Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence. This year, we are thrilled to present the 2025 Zero Tolerance Award to Anastasia Danias Schmidt, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer at Major League Soccer.
INTRODUCING ANASTASIA
Anastasia Danias Schmidt is Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer for Major League Soccer (MLS) and its affiliates, where she is a key member of the League’s strategic and operational leadership team. She oversees all aspects of legal and business affairs, including league expansion, team acquisition, sale and investment, corporate governance, compliance, privacy, policy, litigation, labor, intellectual property, and commercial transactions.
Prior to joining MLS, Anastasia served as Senior Vice President & Deputy General Counsel for the National Football League (NFL), where she led the league’s litigation docket, advised on key intellectual property, policy, and legislative priorities, and counseled club and league executives on key business initiatives.
Anastasia first got involved with Sanctuary in 2018 when she joined our Family Council (FC), which she now co-chairs. With other FC members, and often with her family in tow, she is actively involved in hosting the annual Thanksgiving celebration for our clients, creating Mother’s and Father’s Day Care packages for adults living in our shelters, organizing clothing drives for infants and children, and planning other kid-friendly events. Prior to joining MLS, she helped introduce the NFL to Sanctuary’s work and encouraged both its financial and in-kind support. At MLS, she spearheaded the organization’s support of Zero Tolerance and coordinated the delivery of dozens of soccer balls to Camp HOPE-NYC, Sanctuary’s week-long sleepaway camp in upstate New York for children who are survivors of domestic violence. At Camp HOPE 2023 and 2024, Anastasia organized special soccer clinics led by three MLS coaches and former players. The clinic has become a highlight of the week for many campers, and they especially love taking home signed soccer balls.
Anastasia lives with her husband, Paul, and children, Eleni, Alex, and Hudson, in New York City, and is a proud stepmom to Will, Finn, and Walker.
Join us for our Zero Tolerance Benefit on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, to honor survivors of gender violence and pay tribute to Anastasia and three fellow inspirational leaders in this work.