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Hershey's
STRIVE Award Program
George
Waldbauer
Local Administrator
of the Year
Suffolk
County Police Athletic League (PAL)
Long
Island, New York
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Sally S. Johnson, Executive Director
National Council of Youth Sports
772-781-1452
youthsports@ncys.org
GEORGE
WALDBAUER RECOGNIZED AS YOUTH SPORTS
LEADER IN NATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM
Suffolk County exec dedicated
to keeping kids off the streets
and out of trouble
 Patchogue,
Suffolk County, New York. (October
3, 2007) - For 26 years, George
Waldbauer has given countless hours
to youth sports with unprecedented
growth and accomplishment. For his
efforts, Waldbauer is being honored
by the National Council of Youth
Sports (NCYS) as the recipient of
the 2007 Hershey's STRIVE Local
Youth Sports Administrator of the
Year.
STRIVE
stands for Sports Teach Respect,
Initiative, Values and Excellence
and the award 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 a national administrator,
a volunteer, a coach, and two local
administrators. Honorees were nominated
by team members, parents or colleagues
and judged by a panel of NCYS officials.
Waldbauer
serves as Executive Director of
the Suffolk County (NY) Police Athletic
League (P.A.L.). P.A.L. aspires
to make a youngster's first experience
with a police officer a positive
one by keeping at-risk kids off
the streets and out of trouble in
supervised athletic activities.
Under Waldbauer's leadership, the
Suffolk County P.A.L. has grown
from serving 5,000 children to now
serving more than 29,000. Many of
these boys and girls would have
no organized sports in their lives
without P.A.L. Suffolk County P.A.L.
is one of the largest and most successful
juvenile crime prevention and recreational
programs in the country.
Waldbauer
led the extraordinary effort to
acquire grants and engage the support
of residents and businesses to build
a 36-acre state of the art multi-sports
complex for players and families
to enjoy. The facility has three
lighted lacrosse/football/soccer
fields, four baseball and softball
fields and a major league quality
1,200 seat baseball stadium with
concessions. He is currently negotiating
for a 14-acre parcel of land to
build yet another youth sports facility
for at-risk children.
The
PAL program recognizes that every
child is unique in ability and interest.
With more than 600 adult volunteers,
PAL offers a large variety of more
than thirty sports and activities
including baseball, basketball,
football, hockey, boxing, cheerleading,
golf, soccer, twirling, track and
field, fishing trips, karate, bowling,
and more. P.A.L. has a no tolerance
contract that must be signed by
the parent and player stating no
drugs, alcohol or violence will
be allowed and urging sportsmanship
and fair play.
Waldbauer
believes with the police officer
as a coach and mentor, PAL develops
a positive bond between cops and
kids on the playing field before
they get into trouble. His supporters
say, "For George, it's all
about his love, dedication and enthusiasm
for the kids and his community."
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.
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,"
Johnson said.
Waldbauer
will be honored on Thursday, November
1st during the Suffolk County Police
Athletic League (PAL) Recognition
Banquet. The STRIVE event presentation
is hosted by the NCYS and The Hershey
Company. During the celebration,
Waldbauer will receive a check for
$2,500 which he has announced will
be donated to the Suffolk County
Police Athletic League.
NCYS Executive Director Sally
Johnson presents Suffolk County
P.A.L.'s Executive Director
George Waldbauer with the
Hershey's STRIVE award for
Local Administrator of the
Year. Over 20 elected officials
bestowed special tributes
to Waldbauer including a U.S.
flag sent from U.S. Representative
Steve Israel and a Citation
from N.Y. Governor Eliot Spitzer.
|
All signs point to the Suffolk
County P.A.L. state-of-the-art
Sports Complex. |
P.A.L. baseball stadium serves
the county with first class
facilities. |
Wow! This football field is
one of four football fields
serving more than 7,000 youth.
Check it out, it's artifical
turf! |
Alex Proios President of the
Suffolk County P.A.L. starts
off the evening's ceremonies.
|
U.S. Representative Tim Bishop
enters Mr. Waldabuer's award
into the U.S. Congressional
Record. |
N.Y. State Senator Caesar
Trunzo's representative Linda
Angello recognizes George
with a Proclamation. |
The New York State flag was
flown over the State Capitol
to honor George Waldbauer's
STRIVE award. |
Representing the Suffolk County
Town Clerk Judith Pascale
was Brian Egan. |
Suffolk County Legislator
William Lindsay serves George
with a Proclamation. |
Town of Islip Supervisor Phil
Nolan declares, "George
Waldbauer Day!" |
Islip Town Clerk and P.A.L.
Board Member Joan Johnson
thanks George for his service.
|
Mayor of Patchogue Paul Pontieri
presents a letter of recognition.
|
Suffolk County P.A.L. staff.
|
Suffolk County police officers
were on hand for the celebration.
|
P.A.L. basebal team, winners
of a national championship,
were also honored. |
George Waldbauer and his wife
Ronnie enjoy the evening.
|
George's 90 year old father
stands proud with his son.
|
The Waldbauer family: Nicolas,
Kathleen, Lynn, Bobby, Ronnie,
and Nicole. |
George Waldbauer, Sally Johnson,
George Waldbauer Sr., Jennifer
Abrahamson enjoyed the dinner
and recognition banquet at
the West Lake Inn. |
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Other
STRIVE winners
In
addition to George Waldbauer receiving
Local Administrator of the Year,
the other STRIVE Award winners for
National Administrator, Local Administrator,
Volunteer and Coach of the Year
include:
Mark Griffin, founder/president
of Play Rugby based in New York
City, New York 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 tool for
boys and girls in urban area schools
and after-school programs across
America. Griffin brings more than
23 years as passionate player, coach
and administrator to his position
at Play Rugby. He is committed to
strengthening youth character, academic
commitment and helping them build
a diverse range of social, moral
and physical competencies needed
to succeed in life. Play Rugby encourages
kids to have fun, improve their
fitness and learn a new game while
developing ten core values including
teamwork, leadership, discipline,
respect, and responsibility.
Amy Skeen of Chicago, Illinois will
be honored as the other 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.
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.
'Hart'man is the humble heart of
the volunteer-run sports league.
Ron
Komornik of Virginia Beach, Virginia
was chosen as 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.
His testimonials are a tribute to
the positive difference one can
make in the life of a child. "He
treats every player as amazing individuals
while leading each one to great
achievements as a unified team."
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EDITOR'S
NOTE: For more information about
George Waldbauer, the Hershey's
STRIVE Award or NCYS, please contact
Sally S. Johnson, NCYS Executive
Director at 772-781-1452 or youthsports@ncys.org.
| 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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