Kwanza Jones To Make History As The First Black Woman Majority Owner In The MLB

Kwanza Jones is set to make history in the investment world.

Jones is a Princeton University graduate who sits on various boards and has been investing for more than a decade, according to her LinkedIn profile. Since 2014, she has served as co-founder and CEO of the Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Initiative, which is a philanthropic organization and private single-family office guided by pillars such as education, entrepreneurship, equity, and empowerment. According to information on its website, more than $250 million in funding has been directed to these areas.

In the latest update, the Seidler family has agreed to transfer ownership of the San Diego Padres MLB franchise to Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano, according to a press release. The Seidler family has been considering selling the team — valued at $3.9 billion according to Sports Illustrated — since November.

The agreement will require approval from the MLB and its customary closing conditions. If approved, Jones would also make history as the MLB’s first Black woman majority owner, Essence reports.

“I’m thrilled that after a highly competitive process, Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano will become the next majority owners of the Padres,” chairman John Seidler said, according to a press release. “When I became control person, my goal was to continue building on our recent success in pursuit of a World Series championship for the city of San Diego and our faithful fans. Now, as I pass the baton to Kwanza and José, I do so with full confidence that they share that vision, as well as the Padres’ deep commitment to San Diego. It’s what the team, our fans, and the community deserve.”