Ten Years Later…

Who could believe? Time flies when you are having a great time! Here is a thank you to all of you and our hard working board of directors and staff for making my first ten years at the Sports Foundation such a pleasure. The NCAA tournaments have put us in the limelight, but there has been so much more. The true highlights are the kids we serve - the boys and girls who are in our Dreams for Youth and Community Olympic Development Programs, and also the 160,000 K-5th graders who received their Valero Go!Kids Challenge™ logs last week and started another season of 30 minutes of routine exercise every day.  We WILL beat this awful disease of obesity!

We have so much more to do -- Facilities! Fields! Fitness!

Please help us continue to make progress during these next ten years.  Sports Foundation membership renewals are being mailed soon, but don't wait. Give us your vote of confidence now and help the San Antonio Sports Foundation make a difference. Just click here to become or renew a membership today.  Thanks for being a believer. Get another friend to believe! We need SASF supporters.



Dr. Susan Blackwood
Executive Director

2006 Valero Go!Kids Challenge™ Underway

More than 160,000 children launched the fourth annual Valero Go!Kids Challenge™ on Wednesday, September 6 in more than 270 elementary schools throughout San Antonio and New Braunfels.  At the official media kickoff at Huebner Elementary School, more than 800 children were cheered and motivated by Olympian Josh Davis (pictured right) , North East ISD Superintendent Dr. Richard Middleton, Cheryl Thomas of title sponsor Valero Energy Corporation, 2006 Valero Go!Kids Challenge™ honorary chairman Dr. Timothy Palomera, Sports Foundation executive director Dr. Susan Blackwood, the crew from Velocity Sports Performance and many other supportive sponsors, teachers and parents.  The Churchill High School band, athletes and cheer and pep squads led the entire crowd around the school in a spirited procession celebrating physical fitness.  

The Valero Go!Kids Challenge™  encourages children to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, six days a week.  They can log their activity in a special journal or online at GoKidsChallenge.com (see story below about the Web site).  Along the way, participants earn healthy rewards from Valero Corner Stores and Subway Restaurants.  On Sunday, October 29, children who have successfully maintained their journals are invited to attend the Subway Victory Lap Celebration from 12-4 p.m. at the Alamodome where they’ll receive official medals and t-shirts recognizing their accomplishments.  Families will also enjoy a fun, interactive Fitness Fair.  If you know a child in elementary school, please support his or her participation in the Valero Go!Kids Challenge™  and help every child establish healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

To view the photo gallery from the event, click here.

2008 NCAA Men's Final Four Logo

Eighteen months of preparation for the 2008 NCAA Men’s Final Four began Wednesday with the unveiling of the logo that will serve as the symbol for San Antonio’s third opportunity to host the event since 1998. The 2008 Final Four logo was unveiled in front of hundreds of eighth–grade students from San Antonio ISD’s Poe Middle School and members of the San Antonio Local Organizing Committee (SALOC).

“This city has the passion and enthusiasm for the event and the Alamodome is an excellent facility,” said Tom Jernstedt, the NCAA’s executive vice president, who also complimented San Antonio’s fan-friendly downtown, which features the famous River Walk, hotels and restaurants within walking distance of the Alamodome.

“The Alamo City has been truly blessed by the partnership formed with the NCAA through its basketball championships that have brought millions of dollars to our community, helped our city shine in the national spotlight, and provided countless opportunities for our youth to reap the benefits of hosting a Final Four,” said Pat Frost, chair of the San Antonio Local Organizing Committee.

San Antonio will host the 2008 NCAA Men’s Final Four Championship in the Alamodome on April 5-7.  San Antonio will also be the site of the NCAA Men’s Division I South Regional tournament March 22-24, 2007. 

Ticket packages are currently available through the San Antonio Local Organizing Committee for both tournaments at www.saloc.org or by calling Jenny Carnes at 210-820-2102.

Army Athletic Staff Inspires School Children

Everyone is getting excited about the AT&T Corps Classic featuring Texas A&M vs. Army in the Alamodome this Saturday at 8 p.m.  To kick off a week of fun events, members of the Army Black Knights’ athletic staff, coaches, and former cadet-athletes joined the Sports Foundation to promote fitness while in San Antonio.

They encouraged students of Las Palmas Elementary (Edgewood ISD), Sun Valley Elementary (Southwest ISD) and St. Benedict Catholic School to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, six days a week in the Sports Foundation’s Go!Kids Challenge.

Duck ‘N Dodge Dodgeball Tournament

Ready to support a great cause, have fun, and win great prizes? Then register your team for the Sports Foundation’s first Duck 'N Dodge Charity Dodgeball Tournament at the Crossroads Mall parking lot on Saturday September 30.  The event is presented by Bud Light, 99.5 KISS-FM and Time Warner Cable.

Do you think you have what it takes? Register your team of six to eight players by logging on to www.duckndodge.com/sanantonio now. Players must be at least 21 years of age, and the entry deadline is Wednesday, September 27. 

The first place winners will receive “beer for a year” for each member on the team, a trophy, and bragging rights! There will also be prizes for the second place team, as well as the teams with the best uniform and team name.  All proceeds will benefit the Sports Foundation, so get your friends and coworkers together and register today!

For The Love of Kids & Harleys

It’s time to get revved up for the 2006 For the Love of Kids & Harleys charity fundraiser.  Make plans to attend Tuesday, September 19. You won’t want to miss your chance to enjoy great music and bid on fantastic items presented by special guest auctioneer, country music superstar George Strait.  Proceeds benefit the Sports Foundation’s Dreams for Youth program, Easter Seals, Ronald McDonald House and St. Jude’s Ranch for Children.

Don’t have your tickets yet? They’re $100 each and include dinner, two drinks and a great time!  You may purchase them today online at www.loveofkidsandharleys.com or by contacting Jenny Carnes at (210) 820-2104 or jcarnes@sanantoniosports.org. Tickets will also be available at the door.

If you can’t attend the event, you may still be a part of the fun by buying raffle tickets.  Prizes include a Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 motorcycle, matching his and hers Cartier watches, and a trip for 10 to California including airfare, hotel, and Harley rentals. You need not be present to win, so order your tickets now -- $25 each or five for $100 -- by clicking here. 

A Chance to Train with the Best

The Sports Foundation’s Dreams for Youth head fencing Coach José Sanchez (left) , and Assistant Coach Stephen Renya (right), participated in a saber coaching clinic lead by Ed Korfanty (middle), Olympic fencing coach.  The clinic was held in Portland, OR in August.  Korfanty has long been known as an outstanding saber coach.  His students have won nine individual gold medals at world championships including an Olympic Gold in Athens in 2004.  Additionally, as U.S. National Coach of Women’s Saber, the U.S. Women’s Saber team has won five gold medals in the team world championships.

This was an opportunity to learn from the best.  José and Stephen learned effective training methodologies and brought them back to the DFY Training Center.  “It was awesome!” says José.  “He’s an outstanding coach, and he gave us some great training models for conducting group classes, developing games, and conditioning.”  They also got to observe an elite level training camp in which Olympic champion, Mariel Zagunis, and other U.S. National team members participated. 

GoKidsChallenge.com Motivates Children

When the Sports Foundation staff dreamed of creating an online component for the Valero Go!Kids Challenge™, we searched for a creative team that not only understood the nuts and bolts of the program, but also cared about improving the health and fitness of children in our community.  We found that combination in esd & associates.  GoKidsChallenge.com is fun, engaging, interactive and loaded with vital information for participating children, their parents, teachers and administrators.

"Our goal for GoKids! Challenge was to create a site that motivated kids to learn about the importance of exercise and keep them excited," said Erik Simpson, partner and creative director at esd & associates. "We accomplished this by developing an interactive site that graphically encourages children to join and log their activities, compete with classmates and earn rewards. This innovative approach really reaches children on their level and provides our educational community a forum to teach the importance of maintaining good health."

GoKidsChallenge.com is funded in part by a grant from the AT&T Foundation.

Champions Club
Individual Members at $1,000+

Dr. Lawrence Anderson; Gary & Shelia Arthur; Col. George Becknell; George P. Becknell, III; Morton Baird; Sam Barshop; Ed Benninger; James Blackwood; Susan Blackwood; June Bratcher; Tim Brierty; Howard Burris; Jim Callaway; Jeff Clark; Ross Davis; James Doyle; 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; George C. Hixon; Peter Holt; Scott Hefner; Scott Helbing; George C. Hixon; Michael Imbimbo; Steve Isom; Stacey Johnson; Michael Jourdan; Dr. Gary Lawton; Greg & Leigh Ann King; Lowry Mays; James Mickey; Phil Miner; Bob & Laura Raymond; Tom Reardon; Marty Roos; Dr. Robert Schnitzler; Dr. David Schmidt; Dr. Earl Smith; Steve Souter; Michael Stoltz; Neill Walsdorf, Jr.; Carri Wells; Jeff Wentworth; Robert Wright, Jr.; 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; 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, 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; Marriott Plaza San Antonio; 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; First Rate Investment Systems; 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 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