Sports Foundation's Track Record Helps Secure Future Support
The San Antonio Sports Foundation’s track record for hosting events that generate a positive economic impact for the city of San Antonio speaks for itself. This organization has been instrumental in establishing San Antonio as the amateur sports center of the Americas, introducing 85,000 area youth to Olympic sports and generating more than $141.7 million for the San Antonio economy since 1991.
Due to this impressive effort, we are thrilled to report that the Mayor and City Council, in concert with the City Manager and her staff, have secured additional funding for the Foundation for the 2002-03 fiscal year. The Foundation will continue to receive $150,000 from the Convention and Visitors Bureau line budget to be used for bidding and hosting obligations. As usual, this money comes in the form of reimbursements for approved expenses in those two categories. In addition, $350,000 will be awarded from the Pan American Games set-aside fund to assist in bidding and securing events that will be conducted during the next several years.
Our hats are off the to the Convention and Visitors Commission who supported the Foundation in our efforts to stabilize our base of public funding. This coordinated effort with tourism industry leaders will be a strong component in the continuing efforts to impact this community through sporting events and meetings. These dollars will be used to effectively compete against the ten to twenty other cities that work to attract the same high profile events.
The Sports Foundation Board of Directors and staff are committed to meeting our fiscal goals. Future funding will depend on our ability to meet the high standards we have set. Attracting events that are a perfect match for our community and generating media visibility are critical. We are analyzing our goals, improving our schedule and certainly accelerating our efforts.
We need you on our team! This
is and has always been a team endeavor. Private dollars to match these
public assets are crucial. Please consider joining the Sports Foundation
as a corporate and individual member when our representatives approach
you. We need to demonstrate to the organizations to which we make our
“bidding pitches” that the city of San Antonio is behind these
worthy goals and will support these events when they arrive in our deserving
community.
sblackwood@sanantoniosports.org
The
Whataburger San Antonio Sports Foundation Challenge last Saturday, September
28 at SeaWorld, saw great talent, lots of enthusiasm and very determined
runners of all ages. More than 1000 people participated in the Challenge’s
three events: the 8K run, 5K Express-News Family Walk and the whatakids!
Fun Run. The funds raised will support the Sports Foundation and its Dreams
for Youth program.
The
Sports Foundation's Dreams for Youth program is becoming a valuable
resource for home schooled children. Every Tuesday, the Highlands Homeschoolers
train in gymnastics and fencing at the Dreams for Youth gym, 300 San
Pedro Ave. The parents of these children have formed a cooperative that
includes group Spanish and Science classes each Tuesday morning, and
then it’s off to develop social and athletic skills with our Dreams
for Youth coaches.
“IKON’s
corporate philosophy encourages involvement in the community. As a corporate
member of the Sports Foundation, our name is aligned with high-profile
events and a wonderful youth program. As an individual member, I appreciate
that the Sports Foundation is a grass roots organization, and that its
Dreams For Youth program can truly impact the lives of the children who
participate in a very positive way.”