Happy New Year  

After a 2006 chock full of exciting events and over 50,000 boys and girls completing the Valero Go!Kids Challenge, it was the start of a great 2007 when staff returned from the holiday break with year-end contributions awaiting.

Thanks to major contributions from Enterprise Rent-A-Car represented by Bill Gold, WOW Cafe and Wingery (our new favorite eating establishment owned and operated by Sports Foundation board member Joe Linson and William Franklin III), Mario Cediel of HMSHost,  and a grant from Allstate secured by agent and great Sports Foundation volunteer, Nancy Lebherz, we met many year end goals.   We are also grateful for the 2006 memberships secured in December and other tax deductible year-end contributions. 

The Sports Foundation Board of Directors and staff will find special ways in which we can communicate to our donors exactly how their contributions benefit the city of San Antonio and the more than 160,000 boys and girls who are the real benefactors of their generosity.  We could not do it without you!

Join us this year for one of our upcoming fourteen (14) events and see your support in action!



Dr. Susan Blackwood
Executive Director

Sports Foundation 2006 Volunteer of the Year

The Sports Foundation is so fortunate to have incredible volunteers, but in 2006 Alan McDonald’s (left) extraordinary dedication deserved recognition as the Sports Foundation’s Volunteer of the Year.  Alan, who volunteered a total of 450 hours, received his award at the December meeting of the San Antonio Board of Directors from board member Jeff Clark (right) of Redstone Consulting.

“It is a privilege to give of my time to help make sure all of the programs and events the Sports Foundation sponsors or brings to the city are successful,” said Alan.  “It is awesome to be associated with so many extraordinary people: fellow volunteers, athletes of all ages, sponsors, dedicated staff representatives and dignitaries.  I also enjoy promoting our fine City of San Antonio during the wide range of events the Sports Foundation sponsors through their direction or partnership. What an amazing honor. Life is good. ”

The honor is ours, Alan.  Thank you for your continued service.

Sports Foundation Inks Deal with TCI for Sporting Events

If you’re the kind of sports enthusiast who prefers participating to spectating, then there’s good news for you.  The San Antonio Sports Foundation and Team Championships International (TCI) have signed an agreement to bring several participatory sports tournaments to the Alamo City in 2007.  The multi-year agreement adds four events to the Sports Foundation calendar including:

• Hoop It Up 3 v 3 basketball tournament, April 28 & 29, Alamodome
  
  
• Kick It 3 v 3 soccer tournament, June 9 & 10, Pepsi Soccer Complex
  
  
• Hoop It Up Regional basketball tournament, July 14-15, Alamodome
  
  
• Let It Fly, flag football, Fall 2007 (date & location TBD).

Let it Fly was postponed from January until next Fall.  We will update you with the new date in the next issue of Sidelines.  Each event is open to youth and adults, male and female.  For information about any of these TCI events, please call 820-2100.

Judo Jr. Olympics Booked for Summer

The Sports Foundation is pleased to announce that it will host the USA Judo National Junior Olympic Championships on July 21-22 at Freeman Coliseum.  Hundreds of young judo athletes and their families from around the nation will compete for gold during the annual tournament.

“We’re very excited to bring our premier junior event to San Antonio given the extensive experience that the city of San Antonio has in hosting first-class events.  San Antonio will provide USA Judo junior athletes and their families with a great technical site as well as a great city to visit and enjoy after competition,” said Jose H. Rodriguez, USA Judo CEO.  “I have had the pleasure of working with Susan Blackwood and Bill Hanson of the San Antonio Sports Foundation, and they have always put on a tremendous show for the athletes and are always great hosts.  This will most likely be the best Junior Olympic competition we have had and we are looking forward to a great event."

For information, visit www.usjudo.org or call 820-2100.

San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame Tribute    

On Friday, February 16, five of San Antonio’s most impressive sports names will be inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame Tribute at the Alamodome.   Football greats Ty Detmer, the only San Antonian to win the Heisman Trophy, two-time Super Bowl winner Darryl Grant and Super Bowl veteran Willie Mitchell will be inducted.  Joining them are professional golfer Shirley Furlong and legendary St. Mary’s University basketball coach Buddy Meyer.

Also being recognized are the San Antonio Express-News 2006 Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year.  They are Frank Martin, founder of the Kids’ Sports Network and NCAA champion gymnast Ashley Miles.  The Sports Foundation will present its annual Salute Award, to Frost Bank.

A dazzling night is planned featuring silent and live auctions with hundreds of enticing items, including many for sports memorabilia collectors.  Guests will also see sports demonstrations by the evening’s beneficiaries – many of the young athletes involved in the Sports Foundation’s youth initiatives, which serve more than 160,000 local children annually.

Make your reservations for the gala affair online by clicking here or call Gretchen Garceau-Kragh at 820-2109.  Tables are available for $10,000, $5000, $2500 and $1500 with special benefits at each level.  Individual tickets are available for $125 each.

NCAA Conference Schedules Kick-Off This Week

The 2006-07 NCAA Basketball season is well underway and with Big 12 conference play starting this week, Kansas, Oklahoma State and A&M are all looking strong with rankings in the top 15.  Watch for your favorite team as the season heats up—they just might end up in San Antonio for the 2007 NCAA Men’s South Regional! 

Lower level tickets for the Regional are already sold out and remaining tickets are limited and going fast, so don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of March Madness®, San Antonio style!

Download ticket application here

Volunteer Round-up

We have a limited number of volunteer shifts available for the 2007 NCAA Men’s South Regional, March 22 & 24. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Michelle Rodriguez at 210-820-2191 or mrodriguez@sanantoniosports.org to reserve your spot today. Volunteers for the upcoming South Regional will be given first priority for 2008 Final Four® volunteer opportunities.

GoGirlGo! San Antonio Key Dates

Did you know that almost $1 of every $5 spent on health care in the U.S. is for a person with diabetes? (Diabetes Care, 2003) If you want to learn more about how to get a girl active and decrease her chances of having diabetes, then GoGirlGo! San Antonio is a must-see program for you. 

On January 23, from 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM, GoGirlGo! San Antonio will be hosting the first Leadership Institute of 2007 at the Alamodome.  Workshops to be offered for free include GoGirlGo! curriculum training and grant writing tips.

Call Laura Cabanilla-Cruz at 820-2126 or e-mail her at LCCruz@WomensSportsFoundation.org for more information.  Click here for a registration form. 

GoGirlGo! Grants Deadline Feb. 9

In collaboration with the Women’s Sports Foundation, the San Antonio Sports Foundation has released the GoGirlGo! San Antonio grant application. Think you have a great girls’ physical activity program that could use a boost or do you want to start a new program? The GoGirlGo! San Antonio grant may be for you. Learn more about this opportunity to earn money and take your San Antonio girl-serving program to the next level. Deadline for submission is February 9, 2007.  For more information, call Anna Gomez-Vasquez at 820-2102 or e-mail her at agomez@sanantoniosports.org.

Kids Aren’t the Only Ones Having Fun

On any given weekday morning, a group of senior citizens can be found enjoying themselves while exercising at the Dreams for Youth Training Center.  As the Dreams for Seniors program approaches its one-year anniversary, it has grown and is thriving as a place where seniors can exercise, socialize and enrich their lives.

Delia Martinez coordinates the program which is funded by a $50,000 grant from Bexar County.  The Dreams for Youth Training Center is located across the street from a San Antonio Housing Authority retirement home.  The majority of the participants come from the home.  The program started last February with 10 seniors.  Today, 62 are enrolled.   

Research has shown that if you don’t use it, you lose it.  At the beginning, several participants were weak, with no energy and could barely walk. Today, they have an abundance of energy.  They can walk up to an hour, do sit-ups, light weight exercises, and stretches.  Their balance has improved and they can walk a straight line, or walk backwards—all with pride.

“This program helps seniors with their health, wellness and alertness,” says Delia.  “They’ve developed friendships, great spirits and attitude, which will keep them active and healthy.”

Champions Club
Individual Members at $1,000+

Dr. Lawrence Anderson; Gary & Shelia Arthur; Scott Beckendorf; Col. George Becknell; George P. Becknell, III; Morton Baird; Sam Barshop; Ralph Bender; Ed Benninger; James Blackwood; Susan Blackwood; June Bratcher; Tim Brierty; Howard Burris; Jim Callaway; Jeff Clark; Ross & Laura Davis; James Doyle; Alan Dreeben; Jim Dublin; Charlie Ebrom; Steve Edlund; Donald Engelhardt; Lisa & Frank Fichtel; Pat & Kelley Frost; Dr. Jamie Garza; Claude Gilmer; William Greehey; Joe Guinn; Bill & Marcia Hanson; Cheryl Haywood; Scott Hefner; Scott Helbing; George C. Hixon; Peter Holt; George C. Hixon; Michael Imbimbo; Steve Isom; Mary & Chuck Japhet, Gary Joeris; Stacey Johnson; Michael Jourdan; Dr. Gary Lawton; Michael J. Lynd, Jr.; Greg & Leigh Ann King; Lowry Mays; James Mickey; Phil Miner; Bob & Laura Raymond; Tom Reardon; Marty Roos; Dr. Robert Schnitzler; Dr. David Schmidt; Daniel Simons; Dr. Earl Smith; Steve Souter; Michael Stoltz; Richard Wade; Neill Walsdorf, Jr.; Carri Wells; Jeff Wentworth; Robert Wright, Jr.; Paul Young

Corporate Champions

City of San Antonio; AT&T

$50,000

IKON Office Solutions; San Antonio Express-News; Time Warner Cable; Valero Energy Corporation

$20,000

Langley & Banack; Pepsi Bottling Group; San Antonio Coca-Cola Bottling Co;

$10,000

Budget Car & Truck Rental; Corporate Travel Planners; Enterprise Rent A Car; Flemming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar; Maverick Video Production; NuMedia: Oak Farms Dairy; Paladin IT Services; Spectrum Health Clubs; Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio,

$5,000

The Alamo Travel Group; George Becknell; Bender & Associates; BudCo., Inc.; The CE Group - Communication & Events; ChapmanSchewe Benefits Consulting; Comet Neon Advertising; Ernst & Young; Frost Bank; H-E-B Grocery Company; The Gambrinus Company; KPMG; Merrill Lynch; Methodist Healthcare System; Miner Corporation; The Plaza Club; Security Service Federal Credit Union; Sterling Bank; SWBC; US Global Investors; Walton Signage; Wells Fargo Bank; Zachry Hospitality, Inc.

$2,500

Allegra Print & Imaging; Allied Advertising; Bank of America; Broadway National Bank; Catering by Don Strange; Colonial Supplemental Insurance; Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated; Ear Medical Group; FIRSTMARK Credit Union; GLI Distributing; Halo Distributing; Marriott Plaza San Antonio; Marriott Rivercenter/Riverwalk; Mission Pharmacal; Pape-Dawson Consulting Engineers, Inc.; San Antonio Economic Development Foundation; Sterling Foods; Tesoro Petroleum Companies; Yantis Company

Grants/Foundations

The AT&T Foundation; The Alfred S. Gage Foundation; Bexar County Health & Human Services CDBG; Bexar County Women's Bar Foundation; Brown Foundation; Charity Ball Foundation; Coleman Foundation; Criminal Justice Division JJDP Grant; Criminal Justice Division Safe and Drug Free Schools Grant; GAC Halff Foundation; Light Foundation; Myra Stafford Pryor Charitable Trust; The Sequor Foundation; David & Betty Sachs Foundation; Smith Barney; Women’s Sports Foundation

Founding Sponsors

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