FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Sally S. Johnson, Executive Director
National Council of Youth Sports
772-781-1452
youthsports@ncys.org
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT SHINES
ON HOMETOWN HEROES
Dedication, passion and commitment
determine America's best youth sports
leaders
STUART,
Fla., September 18, 2007 - The National
Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) selected
five adult leaders involved in youth sports
organizations as recipients of its 4th
annual Hershey's STRIVE Award. STRIVE
stands for Sports Teach Respect, Initiative,
Values and Excellence.
NCYS
is a national youth sports advocacy organization.
Its membership represents more than 52
million boys and girls involved in youth
sports activities nationwide.
This
year, NCYS will present Hershey's STRIVE
Awards to one national administrator,
two local administrators, one volunteer
and one coach. Honorees were nominated
by team members, parents or colleagues
and judged by a panel of NCYS officials.
The
honorees include Ron Komornik of Virginia
Beach, Va., who is the recipient of the
Hershey's STRIVE Coach of the Year Award.
Komornik coaches baseball and basketball
to youth ages 7-17. Komornik's nominators
said his focus on respect, discipline
and perseverance, as well as basic sports
skills, has improved young players' self-esteem.
"He treats every player as amazing
individuals while leading each one to
great achievements as a unified team."
Mark Griffin, founder/president of Play
Rugby, based in New York City, is the
Hershey's STRIVE National Administrator
of the Year. Griffin has pioneered a completely
new and unique youth sports education
program using a non-contact "flag"
version of rugby as an effective education
tool for boys and girls in urban area
schools and after-school programs across
America. Griffin brings more than 23 years
of experience as a passionate player,
coach and administrator to his position
at Play Rugby. Play Rugby encourages kids
to have fun, improve their fitness and
learn a new game while developing 10 core
values including teamwork, leadership,
discipline, respect, and responsibility.
Sally S. Johnson, NCYS Executive Director,
noted that the lack of recognition given
to outstanding adult leaders involved
in youth sports prompted NCYS to create
the STRIVE awards four years ago. "Honoring
America's hometown heroes on a national
scale gives them the praise they deserve,"
Johnson said. "It is awe-inspiring
to pay tribute to these exceptional individuals
who devote countless hours each week,
all while juggling full-time careers,
families, and other commitments."
Other
STRIVE Award winners include:
Amy
Skeen of Chicago, Ill. will be honored
as one of the Hershey's STRIVE Local Youth
Sports Administrator's of the Year. Skeen
serves as Executive Director of Girls
in the Game, a program that incorporates
both multi-sport and quality fitness opportunities
with comprehensive health and nutrition
education. Girls in the Game is committed
to enabling girls to try a variety of
new sports and develop healthy habits
in a safe and supportive environment.
Skeen leads by example mentoring staff
and coaches who provide individual attention
and serve as positive role models while
improving the health and overall well-being
of girls.
George
Waldbauer of the Suffolk County New York
Police Athletic League (PAL) will also
be honored as the Hershey's STRIVE Local
Youth Sports Administrator of the Year.
PAL aspires to make a youngster's first
experience with the police officer a positive
one by keeping at-risk kids off the streets
and out of trouble in supervised athletic
activities. Waldbauer has been Executive
Director of PAL for 26 years. The program
has grown and now serves more than 29,000
boys and girls. He led an extraordinary
effort to build a state of the art multi-sports
complex for players and families in Suffolk
County. His supporters say, "For
George, it's all about the kids and his
community."
Hatti
Hartman of Austin, Texas was chosen as
the Hershey's STRIVE Volunteer of the
Year. Hartman was recognized for her contagious
spirit of enthusiasm, her unparalleled
ability to organize and communicate, and
her unquestionable integrity. The Oak
Hill Youth Sports Association community
agrees, "It would take ten people
to wear all the various hats that Hatti
Hartman wears each and every day."
She is a motivator, a doer, and the one
who "pinch hits" whenever and
wherever the need arises.
Winners
will receive a check for $2,500, payable
to the youth sports organization of his
or her choice. Ceremonies for each will
be held in their communities or at their
organization's national event.
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ABOUT
The NCYS:
The
National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS)
comprises the who's who in the youth sports
industry. Its membership represents more
than 180 organizations/corporations serving
52 million boys and girls participating
in organized youth sports throughout the
United States. NCYS members include organizations
such as: Little League Baseball, Pop Warner
Football, U.S. YouthAmerican Youth Soccer
Association, United States Olympic Committee,
and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
To learn more about the NCYS visit www.ncys.org.
ABOUT
The Hershey Company:
The
Hershey Company has long offered successful
fundraising programs for youth in America.
Its sponsorship of the STRIVE Awards stems
from The Hershey Company's devotion to
helping children of all ages to "Dream,
Reach and Succeed" in everything
that they do. For more information about
The Hershey Company and its fundraising
programs, visit www.hersheysfundraising.com.
