Athletic Fields Benefit Our Youth

In recent days, much has been said about taking San Antonio to another level in soccer. The Sports Foundation remains focused on the youth soccer fields needed to promote and grow the sport of soccer in this community. We firmly believe a plan that enhances the quality youth tournament fields so desperately needed here would also be an economic boost.

With an ample number of fields, no fewer than eight major soccer tournaments a year could be hosted in San Antonio. Currently, many of the teams traveling to these tournaments drive from or through San Antonio to get to other communities with literally hundreds of competitive fields. Why should boys and girls from San Antonio have to participate in all of their competitive soccer pursuits outside San Antonio? Why should the hospitality industry in San Antonio loose all of this prospective business? As we have known for some time, this community needs athletic facilities in all sectors. Quality and an abundance of competitive and recreational sports venues directly relates to the health and well being of our youth.

How can you help? The Sports Foundation hopes to fill a few vacancies on our facility committee. This committee, as is the case with our other working committees, continues to assess and prioritize needs for the community. If you wish to serve on the facilities committee, which conducts regular meetings to coordinate efforts with the Sports Foundation’s board of directors, please send a message to me at sblackwood@sanantoniosports.org. In advance, thanks for helping the children who will benefit from our efforts in this area.

Dr. Susan Blackwood
Executive Director

Survey Measures Members’ Experiences

If you are an individual member of the San Antonio Sports Foundation, you may have recently received a membership survey in the mail. The survey has been designed and conducted as a project of Dr. Richard Jones’s senior marketing research class at Trinity University. The survey will help the Sports Foundation to better understand the interests and needs of its individual members. If you received a survey, please take a few minutes to fill it out and submit it by Monday, April 25, in the enclosed envelope or fax it to 210-820-2199. Your input is important to us and will help us to better serve you, our members.

If you are interested in becoming a Sports Foundation member, please contact Mary Ullmann Japhet at 210-820-2123 or mjaphet@sanantoniosports.org. We sincerely thank Dr. Jones and his students for undertaking this valuable research project.

Technology and Sports
Providing Opportunities for Soldiers

Three U.S. Paralympians Thomas Bourgeios, Ross Davis and John Register conducted an introductory sports clinic at Brook Army Medical Center on Tuesday April, 12. The clinic hosted by U.S. Paralympics, was organized to provide information on what kind of sport opportunities and technology that are available to wounded service members returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldiers learned how technology advancements in prosthetics and adaptive equipment make it possible for people with amputations and spinal cord injuries to compete in athletics. Davis, Sports Foundation creative director, says that from this point forward it is totally different for these guys but it doesn’t mean they can’t compete or play in sports - there are opportunities for them. “These guys were excited and wanted to know more about sports. In fact, I left my racing chair with one young soldier who said he was ready to “go fast.”” It was a positive experience for everyone in attendance.

John Register, Paralympic Academy manager, demonstrates the highly advanced "running knees" used by above the knee amputees for sports competition.

Salute Awards

Do you know a great coach? Then nominate him or her for the Sports Foundation’s new “Salute to Coaches” award. Nominees are being accepted through April 29.

The “Salute to Coaches” awards, to begin with the 2004-05 school year, will be given annually to a male and female coach of the year at the junior high and high school level, as well as community-based youth organizations. The “Salute to Coaches” awards will honor coaches for sport accomplishments and for displaying qualities of sportsmanship, citizenship and a positive influence on their athletes.

Click here for criteria and nomination form.

Hundreds of Teams Ready to Raise a Ruckus

More than 400 teams will compete in the Sports Foundation’s Whataburger Roundball Ruckus this weekend at the Alamodome. While the deadline has passed to enter the 3-on-3 basketball tournament, the public is invited to check out the exciting competition on Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24 at parking lot B of the Alamodome. Play begins at 8:30 a.m. each day, and for the first time, the Ruckus is an official event of Fiesta!

Players of high school age and above will have the added opportunity to be scouted by a representative of San Antonio’s ABA pro basketball team during their games. Packet pickup for registered teams takes place Friday, April 22 on the South Plaza of the Alamodome between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Anyone, not just registered team members, can enter the Whataburger Roundball Ruckus featured contests, which include a 3-point shootout, slam dunk, hot shot, free throw and free-style dribbling contests. To waive the $1 per shot entry fee, contestants may show a receipt from any Whataburger restaurant purchase.

The Ruckus is sponsored by Whataburger, Coca-Cola, TETCO, Texas Med Clinic, and Frost Bank. Media partners include Time Warner Cable, News 4 San Antonio WOAI-TV, Clear Channel Radio, and Clear Channel Outdoor. All Ruckus proceeds benefit the nonprofit Sports Foundation and its youth initiatives.

NCAA Volleyball Group Tickets
Great Seats Available Now

Group ticket packs are on sale today! Friends, coworkers, volleyball teams or any group of ten or more will do. If you are looking for a group of lower-level seats, a way to save money and a fun reward for doing so, this is the best deal going for the 2005 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship! Call (210) 820-2104 for more details or to sign up your group today.

Here’s another great deal – consider going in with friends or sponsoring a youth organization by purchasing a ticket and hospitality package. These contributor packages start at $1,000 and include prime seating, pre-game hospitality passes, and parking for six. That's just $55 a game PLUS a great party to celebrate the tournament! A $2,500 or $5,000 package will also treat you like a VIP, but more importantly, will ensure a group of San Antonio's youth the opportunity to see Division I Women's Volleyball. For package details, click here.

Badminton is Key to New Experiences

Abi Gonzalez was one of the smallest students when he walked on to the badminton court three years ago as a fifth grader in the Sports Foundation’s Dreams for Youth after-school program. But head badminton coach Kampol Surapiboonchai noticed that he was also one of the quickest. Today, Abi is part of the Community Olympic Development Program (CODP) team which travels to competitions outside of San Antonio, opening a whole new world for the Lowell Middle School student.

“It’s fun!” says Abi, who says getting involved with the badminton program changed his life. “I have to come to practice or I won’t get better, plus I have to keep my grades up. But the best part is I get to travel.” Abi’s favorite trip has been to Boston where he participated in the 2004 U.S. Junior Nationals.

Coach Kampol points out that even though Abi receives a lot of support from his parents, participating in badminton keeps him out of trouble. “Abi has learned self-discipline and is becoming a smart student of the game.” Kampol also emphasizes the benefits of traveling for children whose families don’t have much. “Through the Sports Foundation’s support of the CODP, going to the Junior Nationals provides a chance for our athletes to compete against the best, interact and socialize with the rest of the country, experience other cultures, gain valuable experience, and fulfill a dream.”

This summer, the Badminton Jr. Nationals will be held in Greenacres, WA. Abi can hardly wait!

Corporate Champions

Presenting Champions

City of San Antonio; SBC Communications Inc.

$50,000

Creative Link; IKON Office Solutions; San Antonio Express-News; Valero Energy Corporation

$20,000

Advantage Rent-A-Car; San Antonio Coca-Cola Bottling Co; San Antonio Spurs; 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; 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; Frost Bank; H-E-B Grocery Company; Hertz Corporation; Humana; JP Morgan Chase; KPMG; Merrill Lynch; Methodist Healthcare System; Michael Imbimbo, Inc.; Miner Corporation; Pacificare; The Plaza Club; Nathaniel Sanderson, M.D.; Security Service Federal Credit Union; Soccer Sports Complex; Sterling Bank; Sterling Foods, Inc.; Jon Turner; Zachry Hospitality, Inc.

$2,500

Allegra Print & Imaging; Bank of America; Broadway Bank; Carneiro, Chummney & Co.; C.C. Creations; Catering by Don Strange; Colonial Supplemental Insurance; Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated; Ear Medical Group; Ernst & Young; FIRSTMARK Credit Union; Fintan Technologies; Flowers Bakeries; Fulbright & Jaworski; GLI Distributing.; Halo Distributing; Host/Chelsea Joint Venture of San Antonio; Initial Security; Dr. Susan Marenda-King; Marriott Plaza San Antonio; Marriott Rivercenter/Riverwalk; Mission Pharmacal; Pape-Dawson Consulting Engineers, Inc.; SpawGlass Contractors, Inc.; Tesoro Petroleum Companies; 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