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Hershey's
STRIVE Award Program
Alex Conti
Coach of the Year
Fredonia Central High School
Fredonia, NY
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Sally S. Johnson, Executive Director
National Council of Youth Sports
772-781-1452
youthsports@ncys.org
AMERICA’S COACH: CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY MAN NAMED HERSHEY’S “COACH OF THE YEAR” IN NATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM
Mentor makes champs and grads out of Fredonia H.S. “wrestling family”
FREDONIA, NY (September 7, 2004) – In the nine years under his guidance, Alex Conti’s Fredonia High School “wrestling family” has been named New York state champions twice and league champs four times. But the biggest statistic on his mind this year – and every year – is his team’s graduation rate.
For his dedication to the district’s students and athletes, Conti has been honored as the first-ever recipient of the Hershey’s STRIVE Coach of the Year Award. Conti also serves as the district’s wrestling, soccer and golf coach.
“Our students know that Alex cares about every aspect of their lives,” said Fredonia High School Assistant Principal Tricia DeSantis, who nominated Conti for the award. “The word ‘coach’ truly exemplifies Alex.”
The coach’s affable nature makes it easy for him to recruit volunteers to assist with running tournaments and raising money for the school’s wrestling program. Conti’s annual “adopt-a-wrestler” program has helped bring the community and the student athletes closer together.
“This award recognizes five outstanding leaders, but these individuals are not alone. They are a reflection of thousands of other youth sports mentors across the nation that work very hard and expect little or nothing in return,” said Stephanie Moritz for award sponsor Hershey’s Fund Raising. “Hershey congratulates each of this year’s winners and are proud to be associated with them.”
The STRIVE Awards (Sports Teach Respect, Initiative, Values and Excellence) recognize three administrators, one volunteer and one coach for their “heartfelt passion, enthusiastic commitment and contagious spirit to help kids succeed in youth sports activities.” The award is presented by Hershey’s Fund Raising and the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS). Honorees were nominated by team members, parents or colleagues and judged by a panel of NCYS officials.
Conti will be honored on the day of the school’s Homecoming game during a 1:30 p.m. pep rally at Fredonia High School on Friday, Sept. 24. The event will be hosted by NCYS and Hershey’s Fund Raising. During the event, Conti will be given a check for $2,500, which he will donate to the Fredonia wrestling team.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information about Alex Conti or the award,
please contact Sally Cunningham at (772) 781-1452 or youthspts@aol.com.
| 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.
Youth Soccer Association,
United States Olympic Committee,
and Boys & Girls Clubs
of America.
To learn more about the NCYS
visit www.ncys.org.
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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.
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