Walter Camp Football Foundation Enters New Era; Names Paddle Agency as Agency of Record
The Walter Camp Football Foundation, caretaker of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious college football All-America team, today announced it is entering a bold new chapter with the appointment of Paddle Agency as its exclusive Agency of Record.
This strategic partnership marks a renewed focus on growth, innovation, and expanding the Foundation’s impact across the evolving college football landscape. With a legacy dating back to Walter Camp, long considered the “Father of the American Football,” the Foundation is positioning itself for the future—reimagining how its platform engages fans, partners, and the broader football community.
Paddle Agency, a boutique sponsorship and partnerships firm founded by Johnathan Fisher, will lead all corporate partnership development and strategic brand initiatives on behalf of the Foundation.
“Walter Camp has always represented the very best of college football,” said John Barbarotta, President of the Walter Camp Football Foundation. “As we look ahead, we see tremendous opportunity to elevate our awards platform and connect with partners in new and meaningful ways. Paddle Agency brings the experience, relationships, and strategic vision to help guide us into this next era.”
The partnership will be led on behalf of Paddle Agency by founder Johnathan Fisher and veteran sports marketing executive Ralph Ockenfels, who bring decades of experience in building high-impact sponsorship platforms across sports and entertainment.
“The Walter Camp Football Foundation is the custodian of one of the most iconic and respected brands in all of sports,” said Johnathan Fisher, Founder of Paddle Agency. “To help shape its next chapter is both an honor and an incredible opportunity. There is meaningful momentum ahead, and we’re excited to build partnerships that reflect the legacy of Walter Camp while positioning it for the future.”
Walter Camp’s legacy in the game is unmatched, particularly through the tradition of the Walter Camp All-America Team,” said Ralph Ockenfels, a 35-year NFL veteran. “We see tremendous opportunity to build on that foundation in a way that resonates across the entire football community.”
As part of this new chapter, the Foundation and Paddle Agency will work collaboratively to introduce forward-thinking partnerships, enhance year-round engagement, and create new platforms for brands to align with one of the most trusted names in college football.
Additional announcements and initiatives are expected in the coming months.
About the Walter Camp Football Foundation
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
About Paddle Agency
Paddle Agency is a boutique sponsorship and partnership development firm specializing in helping properties unlock revenue and build meaningful brand relationships. Founded by Johnathan Fisher, Paddle Agency brings a nimble, relationship-driven approach to partnership strategy and execution.
For more information, please contact:
Johnathan Fisher, Paddle Agency (310) 221-2612 fisher@paddleagency.com
Al Carbone, Walter Camp Foundation (203) 671-4421 publicity@waltercamp.org
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