Caring for the Girls of San Antonio

Billie Jean King (left) and Sen. Leticia Van de Putte accept $20,000 donation from Pepsi’s Steve Milonovich.

One of our seasoned members came to the office to say, “I have attended a lot of Sports Foundation events, but nothing has been more moving that the Billie Jean King reception for the GoGirlGo! San Antonio initiative.”  He could feel the "love in the room."  We need a lot of love and caring for the many girls in San Antonio who need our help.

Physical activity has been identified as a proven solution to the serious health and societal problems faced by San Antonio girls today.  As importantly, it reduces the risk of obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer and unintended pregnancy. 

We need your help! For information on this partnership between the San Antonio Sports Foundation and the Women’s Sports Foundation please see the story below and get going!



Dr. Susan Blackwood
Executive Director

A Fabulous Sports Hall of Fame

The 2007 San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame Tribute turned out to be a fantastic night for the inductees and 1000 others who honored them at the Alamodome.

Ty Detmer, Shirley Furlong, Darryl Grant, Willie Mitchell, and Buddy Meyer could not hide their emotions and gratitude as each was inducted on February 16.  San Antonio Express-News Sportswoman of the Year, Ashley Miles, and Sportsman of the Year, Frank Martin, were also honored. 

It was also a fantastic night for the Sports Foundation’s youth initiatives, which benefited from the generous attendees.  Table sales, plus silent and live auctions  netted more than $100,000!  Thanks to everyone who helped make this a memorable and successful event. 

Billie Jean King on the Go for Girls

San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley, Billie Jean King and Terry Brechtel, executive director of the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority

Tennis legend and Women’s Sports Foundation founder Billie Jean King led the charge to support GoGirlGo! San Antonio on Wednesday evening, February 28, at the historic Koehler Center. 

The crowd burst into spontaneous applause as Bille Jean inspired everyone to get behind the GoGirlGo! San Antonio by donating to the cause and pledging to get a girl active.  A program of the Women’s Sports Foundation, GoGirlGo! is working to get 100,000 San Antonio girls between the ages of 8 and 18 physically active and to keep currently active girls from dropping out of sports and exercise programs.  The San Antonio Sports Foundation is the initiative’s local grant-making partner and will award grants to girl-serving agencies.

To learn more or make a donation, please contact Laura Cabanilla-Cruz at 210-820-2126 or lcruz@WomensSportsFoundation.org.

View WOAI-TV’s Don Harris’ interview with Billie Jean and his Extra Point about her at http://www.woai.com/sports/default.aspx.

U.S. Olympic Committee Presents Partnership Awards

(L-R) Alma Stiker, Dan Salas, Susan Blackwood, Velma Villegas, Alicia McConnell, Mayor Phil Hardberger and Roger Rodriguez.

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) presented its Partnership Award to representatives from three San Antonio school districts and the City of San Antonio in appreciation of their support for the Community Olympic Development Program (CODP).  Alicia McConnell, director of USOC athlete services & facilities, presented the awards in February at City Hall.

The CODP is a partnership between the San Antonio Sports Foundation and the USOC.  Through the CODP, talented young athletes in San Antonio are provided quality coaching and monetary support for national and international competitions which are necessary for them to excel to their highest level of athletic achievement.

At the ceremony, Dr. Susan Blackwood thanked the USOC for having its program in San Antonio. Alicia presented Partnership Awards to SWISD Superintendent Velma Villegas, Roger Rodriguez, director of physical education at SAISD, NISD Facility Manager Dan Salas, and Mayor Phil Hardberger.  The Mayor also presented the USOC with a proclamation from City Council extending sincere appreciation to the U.S. Olympic Committee for sponsoring sporting opportunities for the youth in our community.

Tailgate Talks - Membership has its privileges

San Antonio Sports Foundation members are invited to the first Tailgate Talk next week.  It’s an opportunity to network with other members and learn about hot topics in the sports world. 

The BCS – Tradition vs. Tournament – is the focus of the first Tailgate Talk on Wednesday, March 14 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at WOW Café and Wingery, 18866 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 108.  Entry for members is FREE; they’re invited to bring guests for $10.  

Panelists include Bill Hancock, the BCS chief executive and an architect of today's NCAA Final Four, who will explain everything you never understood about the BCS.  Julie Baker with the Alamo Bowl will advocate against a playoff tournament and for the health of the current bowl system.  Tim Griffin, San Antonio Express-News college football expert will discuss the ins and outs of voting and the BCS selection system.  The discussion will be facilitated by WOAI radio host Charlie Parker.

Sports Foundation members, RSVP to Dorsena Picknell at dpicknell@sanantoniosports.org or 820-2112.  If you have any questions about the event or suggestions for future topics, please also contact Dorsena.

Tee Up for Kids

Putters and irons and woods, oh my!  Sign up your team today for the San Antonio Sports Foundation Golf Classic presented by Coca-Cola on Monday, April 16 at the Dominion Country Club.

Join WOAI radio personality and arena voice of the San Antonio Spurs Stan Kelly for a great day of golf, lunch and prizes.  Premium seats to a Spurs playoff game and a Harley Davidson motorcycle are just some of the fantastic prizes available to players.

Sponsorship packages begin at $1250 and include player and corporate benefits at every level.  Click here for a registration form.  All proceeds will support Sports Foundation youth initiatives, including Dreams For Youth, the Community Olympic Development Program, the Valero Go!Kids Challenge and GoGirlGo! San Antonio.

Let the Madness Begin!

It’s March, and we all know what that means—college basketball is about to heat up!  The Road to the Final Four® goes through San Antonio March 22 & 24 for the 2007 NCAA Men’s South Regional in the Alamodome.  Here’s a little of what hoop fans need to know:

Selection Sunday – Tune in this Sunday, March 11, to CBS’s Selection Show at 5 p.m. to preview the 2007 NCAA Championship bracket and the 16 teams placed in San Antonio’s Region. 

Tickets on Sale – Only upper level tickets remain for the Regional and can be purchased by calling the Alamodome box office at 210/207-3663.  Tickets are sure to go fast once the bracket is announced on Sunday, so don’t wait!

Suites Available – Both viewing and non-viewing hospitality suites are still available for the Regional tournament.  For more information on suite packages and pricing, please call Elena Stout at 210/820-2127.

Team Welcome - Be a part of the March Madness® Experience!
San Antonio’s four participating Regional teams will be arriving the week of March 19, and we want to give them a true San Antonio welcome at each team hotel.

We need as many fans as we can get at each hotel to brighten up the lobby with balloons, school colors and lots and lots of spirit!  Please RSVP to Kari Chapman if you are interested in greeting one or all of the teams.  Prepare to be flexible!  We won’t know arrival times until just a few days prior to when the teams travel.

CATZ Sponsors Valero Go!Kids Challenge™

CATZ, a new athlete training center in San Antonio, has signed on as a sponsor of the 2007 Valero Go!Kids Challenge™. 

CATZ works with athletes of all ages and abilities to improve their athletic performance and reduce the risk of injury. They emphasize serving the needs of athletes from the ages of 8 to 18.  Click here to learn more about CATZ or call Lyzz Mouton at 404-9100.

The Sports Foundation’s 2007 Valero Go!Kids Challenge™, an eight-week fitness program implemented in every local elementary school, will launch its fifth season on September 5.

CODP Fencers at Jr. Olympics

The 2007 Junior Olympic Fencing Championships were held in Denver, CO in February and nine CODP athletes competed.  Nick Kubik (pictured left with father/coach Wendell Kubik) placed 5th in Cadet (Under-17) Men’s Foil.  There were 228 entries.  Kimberly Howell finished 17th in the Cadet Women’s Epee event out of 133 entries.   Gabby Strass was 25th in the same event.  Oksana Samorodov was 25th in the Junior Women’s Epee. 

The Jr. Olympics is the country’s largest gathering of under-19 fencers.  According to Sports Foundation head fencing coach José Sanchez, for some, it is the last chance to earn enough domestic points to be part of the 2007 U.S. Junior and Cadet World Team.  For others, the competition serves as a stepping stone to attaining a stronger national rating to earn a better seed in their next competition.  And for both groups, it’s about showcasing their abilities to national coaches and more importantly, to NCAA recruiters. José says the event is also a convention of fencing enthusiasts from 50 states and from all walks of life.  “Not only do athletes learn to strive, persevere, and learn to win and lose graciously, they also become a little worldlier.”  

Food Bank Teams with Sports Foundation Programs

TSnack time!  Always a favorite time of day, it is more than that for the children who attend the San Antonio Sports Foundation’s Dreams for Youth after school program at Southside ISD, Millers Pond and Meadow Cliff Parks and Recreation Centers. They are receiving healthy snacks from the San Antonio Food Bank like Kashi cookies, granola bars, TLC Happy Trail Mix, baked cheese crackers and 100% fruit juice.  These snacks help make sure children have the nutrition they need once they leave school. The seniors who exercise each week day at the Dreams for Youth Training Center also benefit from the Food Bank’s donations. 

“The public is more aware of the need for healthy food and they are responding to the call for healthier foods,” says Elizabeth Lutri, childrens’ program manager for the Food Bank whose donors include HEB, Target, SAMS and individual companies.  “It’s not enough to give us ‘stuff,’ but food that actually nourishes.”  Elizabeth also points out that once children are exposed to healthier snacks, they ask their parents for them at home.

Dana Carter

Having children changes a person's life. Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank and co-chair of the Sports Foundation's Youth Initiatives, Dana Carter has experienced this change in raising her four-year-old twins. But just as her children have changed her life, she recognizes the importance of changing their lives by encouraging daily physical activity to prevent childhood obesity and diabetes.

"The San Antonio Sports Foundation, through programs like the Valero Go!Kids Challenge and the recent GoGirlGo! San Antonio initiative, are perfect examples of how the Sports Foundation has stepped up to support the physical well-being of the children in our community." says Dana. 

Besides the health of her own children and other children in San Antonio, Dana's membership in the Sports Foundation is important to her because of the tremendous impact the Foundation has had on the city. From attracting and hosting premier sporting events and championships to local community improvement initiatives, Dana truly believes that everyone in San Antonio has benefited from the Foundation's efforts. This belief makes her proud to call herself a member.

"Our city…our quality of life is better because of what the Sports Foundation does. When you step back and look at the exciting sporting events that the Foundation hosts and the economic benefit it has had on San Antonio, plus the children’s lives that are better off because of the programs it has initiated, I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t want to be a member of the San Antonio Sports Foundation."    

Join Dana and become a member of the Sports Foundation.  Click here to join as an individual, business or corporation or contact Dorsena Picknell at 820-2112 or dpicknell@sanantoniosports.org.

Champions Club
Individual Members at $1,000+

Dr. Lawrence Anderson; Gary & Shelia Arthur; Rich Attkisson; Scott Beckendorf; Col. George Becknell; George P. Becknell, III; Morton Baird; Sam Barshop; Ralph Bender; Ed Benninger; James Blackwood; Susan Blackwood; Diana Braschler; June Bratcher; Tim Brierty; Howard Burris; Jim Callaway; Jeff Clark; Bud Curtis; Ross & Laura Davis; James Doyle; Alan Dreeben; Jim Dublin; Charlie Ebrom; Steve Edlund; Donald Engelhardt; David Fevsdahl; Lisa & Frank Fichtel; Pat & Kelley Frost; Dr. Jamie Garza; Claude Gilmer; William Greehey; Joe Guinn; Bob Gurwitz; 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; Randel Norris; Bob & Laura Raymond; Tom Reardon; Marty Roos; Dr. Robert Schnitzler; Dr. David Schmidt; George Scofield; Daniel Simons; Dr. Earl Smith; Steve Souter; Michael Stoltz; Steve Stroud; 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

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; Langley & Banack; 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; RunTex; 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; Don Strange of Texas, Inc.; Colonial Supplemental Insurance; Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated; Ear Medical Group; FIRSTMARK Credit Union; GLI Distributing; Halo Distributing; MarmonMok Architecture; 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