The campus is designed to provide a unique sports-based experience for young female athletes, combining competition, performance development, health and wellness, and leadership development. Data shows that young women are in the midst of a major mental health crisis. Data also shows that 94% of the current women employed in the "C suites" of business have team sports in their experience. 

Marvella’s purpose is to enrich the lives of girls and young women through the experience and lessons of sports, to strengthen the mind, body, and soul, and to develop all-stars in life as well as on the playing field.

Title IX, the landmark legislation that brought about equality for women in sports, was enacted in 1972 with the crucial support of former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh from Indiana. Senator Bayh famously credited his inspiration to his wife, Marvella, which means "marvelous", "a miracle to marvel at", and "wonderful and extraordinary". Although she was a skilled orator, elected governor of the American Legion Auxiliary Oklahoma Girls State program, and highly intelligent, Marvella Bayh was denied admission to the University of Virginia in 1951 solely based on her gender. Her experience cemented Senator Bayh's empathy for women's rights and served as his inspiration to champion the Title IX legislation in 1972. We wanted to honor Marvella Bayh, as well as the intent of Title IX, with a sports campus that will be a miracle to marvel at, wonderful and extraordinary. Marvella - just marvelous!

Tremendous demand now exists for girls’ training and leadership facilities, but there is virtually no supply. Until now, girls were relegated to the boys' facilities when the boys were "done for the day." The playing fields, the restrooms, and the locker rooms were all designed for young men. Now, Marvella becomes the first of its kind, and the best in class to serve the specific wants and needs of female athletes.

Marvella is the home of girls and young women athletes, designed by, run by and for female athletes.  This is a first of its kind, and thus, best in class.  Marvella will place an equal emphasis on life skills, and career building along with elite athletic training. 

The campus is located on Fair Oaks Farms in Newton County, Indiana. In 2012, our founder Glenn Tilley established a connection with Mike McCloskey, Chairman of the Board of Fair Oaks Farms. When Glenn transitioned from Ripken baseball to creating a unique training and leadership campus for girls, he recalled his discussions with Mike and Fair Oaks Farms, leading to renewed talks. They both recognized the shared values between Marvella and the established family-friendly environment of Fair Oaks Farms.

Indiana is regarded as the birthplace of Title IX, the landmark legislation that gave rise to equality for women in sports. Former US Sen. Birch Bayh helped write Title IX in 1972. Indiana aims to be the leader in women's sports to this day.  

Indiana is also known as the Crossroads of America due to its highway accessibility connecting many Midwest states. Fair Oaks Farms is uniquely and conveniently located between Chicago and Indianapolis, providing for easy travel for teams and athletes nationwide.

Marvella is the home of girls and young women athletes, designed by, run by and for female athletes.  The campus will serve over 400,000 female athletes annually, including those throughout the country and nearby cities like Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Cincinnati.

This is a first of its kind, and thus, best in class.  Marvella will place an equal emphasis on life skills, and career building along with elite athletic training. 

Marvella will serve ALL athletes regardless of their backgrounds. Nancy's Dream is a program providing scholarships for low-income athletes and participating athletes from single-parent households. Nancy's Dream is named in honor of Glenn and Lou Tilley's mother, Nancy.

Glenn Tilley is Marvella’s founder and CEO. Glenn's life has always revolved around the sports world. It led him from the streets of inner-city Philadelphia, where he grew up, to his time as a starting linebacker for Princeton University. He began his professional career as a player representative for super-agent Ron Shapiro in Baltimore, where he first collaborated with Cal Ripken Jr. Later, Glenn ventured out as an entrepreneur and achieved great success as the president of The Becker Group, which he transformed into an "experiential marketing" company. This transformation led to his numerous creative ideas being put into action at Marvella. Observing his sons and then his daughter navigate their athletic careers in youth sports was a major influence that led to Marvella.