San Antonio Sports Foundation

You would have been extremely proud of the "show"! The volunteers on San Antonio’s local organizing committee to host the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Swimming, the staffs of the Alamodome and other city departments, plus the Sports Foundation crew rallied to put all the "best feet forward" in demonstrating our desire to host the #1 premier Olympic Trials here in the #1 amateur sports community in the US.

We hope that the selection committee from USA Swimming was impressed by the line up of experts giving presentations and tours. Led by our honorary chairman, Olympian Josh Davis and bid chairman, Jim Callaway, the day started with a review of the bid documents and answers to questions posed by the committee. The site selection committee has now completed a tour of all three final cities...Omaha, St. Paul and finally, San Antonio.

If we are awarded the bid, Alamo Area Aquatics generously agreed to conduct the required test event (a quality youth event) and donate the proceeds to the local organizing committee. A special thanks to Joe Krier, president of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. Joe provided a very emotional close to this incredible day. Again, we have so much for which to be grateful. What a city! What a team!

There is still work ahead. We thank in advance the legal work that will needed to be performed by Jim Doyle and Mark Phariss. As is the case in many bid situations, the Sports Foundation and the other bid cities must commit to all the host obligations prior to the final deliberations.

Keep your fingers (and toes) crossed. A final announcement is not expected until June 27th, but help me thank the folks behind the scenes who have spent hours on this key bid effort for the city. Go San Antonio!

The newly reorganized U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) hosted its inaugural U.S. Olympic Assembly last weekend in Phoenix. Susan Blackwood, Bill Hanson and Ross Davis attended on behalf of the Sports Foundation, which was one of a select group of community partners identified to develop events with the USOC.

“The Assembly gave us an opportunity to meet or reacquaint ourselves with representatives of many of the Olympic sports’ national governing bodies and events rights holders,” said Blackwood. “We see ourselves as a prime candidate to host many of these premier events.” One event of particular interest is the State Games of America in 2009 or 2011, which involves 9,000 athletes in a multi-sport competition.

The Women’s Sports Foundation and the San Antonio Sports Foundation are exploring an opportunity to combine efforts to dramatically increase the number of girls in San Antonio who are physically active.

Recently, Sports Foundation staffers met with Donna Lopiano, the chief executive officer of the Women’s Sports Foundation, about furthering a partnership to expand the Women’s Sports Foundation’s GoGirlGo! program in San Antonio. The project, which could involve several local girl-serving nonprofit agencies over a three year period, is currently being tested in Chicago and Atlanta.

The Sports Foundation’s Dreams for Youth volleyball program is one of 31 organizations nationwide to be recently awarded a grant by the Women’s Sports Foundation’s GoGirlGo! program. To learn more, click here.

The Sports Foundation’s 2005 Whataburger Roundball Ruckus awarded championship medals to first and second place teams in 28 divisions on April 23 and 24. More than 450 teams entered the tournament that took place at the Alamodome. For the first time, Roundball Ruckus was an official event of Fiesta, San Antonio's annual citywide celebration.

Air Alert, a team from Mission, Texas, took home the top honors in the Men’s 19-29 Top Division. The players included Danny Galvan, John Braxton, Gabriel Duberney and Gabriel Arriola. They defeated San Antonio’s Bow 2 The Masters in a 16-13 victory at center court. In addition to championship medals and coupons for free Whataburger, Air Alert also wins free entry into the Hoop It Up World Championships.

San Antonio’s Finest is the 2005 Roundball Ruckus champion of the Women’s 19-29 Top Division. Teammates Becca Williams, Stephanie Baublet, Debra Kindred, Melanie Harrison and Sara Reyes defeated their opponent, the Bubba’s, 16-14 in the finals.

The Roundball Ruckus was sponsored by Whataburger, Coca-Cola, TETCO, Texas Med Clinic, and Frost Bank. Media sponsors included Time Warner Cable, WOAI-TV News 4 San Antonio, Clear Channel radio stations, and the San Antonio Express-News. The Sports Foundation also wants to thank all of the wonderful volunteers who shared their time to make the event a great success. Proceeds from the event benefit the Sports Foundation and its youth programs.

Sports Foundation staff members Jenny Carnes and Elena Stout were in Houston last weekend promoting the 2005 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship at one of the largest volleyball tournaments in Texas, the Lone Star Regional. Over 600 teams were on hand in the George R. Brown Convention Center and were able to stop by SALOC’s Championship booth for ticket and tournament information.

Now is the time to get your group packages of ten or more. Click here to download your order form today! And for all you coaches out there interested in helping sell tickets to your players, coaches and parents, please call (210) 820-2104 for information on our incentive program.

IKON Offers Solutions

Alma Striker, director of the Sports Foundation’s Dreams for Youth program, often runs hundreds of flyers on the copier to distribute at community sport demonstrations. Anyone who appreciates a printer or copier that doesn’t jam and can clearly and cleanly print a document understands how valuable IKON Office Solutions is to the San Antonio Sports Foundation.

IKON is the world’s largest independent distribution channel for copier and printer technologies. Their local office is headed by Bob Raymond. IKON has supported the Sports Foundation through a sponsorship for many years, providing the organization with copiers and printing services.

When Raymond was looking at community service outlets that fit IKON’s model, the Sports Foundation fit. “The children’s component was very attractive to us. We do a lot of business with the school districts, and since the Sports Foundation touches our potential customer, it made sense for us to partner with them.” He added that in the years of IKON’s sponsorship, the Sports Foundation’s profile in the community has grown. “The high profile events that the Sports Foundation has helped bring to San Antonio have really been beneficial to our business. So while it wasn’t our initial reason for supporting the organization, it has been a nice benefit.”

IKON helped the NCAA, ESPN and CBS set up their technology when they came to town for the 2004 Men's Final Four. IKON has also assisted the Big 12 Women’s Soccer Tournament every year. Raymond’s relationship with the Sports Foundation has grown on a personal level, too. He’s now a member of the Sports Foundation board of directors.

If you’d like more information about how your company can enjoy the benefits of Sports Foundation sponsorship, please call 820-2123.

Champions Club
Individual Members at $1,000+

Gary & Shelia Arthur; Susan Blackwood; June Bratcher; Howard Burris; Jim Callaway; Cassandra Carr; James Doyle; Jim Dublin; Charlie Ebrom; Larry Franklin; Pat & Kelley Frost; Dr. Jamie Garza; Claud Gilmer; William Greehey; Joe Guinn; Bill & Marcia Hanson; Peter Holt; Stacey Johnson; Michael Jourdan; Greg & Leigh Ann King; Michael Lynd; Lowry Mays; Red McCombs; James Mickey; Tom Reardon; Dr. David Schmidt; Dr. Earl Smith; Steve Souter; Neill Walsdorf, Jr.; Carri Wells; Jeff Wentworth; Paul Young