Come See Us In Our New Digs!

Same post box, phone numbers, email address…but amazingly enough, we are in our brand new home.

Thanks to the generosity of the City of San Antonio, we are in our more permanent and very professional new office at the Alamodome. Mike Abington and his Alamodome staff vacated their office suites to relocate to their new and more luxurious renovated area in the building. We were able to take advantage of some ideal space -- including a climate controlled conference room!

You can find us by entering the Plaza Level South Entrance of the Alamodome, checking in with security and taking the elevator to the third floor. You will go left to the west wing and right to the east wing. Permanent signage to come!

I personally want to tell you how much we appreciate all the staff and volunteer time dedicated to preparing the area and managing the move. As important, are the incredible partners who once again stepped up and helped provide materials or services. You'll find their names listed below, and each one deserves a big hug and many words of appreciation.



sblackwood@sanantoniosports.org

CODP Fencer Makes Pan Am Games Squad

Community Olympic Development Program (CODP) fencer Kelley Hurley will represent the United States at the Pan Am Games in the Dominican Republic next month. Ranked fourth in the nation in senior women’s epee, Kelley recently competed in the Summer National Championships in Austin, finishing first in the Under-16 division and fifth in Division I competition. She also placed third in Under-19 Women’s Epee.

Kelley is a sophomore at Warren High School. In addition to the Pan Am Games, she plans to compete in the Senior World Championships in Cuba later this year. Congratulations, Kelley, and good luck!

To learn more about Kelley and her sister Courtney, who is also an accomplished fencer, click here for a profile from the March 14, 2003 edition of Sidelines.

Vinnie Bradford, assistant professor at Palo Alto College and head coach and director of the Community Olympic Development Program (CODP) fencing program, has been named chair of Palo Alto's physical education department. She will serve a three-year term. Bradford says her role as chair will strengthen the relationship between the Sports Foundation and Palo Alto College. “We can expand the partnership with the Sports Foundation, directing students to the foundation as volunteers for events, as coaches, and possibly in the wellness area, which is big in the PE department at Palo Alto.”

Bradford came to Palo Alto in 1997 and started the CODP fencing program that same year. According to Bradford, it has grown from zero, “where nobody knew which end of the foil to hold,” to having national class fencers and national level coaches. In addition to her duties as chair and professor, Bradford will oversee the initiation of the college’s coaching development program that she created. The Palo Alto Coaching Academy will begin this fall.

Bradford is a 1984 Olympian (women’s foil) whose honors include being named to the United States Fencing Association’s Hall of Fame and receiving her fencing master certification from the United States Fencing Coaches Association (only the second women in the U.S. to do so). She is also in the Guinness Book of World Records as the woman with the most national epee championship titles (4).

“We’re very proud of Vinnie's achievement," says Dr. Susan Blackwood, executive director of the Sports Foundation. “Her appointment as chair is great news for Palo Alto, the Sports Foundation and for the children served through our Dreams for Youth and Community Olympic Development Programs. She's an inspiration!"

Planning for the Future of DFY/CODP

A strategic planning retreat was held last Friday for the Dreams for Youth program at the Dominion Country Club. Approximately 40 coaches and Sports Foundation personnel participated in the session led by Steve Richards, general manager of the Dominion, and member of the Sports Foundation board. Alicia McConnell, associate director, Community Outreach Programs for the United States Olympic Committee was on hand to give a brief presentation. Dreams for Youth founder and Sports Foundation board member Stacey Johnson and board member George Block also attended.

During the day-long session , attendees discussed the strengths and challenges of the Dreams for Youth and CODP programs, and set goals for improvement. Discussion included issues related to publicizing the programs, facilities, coaching certification and retention, and fundraising.

Dreams For Youth/CODP provides training in six Olympic sports including fencing, gymnastics, badminton, swimming, diving and volleyball for thousands of primarily disadvantaged San Antonio children each year. To learn more, contact Alma Striker at 210-820-2113 or astriker@sanantoniosports.org.

Volunteer for the Final Four® Today!

Even though the NCAA® Final Four® is still months away, basketball is definitely in the air! After recently being chosen to host the 2008 NCAA® Final Four® and the 2010 NCAA® Women’s Final Four®, it’s obvious San Antonio has shown the NCAA® time and again what it means to truly support events such as these, particularly from a volunteer standpoint.

Throughout the years of hosting NCAA® basketball, our community has filled thousands of volunteer shifts and has done so with a true sense of hospitality, enthusiasm and always a smile. It’s no wonder why the NCAA® wants to come back! Let’s show them they made a good choice for the years to come by making 2004 the best yet…sign up now for your opportunity to volunteer!

There were so many individuals and companies who helped the Sports Foundation make the move to the Alamodome, but one group that really logged some serious hours on the project was Sports Foundation Silver Sponsor, Paladin IT Services. With out them, Sidelines wouldn’t be a reality!

In their own words...

"At Paladin IT Services, we believe that the success of every business begins with the success of our community. For Paladin IT Services, this means being stewards and constructive partners in our community.

For the past four years, Paladin IT Services has worked closely with the San Antonio Sports Foundation. As both a sponsor and a technology partner, we are fortunate to have unique insight into the day-to-day operations of the Sports Foundation. It is through this knowledge that Paladin IT Services can help the Sports Foundation continuously integrate and implement the critical technologies required to keep the Sports Foundation at the top of its game. Whether simply assisting with basic computer issues, or helping to plan for future equipment purchasing, or working to set up a newly relocated office network at the Alamodome, Paladin IT Services has enjoyed working with the area non-profit foundation responsible for bringing so many exciting events, while at the same time giving so much back, to the San Antonio community!"

Brian Mather
Director of Client Services, Paladin IT Services

NEW AND RENEWING INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS 

Marco Barros; J. Todd Hedgepeth; Tom Pittman; Dr. Ricardo Romo; Richard Smith

CORPORATE MEMBERS

PRESENTING: City of San Antonio; SBC Communications Inc.

Platinum: Clear Visions, Inc.; IKON Office Solutions;
San Antonio Express-News

Gold: Adecco; Cavender Auto Family; Creative Link; The Dominion Country Club; HealthSouth; IntelliSolve Group, Inc.; San Antonio Coca-Cola Bottling Co; San Antonio Spurs; Valero Energy Corporation; Whataburger

Silver: Michael and Pam Berlanga; Cingular Wireless; Maverick Video Production; NuMedia: Paladin IT Services; Mark Phariss; Methodist Children's Hospital; Splashtown

Bronze: George Becknell; Bender & Associates; Chase Bank of Texas, N.A.; Clever Endeavors; Frost Bank; HMS Host Corporation; Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases; Miner Corporation; Dr. David and Teresa Schmidt; Security Service Federal Credit Union; Southwest Business Corporation; Trinity University; Zachry Hospitality, Inc.

Champion: Bank of America, Cox & Smith, Inc.; Ear Medical Group; Grande Communications; Holiday Inn Select Airport; Lyda Builders, Inc; Momentum Sports Management; Racquetball & Fitness; Sterling Bank

All-Star: Block Distributing Company, Inc.; BudCo., Inc.; Catering by Don Strange; Contemporary Constructors, Inc.; Eichlitz, Dennis, Wray & Westheimer Agency, Inc.; Exposure, Inc.; Gallagher's Steak House; GLI, Inc.; Gunn Automotive Group; Initial Security; Marmon Mok; Metropolitan Contracting Co.; Padgett, Stratemann & Co.; Pape-Dawson Consulting Engineers, Inc.; Soules & Wallace; ; Sterling Foods, Inc.; Tesoro Petroleum; Yantis Company

Grants/Foundations: Bexar County Health & Human Services CDBG; Bexar County Woman's Bar Foundation; Brown Foundation; Charity Ball Foundation; Coleman Foundation; Criminal Justice Division JJDP Grant; Criminal Justice Division Safe and Drug Free Schools Grant; Light Foundation; David & Betty Sachs Foundation; Salomon Smith Barney; Women’s Sports Foundation

Founding Sponsors: City of San Antonio; H-E-B; USAA Foundation, A Charitable Trust; Valero Energy Corporation

* Corporations listed in bold are new or recently renewing members.