Howdy!

If you have seen the 2008 NCAA Men’s Final Four logo, you know that we will be big into western themes until the final ball goes through the final hoop.

The Final Fours are returning to San Antonio. These major events are like any other Sports Foundation initiative, delivering high profile events for visibility and great programs for boys and girls in San Antonio. These sports opportunities for our wonderful community are only possible through donations from businesses (small and large), individuals and foundations!

We can't do it alone. Please support the Sports Foundation and San Antonio by deciding to make one of your year-end tax deductible donations to the Sports Foundation. San Antonio needs us, and we need you! Click here to help or just e-mail me at sblackwood@sanantoniosports.org.



Dr. Susan Blackwood
Executive Director

Families Celebrate Fitness at Go!Kids Wrap-up

Click here for more event photos.

The Valero Go!Kids Challenge finished with a grand celebration! Over 15,000 kids, family and friends made it out to the Subway Victory Lap Celebration at the Alamodome on Sunday, Oct. 29, where there was plenty of entertainment for everyone. After walking their victory lap and being awarded finishers’ medals and t-shirts, children and their families enjoyed the Fitness Fair. They could play hockey at the Rampage Roadshow run a 40-yard dash with Velocity Sports Performance, play interactive games at vendor booths. They also had the chance to meet Jared, Subway's national spokesperson, and local Olympians, Josh Davis and Liza Hunter-Galvan.

Be sure to visit www.gokidschallenge.com for an updated photo gallery and interactive fun.  Go!Kids may continue logging their daily physical activity online as well.  For more information about how to involve your favorite elementary school in the 2007 Valero Go!Kids Challenge, contact Anna Gomez-Vasquez at agomez@sanantoniosports.org.

Name the Mascot Contest Winners Announced

After 1800 entries were submitted, Jumping Jack and Active Annie have been chosen as the new Valero Go!Kids Challenge mascot names.  Ashley Martinez, a fourth grader at Five Palms Elementary in South San ISD, named Jumping Jack.  Kendall Hawkins, a third grader at Schertz Elementary in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD, selected Active Annie. Ashley and Kendall will each receive a brand new bicycle and helmet from Britton's Bicycle Shop.

Since each name was submitted by more than one child, entries were placed in a box and the two winners were randomly selected.  The other children each received tickets to a San Antonio Spurs game.

Be sure to look for Jumping Jack and Active Annie next fall in their big debut to help kick off the 2007 Valero Go!Kids Challenge.

Texas Takes Title At Big 12 Soccer Championship

Photo by Jaye Howell

Third seed University of Texas converted on five of six free kicks to win the 2006 Big 12 Soccer Championship over No. 5 seed Colorado after the teams played to a 1-1 tie in double overtime at Blossom Soccer Stadium Sunday, Nov. 5.  It was an exciting end to a thrilling tournament that saw two-time defending champion Texas A&M lose to Colorado in the semi-final match.  Texas beat OSU to advance to the finals, eventually earning their first Big 12 soccer postseason title and the Big 12's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. 

More than 7,500 people attended the three-day tournament which has been hosted by the San Antonio Sports Foundation for ten years.  The Big 12 Soccer Championship returns to San Antonio through 2009.

This week, the NCAA announced that Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Colorado will join Texas in the 64-team field for the NCAA Championship which begins this weekend. 

GoGirlGo! San Antonio Launch

GoGirlGo! San Antonio has officially launched!  On Wednesday, Nov. 1, the Women’s Sports Foundation held a press conference and Leadership Summit to kick off the initiative that will work to get inactive girls to participate in regular physical activity and keep currently active girls ages 8-18 from dropping out of physical activity.

The GoGirlGo! initiative includes an education and awareness campaign to arm adults and girls with tools to enable girls to live an active lifestyle and educate others about physical activity. In addition, the initiative will allocate $300,000 - $500,000 in cash grants to girl-serving agencies over the next three years beginning in May 2007.  GoGirlGo! San Antonio and the San Antonio Sports Foundation, the local grant-making partner, released the GoGirlGo! San Antonio grant application on November 1.    San Antonio is the third city in the nation to launch GoGirlGo!, following Atlanta and Chicago.  For grant applications and other information, contact Laura Cabinilla-Cruz at 210-820-2126 or lccruz@WomensSportsFoundation.org.  You may also visit www.gogirlgo.com and pledge to get a girl moving!

UIL 5A State Football Championship Coming Dec. 23  

Get your tickets now for The Football Finals, the UIL 5A State Football Championships, slated for Saturday, December 23 in the Alamodome.  The Division II game begins at 2 p.m. and the Division I contest begins at 7:30 p.m. 

As high school football teams are gearing up for the playoffs, the Sports Foundation along with the Alamodome and the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau are working hard to make this event a true celebration for football fans who are encouraged to enjoy the city’s holiday spirit for the entire weekend.  The festivities will include a River Rally at 10 a.m. on Saturday in the Rivercenter Mall Lagoon, complete with cheer squads and bands.  Get your tickets and learn more about The Football Finals at www.alamodome.com.

Final Four Tip-Off Preview Reception

Monday evening, Nov. 6, UTSA President Dr. Ricardo Romo, Pat Frost and Red McCombs hosted a Tip-Off Preview reception for the 2008 NCAA Final Four in the Koontz-McCombs Plaza. Those in attendance were treated to a private tour of Red McCombs’ extensive collection of Western artifacts. Guests also learned how they can be a part of March Madness by purchasing SALOC contributor packages and by recruiting volunteers.

Special thanks to caterer Don Strange of Texas for underwriting the reception and to hosts, Dr. Ricardo Romo, Pat Frost and Red McCombs.

The next Tip-Off Preview is a luncheon featuring special guest and past NCAA Final Four champion, Nevil Shed, scheduled for January 18. If you are interested in attending please contact Elena Stout at 210-820-2127 or estout@sanantoniosports.org.

Score Your Ticket Package

Ticket packages are on sale now for the 2007 NCAA South Regional, 2008 NCAA Men's Final Four and 2010 NCAA Women’s Final Four.

There are two options from which to choose: a (20) ticket package and a (2) ticket package.  Both packs are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and as always, are largely tax deductible.  To compliment your Final Four weekend in San Antonio, hospitality packages are also available for all of your party and memorabilia needs. 

Download an order form here or contact Elena Stout 210-820-2127 for more information. 

Howell Wins First Collegiate Competition  

Former Sports Foundation Community Olympic Development Program fencer Kristin Howell brought home a gold medal as the women’s epee champion in her first collegiate competition.  She was participating in the 27th annual Temple Open in Philadelphia. Kristin is attending Temple University on a fencing and academic scholarship.

“She was pretty excited,” says Christina Howell, Kristin’s mom.  “She was exhausted, but thrilled.”  Kristin was down 14-11 before coming back to win, 15-14.  According to Christina, the collegiate format is very different, and it is a big adjustment for her daughter. “Kristin said all the things she’s learned over the years in San Antonio really helped her to pull it out.” 

Kristin will see her mother and some of her former CODP teammates, including sister Kimberly, this weekend in Albuquerque, NM at the North American Cup Junior/Cadet/Youth 14 tournament.  Head Fencing Coach José Sanchez is taking eight CODP fencers to the competition, in which fencers can earn points.  Only the top 12 fencers in each division, which is determined by points, are eligible to compete internationally.

DFY Report Available

The latest edition of the Sports Foundation's Dreams for Youth Report is now online.  It’s posted at www.sanantoniosports.org/youth.htm. The Youth Report is an overview of some the Sports Foundation’s grant-funded initiatives.  So many of our programs depend upon grants for their very existence, and this report recognizes some of the foundations, trusts and organizations that make our programs possible. 

Welcome Vince Rosetta

The San Antonio Sports Foundation would like to welcome the newest member of our team, Vince Rosetta, our new marketing and promotions director. Vince was born and raised in Canton, Ohio and has been in San Antonio for two and a half years working for Spurs Sports & Entertainment.  “The Sports Foundation has always had an incredible standing in the San Antonio community and I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of such a great organization,” says Vince.

Vince is a serious fitness buff!  With over 100 triathlons under his belt, Vince has his sights set on competing in his first Ironman Triathlon in Tempe, AZ on April 7, 2007.   He completed the San Antonio Marathon on Sunday with a personal best time of 3:40:58 and is going to run the Austin Marathon in February, then it’s on to the Ironman which includes a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 run.  “I love the reactions I get when people ask me what I did this weekend. Telling them that I ran 13 miles, swam 2 miles or rode 75 miles over 2 days brings a look of total shock. The looks resemble the looks I think I would get if I stole their car. Usually the looks are followed by a "you're crazy" or "you're nuts" comment. Those comments motivate me more than anything,” says Vince.  

Visit www.VinceRosetta.com to check in on Vince’s progress and the official countdown to the Ironman. 

Champions Club
Individual Members at $1,000+

Dr. Lawrence Anderson; Gary & Shelia Arthur; 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 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; 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; 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

Creative Link; 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; 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

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