WOMEN's Sports foundation event
NEW YORK, NY
Sorry for the lack of updates. I have been really preoccupied with rehab... Anyway, 12 Days post-op, I crutched my way through airports and flew to NYC to participate in a Women's Sports Foundation Charity Dinner. It was a Black tie event hosting 70 of the planet’s top female athletes and a few celebs which raised about $1.4 million that will be turned into grants and educational-related programming for girls/women in sports.
They put us up at the Waldorf=Astoria, so there wasn't much reason to leave the hotel. This event was really fun and well organized. They have been having these charity dinners for like 30 years or something, but this was my first time even knowing about the organization.
I have a few things in the works for giving back to girls in the biking world, and this charity fits in line with providing the resources to help. It was also socially pretty interesting mingling amongst the best of the best in sports. I have met most of the other Olympians, but they threw in some X... snowboard girls, Hannah Teeter, Torah Bright, Skiers like Sarah Burke, Grete Eliassen, Motocross- Ashley Fiolek, Vert Skater/ snowboarder Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins, me for bmx. Thought it was also cool being amongst others like pro water skier Camille Duvall, Janet Guthrie -the first woman ever to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500, a Barrel Racer, Bowlers, some Paralympics swimmers, Michelle Kwan, etc, and of course Billie Jean King!!
The Grand March of Athletes, recognizes superstars in more than 50 sports, including 30-plus Olympians from the Games in Beijing. All were in Formal gowns, hair and make up done up. Athletes were announced one-by-one by distance swimming legend and NPR commentator Diana Nyad. She announced our stats as we walked across the stage, in the middle a little turn and wave, then kept walking:)
I was glad to have a fellow gimp, skateboarder lind-z, so for us it was crutch crutch crutch, wave, crutch crutch crutch. Not much marching:)
Most of this was to recognize accomplishments, and raise money. So we were all split up and sent to various tables, which were purchased for charity. At my table was Márta Károlyi, world-renowned American gymnastics coach and National Team Coordinator for USA Gymnastics. So eating dinner in the company of such respected and accomplished people was amazing....
www.womenssportsfoundation.org
WHAT IS THE WSF
The Women’s Sports Foundation—the leading authority on the participation of women and girls in sports—advocates for equality, educates the public, conducts research and offers grants to promote sports and physical activity for girls and women.
Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, the Women’s Sports Foundation builds on her legacy as a champion athlete, advocate of social justice and agent of change. We strive for gender equity and fight discrimination in sports.
Our work shapes public attitude about women’s sports and athletes, builds capacities for organizations that get girls active, provides equal opportunities for girls and women, and supports physically and emotionally healthy lifestyles.
The Women’s Sports Foundation is recognized worldwide for its leadership, vision, strength, expertise and influence. For more information, please call the Women’s Sports Foundation at 800.227.3988.
Here is some extra info.....
The Women’s Sports Foundation is an educational nonprofit (501(c)(3) charity) organization founded in 1974 by tennis legend Billie Jean King.
What is the Foundation’s mission?
To advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity.
What are the results of the Foundation’s work?
o One of the top five public grant-giving women’s funds in the United States, the Foundation distributes $10,000-20,000 per week from operating dollars to provide opportunities for socioeconomically underprivileged and inactive girls to participate in sports and physical activity.
o The Foundation’s advocacy efforts have directly affected the amount of scholarship dollars supporting educational opportunities for female student-athletes in the United States. In 1972, women received only $100,000 but now receive $617 million a year.
o In the past 34 years, the Foundation has awarded more than $50 million in educational and cash grants to advance participation, research and leadership in sports and physical activity for girls and women.
o The Foundation’s support of national laws prohibiting sex discrimination has resulted in an increase in high school girls’ varsity sports participation from 1 in 27 in 1972 to 2 in 5 girls in 2006.
o In the 2004 and 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Games, 33 of the women competing received Travel and Training grants from the Foundation, and five medals were earned by the grantees.
Why does the Foundation exist?
The Foundation works for equal opportunity for our daughters to play sports so they, too, can derive the psychological, physiological and sociological benefits of sports participation.
o High school girls who play sports are less likely to be involved in an unintended pregnancy, more likely to get better grades in school, and more likely to graduate than girls who do not play sports.
o Girls and women who play sports have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem and lower levels of depression.
o Sport is where our children learn about teamwork, goal setting and the pursuit of excellence. In an economic environment where the quality of our life is dependent on two-income families, our daughters cannot be less prepared for the highly competitive workplace than our sons.
o Eighty percent of the female executives at Fortune 500 companies identified themselves as former “tomboys” and having played sports.
o The Foundation works to afford females equal opportunity to work and be volunteer leaders in sports organizations and the sports industry.
Who are the Foundation’s leadership?
o The Board of Trustees and Founder’s Circle includes corporate executives, Olympic champions, sports industry executives, Hollywood celebrities and research experts.