Press Archive...............................
TRACK SHACK FOUNDATION AWARDS MORE THAN $23,000 IN COMMUNITY GRANTS
ORLANDO, FLA., May 12, 2008 –- The Track Shack Foundation board of directors recently awarded a total of $23,527 in grants to local organizations. The Track Shack Foundation supports local charitable causes, in particular, those that benefit youth and youth athletic programs.
The Track Shack Foundation promotes a message of healthy living by supporting a variety of organized youth athletic programs within our schools and community by providing financial assistance for sports uniforms, entry fees, scholarships, sports equipment, and funds for travel which allow local athletes opportunities to participate at higher level of competition. The Track Shack Foundation supported the production of the prestigious State High School Track & Field meet held here in Winter Park. Five at-risk children from the Winter Park Community Center will be able to enjoy the Mead Garden summer nature camp. Local low income pre-schoolers will have more opportunities for play and will learn balance, coordination and love of movement through purchase of fitness equipment and educational materials.
Recent grant recipients include:
- Capital City Christian Cruisers
- Central Florida Gliders Track Club
- Edgewater High School Track & Field Team
- Friends of Mead Garden
- Indian Trails Middle School Cross Country
- Jackson Heights Middle School
- Orlando Wildcats
- St. Luke's Lutheran School Booster Club
- The Mountain Foundation
- Winter Park Day Nursery
- Winter Park High School Athletic Dept
- The Donna Hicken Foundation
"We are very excited about recently awarding $23,527 in grants to 12 different not-for-profit organizations throughout Central Florida. These organizations promote health and fitness and involve at-risk children in very worthy programs. Moreover, we are very privileged to have Carl Wilhelm, Melanie Fernandez and Dan Traver join the Track Shack Foundation, Inc.’s board of directors. Their talents, energy and knowledge will add tremendous value to our board, says John Calpey Track Shack Foundation President.
The Track Shack Foundation grants have exceeded $2 million since 1994. The foundation helps provide health and fitness opportunities through adult training programs and the funding of youth athletic programs.
About Track Shack and Event Marketing & Management International
Track Shack of Orlando opened for business in 1977 as a small retail operation that focused primarily on selling running shoes and apparel. Event Marketing & Management International (EMMI), established in 1990 as Track Shack’s sister company, is a sports marketing company that specializes in marketing, management and production of active participation events. The mission of EMMI is that each event produced will benefit the entire community - runners, sponsors, and charities. Award-winning professional staff has earned EMMI a reputation as one of America’s top sports marketing companies. Jon and Betsy Hughes, co-owners of Track Shack and E.M.M.I., ensure that both businesses support charitable causes, in particular charities that benefit youth and youth athletics. This tradition continues through the creation of Track Shack Foundation in 1994. The Foundation was established as a 501 ©(3) organization with the purpose of promoting health and fitness with an emphasis on youth programs.
###
