Spreading Our Message Far and Wide

As the 150,000 Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge™ participants take their first step towards better health for this school year, many Sports Foundation staff members are traveling near and far to continue our efforts to bring amateur athletic events to San Antonio and to represent our community with regards to other sports initiatives.

As a finalist for the 2008 USA Olympic Swim Trials, the Sports Foundation sent staff member and sports operation specialist Bill Hanson to Indianapolis for several days to observe the construction of the permanent pools in Conseco Field House for the staging of the 2004 FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships, which will be held in October. This is the beginning of a long learning curve to gain as much knowledge about the time and efforts that will be needed if San Antonio is fortunate to win the Trials bid. Four to six cities are competitively seeking this tremendous showcase, and the city that is successful in putting the best bid together, including a test event, will be announced in May 2005.

I have had the honor of representing the United States Olympic Committee at the 2004 Continental Seminar for Women and Sport in El Salvador this week. I am working with other women throughout the Americas to raise awareness of the importance of girl's participation in sport and find ways to increase those opportunities throughout the hemisphere. The U.S. stands ready to help spread the news about the role of sport in health and fitness for women but, more importantly, to communicate the research on how participation in sport decreases the likelihood of unwanted teen pregnancies.

Thanks to all of you who have helped make the Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge™ kickoff a huge success in our absence!

Dr. Susan Blackwood
Executive Director

 Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge™ Is Off and Walking!

More than 150,000 elementary school children kicked off the 2004 Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge™ this week in 18 San Antonio-area school districts. For the next 10 weeks, they’ll be walking ½ mile a day with the goal of completing a marathon. Along the way, they receive healthy incentive rewards from Diamond Shamrock and Subway. On December 5, Go!Kids finishers and their families are invited to attend the Subway Victory Lap Celebration at the Alamodome.

The Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge official kickoff took place Wednesday, September 29, at 10 a.m. at Stonewall-Flanders Elementary in the Harlandale ISD. More than 300 kids, school officials from participating districts, Go!Kids sponsors, Sports Foundation board members, local media and the Harlandale High School drum corps celebrated health and fitness with a lively pep rally and walk. For more information about the Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge, visit www.gokidschallenge.org.

Bob Knight Ignites Champions Luncheon

Texas Tech Coach Bob Knight was in rare form at the first annual Sports Foundation Champions Luncheon, Friday, September 17 at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio. Whether offering his opinion on Olympic basketball or sharing his favorite “colorful” Texas phrases, Coach Knight kept the crowd laughing.

A special welcome to our new Sports Foundation members – our Champions -- who joined as a result of their attendance at the members-only Champions Luncheon, which was a fundraiser for the organization and its youth initiatives. We’re happy to have you in the family!

If you’re interested in receiving invitations to our members-only events, please click here to sign up as a Sports Foundation Champion today.

Kids & Harleys Gala A Roaring Success

George Strait and Kids and Harleys co-founder Fully Clingman pump up the bidding on a one-of-a-kind Harley Davidson.

The 2004 For the Love of Kids and Harleys Gala was a huge success and a great fundraiser for the Sports Foundation’s Dreams for Youth program. Nearly 1,100 people attended this 10th anniversary event at Cowboys Dancehall on September 8.

A huge “thanks” to the volunteers who assisted staff with the silent auction, which raised more than $40,000. This money and the money raised in the live auction, sponsorships, and table sales will be divided among the five children's organizations that benefit including the Sports Foundation, Any Baby Can, Respite Care of San Antonio, Easter Seals and Ronald McDonald House.

Many thanks to the founders of Kids and Harleys: Larry Walker, Hal Gottsacker, Fully Clingman, John Miller and John Peveto for including the Sports Foundation in this terrific event!

Nominate the Sports Foundation Volunteer of the Year

Volunteers are the heart of the Sports Foundation and are undoubtedly its most valuable resource! The Leo & Chickie Rose “Volunteer of the Year” award has been created to annually recognize the San Antonio Sports Foundation’s most outstanding volunteer. In its first year, this award will be given to a volunteer who has made significant contributions to the Sports Foundation’s volunteer program through length of service, loyalty and commitment to the organization, and service to his/her fellow volunteers.

Just click here download the form to nominate your pick for the Sports Foundation’s “Volunteer of the Year” by November 14. The award will be announced in December.

Women's Sports Foundation CEO to Headline Luncheon

Be motivated by career and life lessons from Donna Lopiano, CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation. Lopiano will be the keynote luncheon speaker at the Enterprising Women's Conference sponsored by the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, next Wednesday, October 6.

Known as a passionate and inspirational speaker, Lopiano will share how she’s applied lessons learned as an athlete and coach to organizational leadership. From her 17 years as the Director of Women’s Athletics at the University of Texas, to her high-profile role as a member of the United States Olympic Committee’s Executive Board, Lopiano is listed as one of “The 100 Most Influential People in Sports” by the Sporting News.

To register for the luncheon or the full-day conference, call 210/344-4848 or visit www.northsachamber.com.

College Soccer Shoots for San Antonio

Area league and school teams have a great opportunity to see the stars of Big 12 women's soccer at the Big 12 Soccer Championship, November 3, 5, and 7 at Blossom Soccer Stadium. The tournament features the top eight teams in the Big 12 conference who vie for the championship title and an automatic bid to represent the Big 12 conference in the 2004 NCAA Women's Soccer National Championship. Twenty-ticket Team Packages are available for just $89. Just click here to order your team package today.

This year, girls ages 10-18 will be able to participate in a soccer Youth Education through Sports (YES) Clinic free of charge on Saturday, November 6. At the clinic children will be able to meet coaches and players and they will learn about the six attributes the NCAA has identified as forming the spirit of the Association - fair play, character, learning, balance, spirit and community. To enroll, contact Bill Hanson at 210-280-2111 or bhanson@sanantoniosports.org.

Tee Off at the Dominion

Sign up today to play in the annual SBC San Antonio Sports Foundation Golf Classic at the Dominion Country Club on Monday, November 15. In addition to having lots of fun on one of the most beautiful golf courses in the state, you'll be contributing to Dreams for Youth, the Sports Foundation's program that provides training in six Olympic sports for disadvantaged children. More than 4,000 children each year experience the benefits of sport through Dreams for Youth.

Corporate teams and individuals are welcome. For more information click here or contact Elena Stout at 210-820-2127 or estout@sanantoniosports.org.

Top Name in Tennis Teams Up For Youth

The Sports Foundation’s Dreams for Youth program is partnering with John Roddick, a former world-ranked tennis player and older brother of current #2 world-ranked pro Andy Roddick, to offer tennis lessons beginning Oct. 19, 2004. Children ages 6-11 will learn the fundamentals of tennis from one of the best coaches in the city.

Lessons will be held twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 4:00-5:30 p.m. at Fairchild Center Tennis Courts, 1214 E. Crockett. The cost is $35 for the six-week session. Equipment is provided.

Dreams for Youth is offering the tennis lessons as a pilot program, and is targeting children from disadvantaged neighborhoods. However, the tennis lessons are open any child who wants to learn the game. Contact Alma Striker at 210-820-2113 or astriker@sanantoniosports.org for information or to enroll.

Smith Barney Awards Grant

Neal Turner, Smith Barney Vice-President Branch Manager, presents a check to Sports Foundation executive director Dr. Susan Blackwood.

For several years, the Smith Barney STTAR program (success through tutoring, athletics, and role-modeling) is providing funds for mentoring and tutoring in the Sports Foundation's Dreams for Youth after school programs. STARR will also help fund the Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge, a ten-week walking program designed to motivate children in grades K-5 to walk one-half mile a day, eventually reaching a marathon distance of 26.2 miles.

Carl Bain; Tony Bartys; Roland Bazaldva; Bob Beadle; Jeff Bish; Rae Blair; Craig Blair; RJ Bohl; Olivier Bourgoin; Tim Bramble; Jeff Calhon; AJ Craig; Ken Ciolli; Kim Ciolli; Mark Ciranna; Kip Cofield; Curt Conroy; Arthur Coulombe; Shirley Craig; Lori Davis; Jim Davis; Fredy Delallado; Ramiro DeLeon; Brad Durchslag; Jimmie Ruth Evans; Ambrose Fernandez; Daniel Franks; Jerry Fuentes; Jayne Garrett; Susan Goade; Gus Groos; Kevin Hamilton; Baron Hardelin-Doherty; Lisa Hardelin-Doherty; Doug Heath; Mario Hernandez; John Hirst; Peter Holt; Joel Horlen; Lois Horlen; Mike Horlihan; Kirby Hurley; Matthew Miles Jackson; Termene Jones; Paul Josephs; Michael Jourdan; Jay Keller; Konrad Kuykendall; Stephen Lang; Louis Lopez; Jon Lowe; Jenny Luddy; Ross Magsig; Michelle Martin; Bill McCandless; George McClure; Rich McCormick; Jim Mickey; Robert Miller; Caryn Moir; Joseph Morales; Hal Morris; Tim Morris; Terry Morris; C Motz; Edward Muller; Mike Osterman; Richard Osuch; Mike Parsons; Gene Paterson; David Peveto; Jim Potter; Stephen Pundt; Robert Ralph; Rudy Ramirez; Joe Regnier; Chuck Reis; Steve Richards; Mark Rnyse; Louis Rowe; Dr. David Schmidt; Steven Schultz; Jose Sena; Robert Shelby; Rick Smith; Greg Stouffer; Harold Timboe; Stan Tolson; Lorence Trick; Ron Uechi; Tommy Urps; Ruben Villafranca; Jim Wampler; Garren Warren; Philip Wheeler; Gilbert Wiatrek; Bradley Williams; Charles Winget; Frank Woodruff; James Young

Corporate Champions

Presenting Champions

City of San Antonio; SBC Communications Inc.

$50,000

Creative Link; IKON Office Solutions; San Antonio Express-News

$20,000

The Dominion Country Club; H-E-B Grocery Company; Royal Oak Industries; San Antonio Coca-Cola Bottling Co; San Antonio Spurs; Valero Energy Corporation; Whataburger, Inc.

$10,000

Budget Car & Truck Rental; Cingular Wireless; Langley & Banack; Maverick Video Production; NuMedia: Oak Farms Dairy; Paladin IT Services; Methodist Children's Hospital; Racquetball & Fitness

$5,000

George Becknell; Bender & Associates; BudCo., Inc.; The CE Group - Communication & Events; ChapmanSchewe/CDP; Comet Neon Advertising; Frost Bank; Humana; JP Morgan Chase; Michael Imbimbo, Inc.; Miner Corporation; The Plaza Club; Nathaniel Sanderson, M.D.; Security Service Federal Credit Union; Soccer Sports Complex; Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio; Jon Turner; Zachry Hospitality, Inc.

$2,500

Bank of America; Carneiro, Chummney & Co.; Cox & Smith; Ernst & Young; Host/Chelsea Joint Venture of San Antonio; IntelliSolve Group, Inc.; Dr. Susan Marenda-King; Lyda Builders, Inc; Catering by Don Strange; Contemporary Constructors, Inc.; Dublin & Associates; Fintan Technologies; Flowers Bakeries; Fulbright & Jaworski; GLI Distributing.; Gunn Automotive Group; Initial Security; Marmon Mok; Marriott Plaza San Antonio; Marriott Rivercenter/Riverwalk; Pape-Dawson Consulting Engineers, Inc.; Sterling Bank; Sterling Foods, Inc.; Tesoro Petroleum Companies, Inc.; Walton Signage;

Yantis Company;

Grants/Foundations

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; Light 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