partner, Ernst & Young
VP for Development and External Affairs, The Peterson Institute for International Economics -
Kristina Perkin-Davison
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, iEurope Capital
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Herby Raynaud (Secretary)
Technical Lead, Yieldmo
’99, ’01, ’02 World Championship Team -
William A. Schreyer (Posthumous)
Chairman Emeritus, Merrill Lynch
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Erinn Smart
Director of Strategic Partnerships, Dot Dash Meredith
’00, ’04, ’08 Olympian & ‘08 Olympic Silver Medalist -
Keeth Smart
Regional General Manager, Chelsea Piers Fitness and Co-Founder &
Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder, Physiclo
’00, ’04, ’08 Olympian & ‘08 Olympic Silver Medalist -
Peter Westbrook (CEO)
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, The Peter Westbrook Foundation
’76, ’80, ’84, ’88, ’92, ’96 Olympian & ‘84 Olympic Bronze Medalist
Board of Advisors
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Past President of USA Fencing & VP of Federation Internationale D’Escrime (FIE)
‘89, ‘95 World Championship Team
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President Emeritus, New York University
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Pastor, The Abyssinian Baptist Church
President Emeritus, SUNY Old Westbury
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Global Entertainer, Archangel Productions
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President Emeritus, U.S. Olympic Committee
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Chairman, Global Options
Meet the Team
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Founder and CEO
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Manager, Academic Enrichment
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Accountant and Bookkeeper
