The USATF Foundation Received Over $85,000 in Donations from GNC Customers, Associates and the GNC Live Well Foundation to Support Athlete’s Dreams

by Trixie | Aug 2, 2016 | News

PITTSBURGH, PA, August 2, 2016 – The USA Track & Field Foundation, in partnership with GNC, a leading global specialty retailer of health, wellness and performance products, raised over $85,000 during a month-long fundraising and awareness campaign at more than 4,300 GNC stores across the U.S. The USA Track & Field Foundation provides a means to attract and guide funds to new and innovative track & field programs, with an emphasis on providing opportunities for youth athletes, emerging elite athletes, and distance training centers. The USA Track & Field Foundation, launched in 2005, assists dedicated, aspiring world-class athletes of any age to realize their potential and dreams.

GNC customers and associates, along with a donation of $10,000 from the GNC Live Well Foundation, which is committed to a world where everyone can pursue a healthier life through education, research and nutrition, raised over $85,000 in support of these athletes.

The support for the USA Track & Field Foundation and its athletes-in-training came as the world’s attention turns to the 2016 Games. As the only privately funded team, the athletes supported by this campaign were in great need of financial assistance. Over 30 athletes from the USA Track & Field Foundation sponsorship roster qualified to compete in Rio this summer and this money will help provide funding for medical expenses, travel, and equipment. These elite athletes train tirelessly for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and many are doing so while living under poverty level.

The joint campaign was dedicated to help the USA Track & Field Foundation greatly expand its Elite Athlete Development and Run With US! programs. The hope is that athletes who are training for international elite competition will have the means necessary to realize their dreams and simultaneously have opportunities to give back in their communities — inspiring kids with their stories of dedication and strength. 100% of all donations collected went directly to USA Track & Field Foundation programs.

In addition to assisting elite athletes, funds also support the USA Track & Field Foundation’s Run With US! program. Run With US! launched in 2012 and uses American heroes — our track & field athletes — to inspire kids to get fit, make healthy choices and set and achieve their goals. As part of the program, our nation’s best track & field athletes visit schools and community centers, where they teach kids track & field skills and talk about the importance of fitness, nutrition, and making positive choices.

Bob Greifeld, Chairman of the USA Track & Field Foundation stated, “The USA Track & Field Foundation is forever grateful to GNC, GNC’s dedicated customers and the GNC Live Well Foundation for their support and continued efforts in this pivotal year.  This is the boost our athletes need to be able to compete at the top level we all expect from America’s team.”

USA Track & Field Foundation awards $51,000 in additional Stephen Schwarzman Elite Grant Funds

by Trixie | Jul 18, 2016 | News

INDIANAPOLIS – In just three short weeks, the world will unite in the majestic city of Rio de Janeiro to watch athletes from across the globe compete at the highest level.  During the ten days in Eugene, Oregon that comprised the Olympic Team Track & Field Trials, the USATF Foundation was honored to witness many Foundation grantees realize their dreams and become Olympians.  30 USATF Foundation past grantees will move on to compete at the Rio de Janeiro Games—this marks a new record for the USATF Foundation.  In celebration of this success, the USATF Foundation is excited to award $51,000 in additional Stephen Schwarzman grants and Olympic Team bonuses, announced Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld.

The Stephen Schwarzman Grant Fund is dedicated to assisting those athletes at the top of their class with the potential to bring home an Olympic medal. The funding comes at an imperative time for these athletes as their focus switches to the ultimate competition ahead.  In the next three weeks, they will plan their travel to Rio de Janeiro, work with their coach to sort out a training plan, obtain the necessary equipment and receive medical treatment to prevent injury.  With no shortage of preparations to be done, the hope is these funds will ease financial stress and allow them to focus on winning medals.

“There is nothing more satisfying and riveting for our donors than to see the extraordinary athletes we support put their heart and soul on the line as they seek to “make the team”,” remarked USATF Foundation Director Jack Wickens.  “Our group of grantees represents an excellent blend of youth and experience. Each athlete has performed under severe pressure and triumphed in arguably the toughest track and field competition in the world. We believe they contribute significantly in terms of character and talent to one of the best balanced track and field teams we have ever sent to the Olympics,” added USATF Foundation Director Preston Johnson.

The USATF Foundation will award grants of $2,500 to the following 16 athletes:

Nia Ali – 100h

Tavis Bailey – Discus

Chris Benard – Triple jump

Gwen Berry – Hammer

Kristi Castlin – 100h

Ryan Crouser – Shot put

Andrew Evans – Discus

Mason Finley – Discus

Sean Furey – Javelin

Cyrus Hostetler – Javelin

Felisha Johnson – Shot put

Miranda Melville – Race walk

Dalilah Muhammed – 400h

John Nunn – Race walk

Jeff Porter -110h

Ricky Robertson – High jump

In addition, $500 bonus grants will be awarded to these 22 past USATF Foundation grantees who made the Olympic team:

Whitney Ashley – Discus

Boris Berian – 800m

Ben Blankenship – 1500m

Brittany Borman – Javelin

Tori Bowie – 100m & 200m

Donn Cabral – Steeplechase

Amber Campbell – Hammer

Sam Crouser – Javelin

Christina Epps – Triple jump

Jeff Henderson – Long jump

Darrell Hill – Shot put

Molly Huddle – 10K & 5K

Kibwe Johnson – Hammer

Joe Kovacs – Shot put

Chantae Lowe – High jump

Brenda Martinez – 1500m

Conor McCullough – Hammer

Maria Michita-Coffey – Race walk

Heather Miller-Koch – Heptathlon

Barbara Nwaba – Heptathlon

Jeremy Taiwo – Decathlon

Kara Winger – Javelin

USATF Foundation and Foundation Grantees, Heather Miller-Koch and Turquoise Thompson bring Run With US! to Olympic Day in Chula Vista, California

by Trixie | Jun 15, 2016 | News

SAN DIEGO – The USA Track & Field Foundation joined forces with Leonardo da Vinci Health Sciences Charter School in San Diego, California to host a successful Run With US! Olympic Day event last Wednesday, announced USATF Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld.

The event was held for hundreds of elementary school kids in Chula Vista, home of the United
States Olympic Training Center. Leonardo da Vinci Health Sciences Charter School has been hosting an Olympic Day event for six years.  The event is dedicated to teaching students about the history and traditions related to the Olympics.  The school places a strong emphasis on wellness and exercise on a daily basis and utilizes this special day to highlight these ideals.  As a health sciences school, a major part of the school’s mission is to create “health literate” students who exhibit knowledge, skills, and behaviors critical to healthy living.

“Having USA Track & Field Foundation athletes at our Olympic Day event is a great way for our students to see the results of hard work and perseverance when meeting fitness goals. The students can look at these athletes and say, ‘that’s what I want to be one day,’” stated Physical Education Teacher and Olympic Day Director Lialie Ibrahim.

The addition of Run With US! and USATF Foundation Grantees Heather Miller-Koch (heptathlete) and Turquoise Thompson (400m hurdles) to this amazing Olympic Day brought smiles to 325 faces and illustrated to the children it is truly possible to live your dreams.  Miller-Koch and Thompson’s presence not only encouraged and engaged the students but paralleled the beliefs and healthy habits Leonardo da Vinci Health Sciences Charter School aims to instill.

“Giving back to the community is very rewarding especially when you can get kids active and excited about it!” exclaimed Foundation Grantee Heather Miller-Koch.

Run With US! is a USA Track & Field Foundation school-based program initiative utilizing elite track & field athletes and Olympians teaching a running & exercise, nutrition, goal setting & self-esteem curriculum. Elite athletes coach students on track & field skills and exercise drills while sharing their inspirational stories from training and competition.

USATF Foundation Partners with GNC to Launch In-store and Online Fundraising Campaign to Support Team USA Elite Track & Field Athletes

by Trixie | Jun 1, 2016 | News

PITTSBURGH, PA, June 1, 2016 – The USA Track & Field Foundation in partnership with GNC Holdings, Inc. is launching a month-long fundraising and awareness campaign at GNC stores and online at GNC.com. The USA Track & Field Foundation works to attract and guide funds to new and innovative track & field programs, with an emphasis on providing opportunities for youth athletes, emerging elite athletes, and distance training centers. The Foundation was launched in 2005 to assist dedicated Olympic hopefuls realize their dreams and potential.

In 2014 GNC raised over $144,000 in support of the USATF Foundation and are once again accepting donations at any GNC location or online at gnc.com.  Fundraising kicks off on Wednesday, June 1^st and remains active until Thursday, June 30^th. As an incentive, GNC customers who make a donation to the USATF Foundation will receive a $5 off $25 discount on their next visit. In addition to customer donations, the GNC Live Well Foundation has volunteered to match donations up to $10,000.  100% of all donations collected go directly to USATF Foundation programs.

“As the leader in global performance solutions we are thrilled to again partner with the USATF Foundation to help send our world class American athletes to the Summer Games in Rio,” said GNC CEO Mike Archbold. “We encourage GNC customers everywhere to visit our stores and GNC.com and make a donation to help pave the way for these amazing track & field athletes to reach their ultimate goal of participating in the Olympics.”

The support for the USATF Foundation and its athletes-in-training couldn’t come at a better time with the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro quickly approaching. The U.S. Track & Field team is dependent on privately raised funds and the athletes representing Team USA are in great need of financial assistance. Over 20 athletes from the USATF Foundation current sponsorship roster are expected to qualify for the Games and will need funding for medical expenses, travel, and equipment. These elite athletes train tirelessly for the Games and many are doing so while living under poverty level.

Monies raised will help the USATF Foundation expand their Elite Athlete Development and Run With US! programs. The Run With Us! Program enables athletes who are training for the Olympics to realize their dreams while giving back to their communities — inspiring youth with their stories of dedication and strength.

Run With US! was launched in 2012 and uses American heroes — our track & field athletes — to inspire children to get fit, make healthy choices while learning to set and achieve their goals.  As part of the program, track & field Olympians and Olympic hopefuls visit schools and community centers, where they teach kids track & field skills and talk about the importance of fitness, nutrition, and making positive choices.

Bob Greifeld, Chairman of the USA Track & Field Foundation stated, “The USA Track & Field Foundation is forever grateful to GNC for their support in 2014 and their continued efforts in this pivotal Olympic year.  This is the boost our athletes need to be able to compete at the top level we all expect from America’s team.”

USA Track & Field Foundation releases free mobile Run With US! exer-game app

by Trixie | May 25, 2016 | News

INDIANAPOLIS –  The USA Track & Field Foundation is excited to announce the release of its free mobile game application, “Run With US!” announced Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld.  The Run With US! game is a collaboration of the USATF Foundation, Carnegie Mellon University and EA Sports.  It is designed to promote exercise to youth through its unique track & field components while featuring USATF Foundation grantee athletes.

The physical exer-game was created by a group of students participating in a premiere graduate program at the Entertainment Technology Center at CMU that focuses on interactive entertainment.  The USATF Foundation was fortunate to be a part of this groundbreaking program, which allows the graduate students new and challenging concepts to work on while giving back to the community in a way that will leave lasting impressions and healthy habits.

The Run With US! application was created as an extension of the USATF Foundation’s Run With US! Program.  Run With US! uses American heroes — our track & field athletes — to inspire kids to get fit, make healthy choices and set and achieve their goals.  As part of the program, track & field Olympians and Olympic hopefuls visit schools and community centers, where they teach kids track & field skills and talk about the importance of fitness, nutrition, and making positive choices.

The application will serve as an extension of the Run With US! program allowing kids an outlet to continue to get active long after the athlete has visited their town. The game app is hosted by four of the USATF Foundation 2016 grantees:  Joe Kovacs (shot put), Morgan Uceny (1500m), Barbara Nwaba (heptathlon), and Michael Hartfield (long jump). These athletes will inspire kids to succeed within the game and accomplish new goals and levels. They guide the players through this alternative track world where you physically have to stand up to run and jump with your device. The game has received great feedback statements exclaiming it’s fun and competitive, yet tiring and a true workout.  Additionally the game allows for kids creative juices to take over with the ability to create your own levels and challenge friends to complete the various missions.

“We were fortunate to have such special talents helping us improve our youth program through this new and innovative mobile exer-game. We are very impressed with how the team was able to take the elements of athletics and turn it into a fun space for exercise. The app far exceeded expectations and we look forward to it inspiring the next generation of track & field athletes,” stated Board Director Joe Fabris.

The app is currently available for free to download onto IOS or Android devices.

USA Track & Field Foundation announces 39 Youth Club Grant recipients

by Trixie | Feb 24, 2016 | News

INDIANAPOLIS – The USA Track & Field Foundation Chairman Bob Greifeld and Executive Director Tom Jackovic announced today it has awarded 39 Youth Club Grants to track & field clubs throughout the country. The grants assist young male and female athletes with expenses such as travel to meets, equipment, uniforms and facility rental.

“One of the great things we do is provide grants to grass-roots organizations.  These groups provide many kids the opportunity to participate in track & field events, many of which come from low-income families.  The clubs create a positive environment and involve the kids in a sport they can compete in for the rest of their lives,” stated USATF Foundation Director Bob West.

The Foundation encourages youth track clubs and programs from all areas of the United States to apply for financial assistance. The Foundation favors the use of grant money to expand existing youth programs/clubs, to provide additional competitive opportunities for children and to enhance the experience for all participants. Preference is given to clubs that are based in low-income areas. It also favors programs that have a history of solid financial management, multiple funding sources and community support. Allowable expenses include equipment, uniforms, meet fees, travel, facility rental, and outreach.

A total of $55,095 in grants have been approved to the following youth clubs: