CONTACT:
Sally S. Cunningham, Executive
Director
National Council of Youth
Sports
Phone: (772) 781-1452
youthsports@ncys.org
HOMETOWN HEROES SCORE BIG IN NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
America's
Best Youth Sports Leaders
Dream, Reach, Succeed
STUART, Fla. (September 5,
2005) - Opportunity prevails
for millions of men and women
to be recognized for their
steadfast dedication to the
youth sports industry. The
National Council of Youth
Sports (NCYS) has named four
individuals from hometown
communities throughout the
United States as recipients
of its second annual Hershey's
STRIVE Awards.
STRIVE stands for Sports
Teach Respect, Initiative,
Values and Excellence and
the awards honors adult leaders
for their "heartfelt
passion, enthusiastic commitment
and contagious spirit to help
kids succeed in youth sports
activities." This year,
NCYS will present Hershey's
STRIVE Awards to two administrators,
one volunteer and one coach.
Honorees were nominated by
team members, parents or colleagues
and judged by a panel of NCYS
officials.
"These award recognize
four outstanding leaders,
but these individuals are
not alone," said Stephanie
Moritz of The Hershey Company,
which sponsors the award.
"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. Hershey congratulates
each of this year's winners
and we are proud to be associated
with them."
Among the honorees is Rob
Martin from Perkasie Pennsylvania
who has carried his vision
to admired achievement earning
him the title of Hershey's
STRIVE Local Youth Sports
Administrator of the Year.
In 1995, Martin began transforming
the Deep Run Valley Sports
Association's (DRVSA) softball
program to what community
supporters now say is now
"the luckiest sports
association in Pennsylvania."
Through his exemplary leadership
Martin has shaped a youth
sports program introducing
the "Everybody Hits"
program for special needs
players, implementing coaches
and umpires clinics/training,
a youth coaching mentoring
program, and more than doubling
the youth participation in
the intramural program. Martin
led his association to raise
substantial funds to build
a state-of-the-art sports
facility complete with five
fields, permanent fencing,
a two-story clubhouse, concrete
block dugouts, bleachers,
a pavilion, and batting cages.
Martin is dedicated to creating
an undying zeal for the girls
and their families as well
as a safe environment for
all children of all skill
levels to play. Martin humbly
says, "Every girl should
experience the fun side of
the game."
Lenny Silberman, Jewish Community
Center Association's Director
of the JCC Maccabi Games,
earned the title Hershey's
STRIVE National Administrator
of the Year Award. Among many
exceptional achievements,
Silberman created the "Day
of Caring, Day of Sharing"
where youngsters are taught
the lesson to give back to
others in the form of a community
service project and to help
"repair the world."
Silberman has also been instrumental
in advancing the Israel Sport
Center for the Disabled, a
leading rehabilitation facility.
The JCC Maccabi Games are
an annual international Olympic
style sporting and cultural
sharing event, which, under
Silberman's leadership, has
grown from 2,200 to 6,500
teenage athletes. Silberman
is committed to sports being
the conduit through which
children learn life lesson,
values, compassion and ethics.
Sally Cunningham, NCYS Executive
Director, noted that the shortage
of national spotlights for
those involved in youth sports
prompted the NCYS to create
the awards.
"We felt it was time
to recognize them on a larger
stage and to give them the
praise they deserve,"
Cunningham said. "Many
of these individuals devote
countless hours each week,
all while juggling full-time
careers, families, and other
commitments."
Others STRIVE Award winners
include Janet Holliday, who
thirteen years ago became
the chair of the San Antonio
Sports Hall of Fame Tribute.
The gala occasion recognizes
the legends in sports. All
event proceeds go towards
young hopefuls "Dream
for Youth" program which
provides training to disadvantaged
children in the Olympic sports
of badminton, diving, gymnastics,
fencing, swimming, and volleyball.
Holliday is also an active
leader of the Go!Kids Challenge,
a fitness walking program
for K-5th graders and the
co-chair of the NCAA Final
Four Division 1 Volleyball
Championship.
Holliday says, "I have
seen time and time again the
relationship between sports
skills and life skills. I
will do my best to continue
to 'strive' for excellence
in sports for our young people."
For her efforts, she was recognized
with the Hershey's STRIVE
Volunteer of the Year award.
Brenda Gilmore of Upper Marlboro,
Maryland received the Hershey's
STRIVE Coach of the Year honors
for her devotion to the Prince
George's Tennis & Education
Foundation. Against all odds,
and from a wheelchair, Gilmore
launched the foundation to
enrich the lives of under-served
county youth through productive
activities.
Gilmore coaches tennis as
well as after-school programs,
tutorial and college preparation
assistance, high-performance
player support and tennis
camps for hundreds of youth
of all ages. The program develops
self-esteem and promotes physical
activity, healthy lifestyles,
life skills, and academic
excellence. Gilmore is an
example of all that is best
sport and life. She is a role
model of inspiration both
on and off the court.
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 conference.
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 173 organizations/corporations
serving 52 million boys and
girls participating in organized
youth sports throughout the
United States. NCYS member
organizations include Little
League Baseball, Pop Warner
Football, the American Youth
Soccer Association and the
Boys & Girls Clubs of
America. To learn more about
the Council 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.
National
Administrator of the Year
- Lenny Silberman
Local
Administrator of the Year
- Rob Martin
Coach
of the Year - Brenda Gilmore
Volunteer
of the Year - Janet Holliday
