Happy Birthday to us…Happy Birthday to us…!

We hope that you have been able to enjoy the Sports Foundation’s 20th anniversary television and radio spots that have been airing since August 1st. The primary goal is to educate the citizens of San Antonio about the Sports Foundation’s accomplishments and contributions – particularly the impact that our youth programs have had on so many children.

Another very important goal is also to get more individuals and corporations to “join the team that makes things happen!” If you have not had an opportunity to unite with the “sports movers and shakers” in San Antonio, jump on the website at www.SanAntonioSports.org and see the new opportunities!

If you are a member, or become one by September 17th, you can also participate in the first ever “Champions Luncheon.” This year, our featured speaker is the colorful and entertaining Texas Tech Basketball Coach Bob Knight. Don’t miss it. We need your help to make this year’s event successful, as we will work hard to bring a high profile sports celebrity to San Antonio each and every fall! More details are included later in this issue of Sidelines.

Special thanks to the 2004 Fundraising Committee which has been meeting over the summer to insure the success of our fall campaign. Members of the committee chaired by Valero’s Gary Arthur are: George Becknell, Mike Chapman, Llew Fambles, Phil Miner, Manny Ortiz, Bob Raymond and Rick Smith.

Once again Happy 20th birthday to the entire Sports Foundation family!

Dr. Susan Blackwood
Executive Director

 Bob Knight to Headline Champions Luncheon

Whether it’s the game of basketball or the game of life, Texas Tech basketball coach Bob Knight has an opinion! Come hear what he has to say at the San Antonio Sports Foundation Champions Luncheon on Friday, September 17th at 12 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio, 123 Loysoa. The colorful, highly successful, and sometimes controversial Coach Knight is sure to speak with his legendary courtside passion.

The Champions Luncheon is a Sports Foundation members-only event. However, the purchase of an individual ticket includes a membership. Tickets cost $50 for current Sports Foundation members and $100 for non-members ($50 is applied to a Sports Foundation membership). Tables of 10 may be purchased for $1000. To purchase tickets to the Champions Luncheon, call 210-820-2100 or simply register online by clicking here.

 We’re Having A Party

“Building a city of champions since 1984.” That’s the slogan of the Sports Foundation’s 20th anniversary, and we’ve launched a campaign to take our message to the public through great events, media and an unprecedented fundraising initiative.

Media Campaign
San Antonio residents may have already seen three new television public service announcements on local television stations. The spots, which feature Olympian Josh Davis (below with other “stars”) and San Antonio Spur Devin Brown (at right with film crew atop a diving board), along with many of our young Dreams for Youth athletes invite viewers to “Join the team that makes things happen.” The concepts for the high quality spots came from the Creative Link agency and were produced in partnership with Maverick Video Productions, director Tom Jones and Keith Harter Music.

Their generosity made these public service announcements possible, and we’re also grateful to all of the local television stations that agreed to air these spots for the next several months. We also have to thank Clear Channel radio for airing new radio public service announcements on all of their stations. spots on our website at www.SanAntonioSports.org.

Events
It’s going to be a busy Fall for the Sports Foundation, and all of our events will help to celebrate the 20th anniversary. From the Champions Luncheon with Coach Bob Knight on September 17, to the kickoff of our second Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge™ on September 29, to the Big 12 Soccer Championship and Sports Foundation Golf Tournament in November, every event will be one more opportunity to celebrate.

Fundraising Efforts
The members of the Sports Foundation board of directors are sharing the message of the Sports Foundation with their friends and colleagues in an ambitious fundraising initiative. Armed with a new promotional video and other materials, the Sports Foundation’s Fundraising Committee, board members and staff will be calling on individuals and corporations in the next several weeks. If one of them contacts you, please take the call. You may be amazed to learn what you don’t know about the Sports Foundation! If you’d like to be able to say that you’re already a member of the Sports Foundation, just click here to become a Champion today!

Silver Stars Game

The Silver Stars, San Antonio’s WNBA team, celebrated Olympic spirit July 31 at their game against the Los Angeles Sparks by honoring area Olympians and recognizing the San Antonio Sports Foundation. The evening’s festivities included a halftime “Parade of Athletes” during which several hundred children wearing their own team uniforms were led across the court.

During a pre-game ceremony, Sports Foundation executive director Dr. Susan Blackwood presented Silver Stars point guard Shannon “Pee Wee” Johnson and the Sparks’ Lisa Leslie with good luck horseshoes. Johnson and Leslie will be USA Basketball teammates at the Olympic Games in Athens.

Other Athens-bound Olympians who attended the special night included USA Pentathlon’s Marybeth Larsen-Iagorashvili, Larry Quintero, a Paralympic tennis player, and Liza Hunter-Galvan a San Antonio resident who will run the marathon for her native New Zealand in Athens. They, along with many other Olympians from previous games, were honored at center court during halftime.

The Sports Foundation’s new television public service announcements debuted during the game as well. A sincere thank you to Spurs Sports and Entertainment for the opportunity to introduce the Sports Foundation and local Olympians to an enthusiastic crowd.

Rev Up For the Love of Kids and Harleys

The Sports Foundation has the great fortune of being one of five local charities selected as a beneficiary of For the Love of Kids and Harleys, a lively annual gala slated for Wednesday, September 8 at Cowboys Dance Hall (formerly New West Rodeo.) Tickets are $100 and include dinner, drinks and entertainment, including George Strait as auctioneer.

For the Love of Kids and Harleys was formed by five friends who share common passions: riding Harley Davidson motorcycles and raising money for children’s charities. They include Larry Walker, John Peveto, John Miller, Fully Clingman and Hal Gottsacker. For more information about the event and to purchase your tickets online, visit www.loveofkidsandharleys.com.

Libraries Host Fencing Demos

During August, patrons at nine branches of the San Antonio Public Library system have a chance to learn about fencing firsthand. The Dreams for Youth Fencing Center is conducting demonstrations and encouraging members of the audience to try this fast and athletic sport. Participants will also receive a coupon good for a free lesson. The Sports Foundation is offering this opportunity to the public in celebration of its 20th Anniversary. The remaining demonstrations are listed below.

Saturday, Aug. 14
11 a.m. – Westfall branch – 6111 Rosedale Court
3 p.m. – Bazan branch – 2200 West Commerce

Saturday, Aug. 21
11 a.m. – McCreless branch – 1023 Ada
2 p.m. – Central Library auditorium – 600 Soledad

Pick up your complimentary Dreams for Youth bookmark at any of the 21 branches of the San Antonio Public Library. They offer give patrons brief information about Dreams for Youth. More than 3,300 have already been distributed through local book stores.

Fencing Tournament to Honor Equipment Donor

The first annual James Kuhn Open fencing tournament will be held Aug. 28-29 at Palo Alto College. The event is a fundraiser for the Sports Foundation’s Community Olympic Development Program (CODP) fencing program and is named after the generous fencing enthusiast who donated $7,000 worth of equipment in 2001.

“Our goal is to make this a large and prestigious event that will ultimately attract national-level fencers,” says José Sanchez, head fencing coach for Dreams for Youth and organizer of the tournament. With the rich legacy of fencing in San Antonio, and with some of the top talent in the nation residing here, Sanchez hopes the event will be a success and develop into a top-tier tournament.
For more information, contact Alma Striker at 210-820-2113.

Kriterion Klass

You might as well call Thursdays Kriterion day at the Dreams for Youth gym. It all started two years ago when Natalia Badger invited some school friends to her birthday party at the gym. Two years later, there are 13 Kriterion Montessori School students who participate in recreational gymnastics each week.
Kathy Armstrong has enrolled for two years. She likes the supportive environment and the way children can learn at their own pace. “Sharon (DFY recreational gymnastics director) finds what a child is good at and that gives them the confidence to try more things.”

Ed Curran's two children have also been enrolled for the past year. “I like the laid-back, friendly atmosphere of the gym,” he says. Both parents agree that gymnastics should be fun, but also a way to keep kids fit.

To enroll your child in the DFY gymnastics program, contact Sharon Martinez at 210-226-5479.

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: Paladin IT Services; Methodist Children's Hospital; Racquetball & Fitness

$5,000

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

$2,500

Bank of America; 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; Fulbright & Jaworski; GLI Distributing.; Gunn Automotive Group; Initial Security; Marmon Mok; Marriott Rivercenter/Riverwalk; Pape-Dawson Consulting Engineers, Inc.; Sterling Bank; Sterling Foods, Inc.; Tesoro Petroleum Companies, Inc.; 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