November 3, 2008
Hi everyone!
As the leaves start to change color and people break out their Halloween decorations, we know that it only means one thing…that it is time for the biggest night in women’s sports! On October 14, we held the 29th Annual Salute to Women in Sports Gala at the Waldorf=Astoria. In one night we raised more than $1.4 million to further our mission! The Foundation also presented our Annual Awards: The Billie Jean King Contribution Award was presented to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour for their significant contribution to the Women’s Sports Foundation and to the development and advancement of women’s sports by inspiring girls and women to become healthier through sports, fitness or physical activity. Track and Field star and cancer survivor, Patience Knight, was awarded the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award, which is presented to a female athlete who exhibits extraordinary courage in her athletic performance and demonstrates the ability to overcome adversity. Last but not least, the top honors of the night went to gymnast Nastia Liukin and Olympic softball player Jessica Mendoza, individual and team Sportswomen of the Year respectively. Also, earlier in the day Olympic softball player, Stacey Nuveman, was awarded the 2008 Yolanda L. Jackson Give Back Award for her support of the Foundation throughout the year. It was an awe-inspiring night, and we owe a big thank you to everyone who helped make it possible. To read more about the event and to see some of the great moments of the night, please visit the Athlete Photo Album and our web site.
ATHLETE MARKETING
- Speaker Service – In the past year and a half, the Women’s Sports Foundation Speaker Service has helped generate more than $170,000 in additional income for athletes. We have already received more than 50 speaking requests for 2009 and are constantly searching for athletes to fill these requests. If you are interested in finding out more about the Speaker Service, check out our web site for additional information.
- We Know You Were a Cute Kid! – We are starting to collect photos from athletes when you played sports growing up. So head over to your parents’ houses or break out the old albums and look for the cutest pictures you have. You can send them to me electronically or through the mail.
- What Gets You Moving? – When you hit the gym or go for a run…what’s playing on your mp3 player? Inquiring minds want to know what gets you moving!! Send me your favorites!
WSF HAPPENINGS
- Out and About – Over the past few months, the Foundation has made its way all over the country to spread the mission of the Foundation and show support for female athletes. In July, the Foundation took part in the NY Liberty's Inspiring Women Night when they took on the LA Sparks. During halftime, we invited five past and present Olympians to take part in a brief ceremony on center court that acknowledged their accomplishments on center court. The athletes that attended were Donna Weinbrecht (Skiing), Rusty Kanokogi (Judo), Julie Chu (Ice Hockey), Kate Johnson (Rowing) and Sharon Monplaisir (Fencing). We also made our way to X Games 14 in Los Angeles, the PFX Tour in Pennsylvania and most recently to Frozen Ropes in Long Island for a Jessica Mendoza Batting Clinic. To see some photos of our events, check out the Athlete Event Photo Gallery.
- Go Out and Play! – The Foundation recently released a new research report titled Go Out and Play: Youth Sports in America which is an exhaustive study of children’s participation in sports and exercise. This report is the first to document the relationship between participation in sports and the wellness of families. Click here to read this research report and others.
HEADLINES
- ESPN to Offer Equal Purses at all X Games events! - ESPN has announced it will offer equal prize money to both male and female athletes at all X Games events, beginning at the Winter X Games in 2009. It is well deserved and about time! To read more on this awesome decision, click here.
- Baby Boom – We’ve had some new additions to the Women’s Sports Foundation family over the past few months. Kristine Lilly and her husband, Dave welcomed a little baby girl on July 22 named, Sidney Marie and Foundation Trustee, Laila Ali and her husband, Curtis welcomed a baby boy on August 26 named Curtis Mohammad Conway Jr. We wish them both the best! And be sure to check out their websites for baby updates and photos of the new lil ones! They are both very cute!
- Lot’s of Firsts! – In a few short months, Motocross phenom, Ashley Fiolek, won her first pro WMA national championship in her rookie year and then became the first female motocross rider to ever grace the cover of TransWorld Motocross magazine. Another milestone was reached in another sport, as Bass Angler, Kim Bain, qualified through the Women's Bassmaster Tour to be the first woman to ever fish in the Bassmaster Classic! Since the event's inception in 1971, there has never been a woman to qualify...until now!
- A “Uniquely” Movie Makes Its Debut – On Wednesday, Oct 23 action sports fans gathered at Oakley headquarters to watch the premiere of Oakley’s first women’s film, “Uniquely.” The movie featured stars like snowboarders Gretchen Bleiler and Elena Hight, Skiers Grete Eliassen and Kristi Leskinen and skateboarders Lauren Perkins and Lyn-z Adams Hawkins to name a few. To see the full report on the premiere and to find out how you can check out the film, visit: http://oakley.com/community/posts/973.
Two of the questions I get most often from athletes is “How can I help? How can I do more?” I think that these are the best questions I ever get asked! Here are some ways you can help us make a difference - send autographed items for the auction, hold a clinic to benefit the Foundation or just distribute Foundation materials and items to the kids at your clinics, or even just talk about us when you do media interviews. If you have great ideas, drop me a line and let’s see if we can make them work. I love brainstorming!
All the best!
Stacy