USA Track & Field Foundation awards Elite Athlete Development Grants to 39 Track & Field Athletes

by usatffadmin | Jul 2, 2020 | News

PITTSBURGH – Over the past four months the track & field world has been hit hard by the reality of the Covid-19 global pandemic.  Athletes who have committed their lives to the sport and make travel for competitions a lifestyle, have been stopped cold in their tracks. With the cancellation and postponement of major competitions, our Olympic hopefuls find themselves in a financial crisis.

The USA Track & Field Foundation has successfully supported athletes with training and living expenses over the past 14 years and this year the funding hits a new height of importance.  39 deserving athletes will receive grant funding in the amount of $5,000 each.  These grants along with the 100 Stephen A. Schwarzman grants announced yesterday total $1,070,000 in giving to 139 elite Track & Field athletes.

“Honestly, I have never felt more vulnerable as a professional track athlete as I have this year amidst the postponement of the Olympic Games and improbability of our track season. Being awarded a grant from the USA Track & Field Foundation this year feels very different than receiving a grant in years prior because so much more is at stake. The USATF Foundation’s selfless giving truly solidifies how valuable and important the track and field community is to them both in times of triumph and adversity. Thank you!” exclaimed Olympian, Queen Harrison Claye.

“We listened closely to voices of the athletes,” said Board Member Jack Wickens. “They encouraged us to support as many athletes as possible and these awards to new pros, proven performers and athletes returning from injuries, across all events, reflects this.”

The 39 talented athletes to receive funding in the amount of $5,000 are:

Note:  Gwen Berry (Hammer Throw) was awarded a 2020 Elite Athlete Grant in the amount of $5,000, but requested to be taken off the grant award list.

Stephen A. Schwarzman Increases 2020 Support to $875,000 – 100 Track & Field Elite Athletes Receive New Grants

by usatffadmin | Jul 1, 2020 | News

PITTSBURGH – The Covid-19 pandemic is taking a toll on the sports industry.  The event calendar for athletes, organizers, and fans has vanished – track & field is no exception. While the world struggles to deal with the consequences of this crisis, our track & field professionals are challenged in ways they never imagined.  The USATF Foundation and its Board of Directors recognize this hardship and have been actively working to find solutions for America’s Olympic hopefuls.  Hundreds of track & field professional athletes are in severe financial trouble because nearly all of the opportunities to compete and earn income have been cancelled or postponed.

Last month, The USATF Foundation hosted a virtual town hall meeting to speak with the athletes directly to understand their individual issues. Over 30 athletes participated, all communicating that 2020 would be a difficult year not only to secure adequate training but to make ends meet.

With this need in mind, the Foundation has taken a leadership role on several fronts, the first being increased and broader financial support of athletes. With the Foundation’s Elite Athlete Development Program grants on the horizon, financial funding will be at an all-time high. Over 150 athletes are expected to receive direct support from the Foundation in 2020.  The athletes also recognize they can make a difference.  During thNEW YORK CITY – The postponement of the 2020 Olympics and interruption of the normal global competition season as a result of COVID-19 has created unique challenges for the country’s elite track & field athletes. With money-making events and sponsorships scarce, many athletes face uncertainty about how to make ends meet as they try to maintain training regimens and weigh overall concerns for the health of themselves and their families.

In response to these circumstances, Stephen A. Schwarzman announced that he is increasing his available grant funds through the USA Track & Field Foundation in 2020 by $250,000, bringing his total to $875,000.

“I’m proud to increase my support for these athletes during this unprecedented time,” said Mr. Schwarzman. “Their resolve and determination in the face of this unexpected challenge can be a lesson for all of us.”

Making a direct impact on the track and field community, Mr. Schwarzman’s grants will significantly increase the number of athletes that receive funding from the USA Track & Field Foundation. With the 2020 Diamond League, Olympic Trials and Tokyo Games being postponed or cancelled, many athletes will face a year-long struggle to finance their training and living needs. The Stephen A. Schwarzman grants will provide a bridge and safety net to these dedicated athletes until a sense of normalcy is restored.

Photo Credit: Elevation 0m

“I would like to thank Mr. Stephen Schwarzman for his very generous support to Track and Field. His support came at a time when we needed it most, and has given us hope. This is an extremely difficult time; the recognition will help us keep up the focus, train even harder and plan accordingly for the big task ahead,” stated four-time Stephen A. Schwarzman grantee and 5000m Rio Olympic silver medalist, Paul Chelimo.

This gift to the USA Track & Field Foundation allows for 100 athletes to benefit from Mr. Schwarzman’s support. 25 athletes will receive grants in the amount of $20,000 each and 75 athletes will receive grants in the amount of $5,000 each.

The 25 recipients of the 2020 Stephen A. Schwarzman Grant awards in the amount of $20,000 each are:

The 75 recipients of the 2020 Stephen A. Schwarzman Grant awards in the amount of $5,000 each are:

The USATF Foundation will be announcing additional elite athlete grants in the upcoming days. e town hall, many current USATF Foundation grantees expressed a desire to forgo their allotted grant award in an effort to allow the USATF Foundation to help a greater number of deserving and troubled athletes.

“The Foundation has always done a phenomenal job with their efforts of open communication with their grant recipients. This spirit was heightened in the wake of the pandemic, as the Foundation’s Board put on several meetings to discover the needs and concerns the athletes may be facing while factoring in the social, emotional, and physical challenges. Additionally, the Board looked to locate possible opportunities where they could lend a helping hand. I am happy to be a Stephen A. Schwarzman Grant Recipient but admire all the Foundation has done for me in the midst of these uncertain times,” stated USATF Foundation grantee and two-time Olympic Champion Christian Taylor.

The Foundation also quickly realized during the town hall that athletes were having difficulty navigating the federal and state assistance programs that are available. USATF Foundation Director, Mark Lambert, who is a Partner at Cooley LLP, assembled a team of Cooley attorneys who generously donated their time and talents to guide athletes through the programs available to them.  James Rathmell, Chloe Kaufman, and Shannan Higgins created a guide for track & field athletes to reference when searching for assistance as well as hosting a webcast, which allowed the athletes the opportunity to ask questions and get personal assistance.

Additionally, the USATF Foundation and USATF partnered to donate funds for elite track & field athletes to purchase portable training equipment.  Since many state and/or local municipalities have placed restrictions on facilities where larger groups may gather, gyms and weight rooms are often closed or unavailable. To assist in bridging the gap between now and when restrictions are lifted, funds have been allocated to each Tier and TPP athlete in the amount of $400 towards the purchase of equipment for home use.

USATF Foundation Assists Elite Athletes During Covid-19 Pandemic

by usatffadmin | May 8, 2020 | News

PITTSBURGH – The Covid-19 pandemic is taking a toll on the sports industry.  The event calendar for athletes, organizers, and fans has vanished – track & field is no exception. While the world struggles to deal with the consequences of this crisis, our track & field professionals are challenged in ways they never imagined.  The USATF Foundation and its Board of Directors recognize this hardship and have been actively working to find solutions for America’s Olympic hopefuls.  Hundreds of track & field professional athletes are in severe financial trouble because nearly all of the opportunities to compete and earn income have been cancelled or postponed.

Last month, The USATF Foundation hosted a virtual town hall meeting to speak with the athletes directly to understand their individual issues. Over 30 athletes participated, all communicating that 2020 would be a difficult year not only to secure adequate training but to make ends meet.

With this need in mind, the Foundation has taken a leadership role on several fronts, the first being increased and broader financial support of athletes. With the Foundation’s Elite Athlete Development Program grants on the horizon, financial funding will be at an all-time high. Over 150 athletes are expected to receive direct support from the Foundation in 2020.  The athletes also recognize they can make a difference.  During the town hall, many current USATF Foundation grantees expressed a desire to forgo their allotted grant award in an effort to allow the USATF Foundation to help a greater number of deserving and troubled athletes.

“The Foundation has always done a phenomenal job with their efforts of open communication with their grant recipients. This spirit was heightened in the wake of the pandemic, as the Foundation’s Board put on several meetings to discover the needs and concerns the athletes may be facing while factoring in the social, emotional, and physical challenges. Additionally, the Board looked to locate possible opportunities where they could lend a helping hand. I am happy to be a Stephen A. Schwarzman Grant Recipient but admire all the Foundation has done for me in the midst of these uncertain times,” stated USATF Foundation grantee and two-time Olympic Champion Christian Taylor.

The Foundation also quickly realized during the town hall that athletes were having difficulty navigating the federal and state assistance programs that are available. USATF Foundation Director, Mark Lambert, who is a Partner at Cooley LLP, assembled a team of Cooley attorneys who generously donated their time and talents to guide athletes through the programs available to them.  James Rathmell, Chloe Kaufman, and Shannan Higgins created a guide for track & field athletes to reference when searching for assistance as well as hosting a webcast, which allowed the athletes the opportunity to ask questions and get personal assistance.

Additionally, the USATF Foundation and USATF partnered to donate funds for elite track & field athletes to purchase portable training equipment.  Since many state and/or local municipalities have placed restrictions on facilities where larger groups may gather, gyms and weight rooms are often closed or unavailable. To assist in bridging the gap between now and when restrictions are lifted, funds have been allocated to each Tier and TPP athlete in the amount of $400 towards the purchase of equipment for home use.

Richard Gay Named to USATF Foundation Board of Directors

by usatffadmin | Apr 6, 2020 | News

PITTSBURGH – Richard Gay has been named a Director of the USA Track & Field Foundation Board, USATF Foundation CEO Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld announced today.

Mr. Gay was recently named COO of Superfly, a live experience company that created the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, launched the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, built the Superfly Agency business and is an emerging leader in the location-based entertainment field, as evidenced by the success of Superfly’s most recent new initiative, “Friends: The One with the Pop-Up” experience in NYC and Boston.  Mr. Gay is also the Founder of 5Pack Entertainment, a company focused on creating live events, producing content, consulting, investing in entities across the media and technology spectrum, and driving pro bono initiatives.

Prior to launching 5Pack Entertainment, Mr. Gay spent a 13-year career at Viacom as head of strategy and operations for various brands within the Viacom portfolio including, MTV, Vh1, CMT and BET, and across brands at the Divisional level. While at Viacom, Mr. Gay managed the Soul Train brand for an external partner for several years, then served as its General Manager (along with BET Jams and BET Soul) after championing the acquisition of the Soul Train catalog and intellectual property in 2016.

Mr. Gay earned his B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of Business and his MBA from Stanford University.  He currently serves on the Board of Overseers for the Weill Cornell Medical Center and is involved in the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.

Track & field has always been a part of Mr. Gay’s life, but his perspective and appreciation of the sport has evolved and grown throughout the years. Mr. Gay competed on track teams in his youth and in high school.  His success in the sport gave him a sense of personal accomplishment and helped build confidence throughout his formative years.  While attending Penn University as an undergraduate he was an avid fan each year at the Penn Relays, always marveling what elite athletes can achieve.

“Track gives me great pride as I watch my daughter have far more success on the track than I ever did.  I have also grown to appreciate track through more than my own personal lens.  Track is a sport for everyone – all races, socio-economic classes, and geographic locations.  If you are fast, you are fast.  And how do you find out?  “I’ll race you” … no hi-tech required.  Can you push yourself longer and harder than others?  Welcome to distance running.  Biggest kid in your class, but maybe not so fleet of foot?  Grab that shot put and meet me at practice.  Every week, I get to spend time on tracks and appreciate all different types of people coming together in pursuit of something that they love.  Track is a great model for us all,” stated Richard Gay.