Committed to Youth

For 2006, I will answer the numerous questions that we receive on how the Sports Foundation serves its three missions…events, youth and facilities. These are all good inquiries. As many of you know, it is always excellent to evaluate your mission and what value your supporters receive for their continued vote of confidence.

First, let me tackle the youth issue. One of the greatest threats to the health of our children is obesity. The statistics are staggering:

• If we do nothing, this could be the first generation of children in American history to have a shorter lifespan than their parents;
• The toll of obesity on children is devastating and includes Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and even behavioral health problems.
• $7 million is the total estimated lifetime cost of one child with Type 2 Diabetes.

That’s why the Sports Foundation feels it’s important to be a leader in the fight against childhood obesity and why we dedicate 43% of our annual resources to youth sports and fitness programs. Our Dreams for Youth and Community Olympic Development Programs and Valero Go!Kids Challenge do what studies show works. They create awareness, mobilize families, schools and communities, and promote policy and environmental change.

The Sports Foundation believes that cultural changes in fitness and nutrition require community based initiatives that focus on school age children. Routine exercise is a critical component. We will continue to do MORE, not less, to make a difference in San Antonio, but we need your help. Please consider becoming a Sports Foundation member and help us overcome these obesity challenges every day.



Dr. Susan Blackwood
Executive Director

Last Call for the Hall
Amazing Auction

If you’ve been putting off purchasing your tickets for the 2006 San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame Tribute, now is the time to take action. Be there on Friday, February 17, as Bob Bass, Sean Elliott, Cito Gaston, Thomas Lott, Mary Nan West and Pinkey Whitney are officially inducted in a gala ceremony at the Alamodome. Proceeds from the event benefit the Sports Foundation’s Dreams for Youth program.

Long recognized for it’s outstanding silent auction, the Tribute also features an amazing live auction. There is something for everyone at this year’s live auction. If you’re a wine enthusiast, there’s a three day, two night stay in California’s Napa Valley, complete airfare and a rental car. Or bid on a stay in a beautiful villa overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Manzanillo, Mexico.

Like to party? Then throw one for 75 of your friends at Rio Plaza on the Riverwalk, including a Mexican buffet and drinks. Or you could let Chef Michael Bomberg of Spice of Life do the cooking in your home for 20 guests while you enjoy wine and acoustic entertainment from The Lavens.

Want to be the coolest parent on the block? Then bid high for a private basketball clinic for 10 children with 2006 inductee Sean Elliott. Sean will even autograph a basketball for each child.

If some business advice is what you are looking for, you can’t go wrong having lunch with legendary entrepreneur Red McCombs, a member of the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame. Red will host five people for lunch in his office!

Click here for complete details about the Tribute auction items and to purchase your seats or call 210-820-2109.

Watch Out Torino – Here Come Liz & Ralph!

Liz Fritz and Sports Foundation co-founder and board member Ralph Bender are usually managing the silent auction at the Sports Hall of Fame, but this year they’ll be half way around the world at the Winter Olympics.

Be sure to watch for Liz and Ralph’s frequent reports from Torino, Italy, on News 4 San Antonio WOAI-TV and woai.com. They’ll share the Olympic fan’s perspective with those of us left behind in San Antonio. Knowing Liz and Ralph, they’ll be in the center of everything exciting.

“The Olympics are an experience like no other,” says Ralph, who has attended many Summer and Winter Olympic Games. “They transform a city, and we expect to witness that transformation in Torino. With rare exceptions, the games bring together the entire world in friendship, regardless of ethnicity, race or religion.” Go for the gold, Liz & Ralph!

Tennis Great Thanks Bonilla & Gonzalez

It’s not every day that U.S. Congressmen Henry Bonilla (left) and Charlie Gonzalez (right) are visited by a sports legend, but last week tennis great Billie Jean King stopped by their Washington D.C. offices. She was there to thank them for their support of the Women’s Sports Foundation, the nonprofit organization she founded in 1974, and for their support of sports opportunities for girls and women. The Sports Foundation is the fortunate recipient of a Women’s Sports Foundation GoGirlGo! grant for participants in its Dreams for Youth volleyball program.

Thanks for the Assist

Behind every successful event, is an army of individuals and organizations to thank for their contributions. The 2005 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship last December was a perfect example of great community teamwork.

In addition to the many volunteers, ticket package buyers, food and beverage donors and others who were so instrumental in pulling the Championship together, the San Antonio Local Organizing Committee would like to highlight one group in particular for going above and beyond.

As with any major event in the Alamodome, directional signage needs become a huge part of hosting responsibilities. Sports Foundation board member Gary Walton, Walton Signage and several of its vendors contributed more than 100 signs valued at $14,000 for the tournament.

A sincere thank you to the following businesses who dressed up the Alamodome and pointed us all in the right direction:

NCAA Basketball Returns to San Antonio

Starting March 25 & 27, 2006, UTSA, the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Sports Foundation will host the first of four NCAA® Basketball Tournaments. Nothing quite captivates the nation like March Madness™ and all eyes will be on San Antonio for the 2006 Women’s San Antonio Regional, 2007 Men’s San Antonio Regional, 2008 Men’s Final Four® and 2010 Women’s Final Four®.

SALOC contributor packages are currently available and include all four events. Download an order form here or contact Jenny Carnes (210-820-210) for more information.

2006 NCAA Women’s San Antonio Regional

SALOC hosts the second weekend of March Madness at the AT&T Center, which will include two sessions, the Saturday semifinals (two games) and the Monday Championship game. The Regional will determine one of the four teams that will advance to the Women’s Final Four in Boston, MA.

Saturday, March 25 – Semifinals
Monday, March 27 – Championship
Game Times – TBD

All-session tickets are $42 for adults and $25 for youth/student and can be purchased through Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at 210-224-9600 or online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets may also be purchased by visiting the AT&T Center box office or mailing an application to the AT&T Center. Download an application here.

For more information, visit www.goutsa.com

Kids & Harleys Night at the Spurs

Get your motors running and benefit five local children’s charities when you purchase tickets to see the San Antonio Spurs take on the Portland Trailblazers Saturday, March 4, at the AT&T Center. Hog riders can participate in a pre-game rally and every ticket holder gets a free hot dog, soda and bag of chips.

Click here for a special ticket order form that supports For the Love of Kids & Harleys, an organization that raises funds for the Sports Foundation’s Dreams for Youth program, the Ronald McDonald House, Respite Care of San Antonio, Any Baby Can and Easter Seals. The deadline for this special offer is Friday, Feb. 17.

Go!Kids Get Out, Get Fit at the CASA 5K

The Sports Foundation is encouraging all of the participants in its 2005 Valero Go!Kids Challenge to keep fit by training for the Speak Up for Kids CASA (Child Advocates San Antonio) 5K, set for March 25 at 8 a.m. at Olmos Park. The event also includes a quarter-mile Kids K and other family-friendly attractions.
Proceeds benefit CASA, which works to improve the lives of abused and neglected children through court-appointed volunteers who provide constancy while advocating for services and placement in safe and permanent homes.

You may click here to register online, or call 210-225-7070. Click here for a kids’ and parents’ training log and tips.

Fencing Presentation

David Gillis, owner of San Antonio Yoga, presented the Dreams for Youth program with three mounted swords. He purchased the item at last year’s San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame Tribute to support Dreams for Youth. The swords will hang at the DFY Training Center.

Team Handball Takes Aim

Team handball has come to San Antonio. This fast-paced, high-scoring sport that combines elements of soccer, hockey and basketball is being introduced by the San Antonio Sports Foundation to elementary and middle school students participating in the After School All Stars program at Edgewood ISD.

Annette Bergman is leading the program for the Sports Foundation. She previously developed youth programs in Atlanta and Houston, and has been named Development Coach of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee and USA Team Handball three times.

She’s excited about the possibilities for the sport in San Antonio. “This is a great youth sport because it’s very aerobic, the kids never get bored, it teaches them leadership concepts, and it builds self-esteem.” Annette says that team handball is the second leading team sport in the world behind soccer, but is relatively unknown in the United States. She aims to change that.

Annette was exposed to team handball in 1990 while a student at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. Olympian Belinda Rose introduced her to the sport. In 1997, Annette began her own club program in Atlanta, calling it Rock Handball. She was approached in 2005 by the Houston school system and implemented the sport in that city’s middle and high schools.

After leading a team handball coaches’ clinic in San Antonio last October, Annette was asked to introduce the sport here. She points out that it is the perfect fit for schools looking to combat obesity through exercise. “It’s cost effective—cheap!” she says. “There are no equipment costs for the players beyond shirt, shorts, and shoes, and once schools get a set of goals, nets and balls, they’re set for 10 years.”

This month, the Sports Foundation will offer a team handball league on Saturdays at Millers Pond and Meadow Cliff Parks and Recreation Centers. Depending on its popularity, the Sports Foundation hopes to expand the program to more schools and recreation centers.

For more information, contact Alma Striker, director, Dreams for Youth at 210-820-2113.

Occasionally, Sidelines features profiles of individuals key to the success of our nonprofit organization. Dr. David Schmidt is a board member and past president, a sponsor, a volunteer and one of our brightest guiding lights.

Orthopedic surgeon David Schmidt, M.D. has been a part of the San Antonio Sports Foundation since its inception. He was a member of the Greater Chamber’s Sports Task Force which merged with the San Antonio Amateur Sports Foundation in the late 80’s, creating the Sports Foundation. Over the years, he has seen the organization grow tremendously and is proud to be a part of it. “The Sports Foundation is a great organization and the city has received a huge return on its investment,” says David. His involvement includes sharing his medical expertise at a variety of events, from the U.S. Olympic Festival to Taekwondo championships. “Being associated with the Sports Foundation has allowed me to help and participate with all types of sports, and maintain good relationships with everyone involved with sports,” he explains.

David has been the NBA San Antonio Spurs team physician (along with Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio partner Paul Saenz) for 13 years. His experience also includes serving as a physician for the Olympic Games in Atlanta and the World University Games in Japan. Participating in the Olympic movement gave David an idea of what would be the best medical facility and the best medical environment for athletes.

The culmination of a 15-year dream—The Texas Center for Athletes (TCA)—will open in November. The vision of David and sports medicine specialist Paul Saenz, the four-story TCA will house 25 doctors in all specialties, an ambulatory surgery center, diagnostic and imaging center, physical and occupational therapy facility, and physician office space. It will rival any facility of its type in the country.

David credits one of his mentors, Bob Coleman, with teaching him the importance of giving back to the community. David believes his association with the Sports Foundation has been an integral part of his success. “For me, the return on investment has been paid back many times over—all over the country and around the community.”

New and Renewing Individual Members

Steve Arters; Eddy Carnes; Mike Dennis;Janet Holliday; John Likovich; Bill Lyons; Billie May; Jose Menendez; Charles Plummer; Gary Walton

Champions Club
Individual Members at $1,000+

Gary & Shelia Arthur; Morton Baird; Sam Barshop; Ed Benninger; James Blackwood; Susan Blackwood; June Bratcher; Tim Brierty; Howard Burris; Jim Callaway; Ross Davis; James Doyle; Jim Dublin; Charlie Ebrom; Steve Edlund; Donald Engelhardt; Dr. Frank Fichtel; Pat & Kelley Frost; Dr. Jamie Garza; Claude Gilmer; William Greehey; Joe Guinn; Bill & Marcia Hanson; Cheryl Haywood; Michael Imbimbo; Scott Hefner; Scott Helbing; George C. Hixon; Steve Isom; Stacey Johnson; Michael Jourdan; Greg & Leigh Ann King; James Mickey; Phil Miner; Bob & Laura Raymond; Tom Reardon; Marty Roos; Dr. Robert Schnitzler; Dr. David Schmidt; Dr. Earl Smith; Steve Souter; Neill Walsdorf, Jr.; Carri Wells; Jeff Wentworth; Paul Young

Corporate Champions

City of San Antonio; AT&T

$50,000

Creative Link; IKON Office Solutions; San Antonio Express-News; Valero Energy Corporation

$20,000

Langley & Banack; Pepsi Bottling Group; San Antonio Coca-Cola Bottling Co; Whataburger, Inc.

$10,000

Budget Car & Truck Rental; Cingular Wireless; Maverick Video Production; NuMedia: Oak Farms Dairy; Paladin IT Services; Spectrum Health Clubs; Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio, The Dominion Country Club

$5,000

George Becknell; Bender & Associates; BudCo., Inc.; The CE Group - Communication & Events; ChapmanSchewe Benefits Consulting; Comet Neon Advertising; The Darmstetter Company; Ernst & Young; Frost Bank; H-E-B Grocery Company; The Gambrinus Company; Hertz Corporation; 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; Bank of America; Broadway National Bank; Catering by Don Strange; Colonial Supplemental Insurance; Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated; Ear Medical Group; FIRSTMARK Credit Union; First Rate Investment Systems; GLI Distributing; Halo Distributing; 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 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