The Women’s Sports Foundation’s Announces the 2014 Recipients of The ‘Travel & Training Fund’With the Help of Leading Supporter Gatorade®, the Foundation Awards $100,000 to Female Athletes to Aid in Their Pursuit of Athletic Excellence
New York, N.Y., November 6, 2014 – The Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), with the support of Gatorade®, today announced its 2014 Travel & Training Fund recipients, awarding $100,000 to twenty-three individual athletes and three teams representing a total of 20 sports across 13 states. Many of whom have their sights set on competing, and medaling, in the upcoming 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The price of competing at an elite level has its financial implications, and the lack of funding for women in sports continues to be a potential barrier to the success of highly-talented athletes. “When athletes are preparing themselves for such competitive play, the costs can be a financial burden to not only themselves, but also their families,” said Deborah Slaner Larkin, CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation. “The Women’s Sports Foundation and Gatorade are thrilled to provide much needed financial fuel through the Travel & Training Fund, so that female athletes can focus on becoming the best.”
Travel & Training Fund grants, ranging from $3,000 to $10,000, allow female athletes to offset expenses involved with coaching, specialized training, equipment, athletic attire and travel, thereby giving them the opportunity to attain the highest achievement in their sport and preparing them for leadership roles now and in the future. As a national sponsor of the Women’s Sports Foundation, Gatorade® is the leading supporter and designates an annual gift to the Fund.
Since 1984, the WSF fund has awarded nearly 1,400 grants and $1.6 million to individuals athletes and teams, many of whom went on to capture national, world and Olympic and Paralympic medals, including figure skaters Michelle Kwan, ski jumper Alissa Johnson, swimmer Mallory Weggemann, the US National Water Polo Team and gymnast Gabby Douglas.
These talented women supported by the Travel & Training Fund achieve extraordinary feats on the field of play and go on to become leaders in every area of society – business, government, medicine, science, law, education and numerous other fields.
The following list details the recipients of the 2014 Winter Travel & Training Fund. Full bios can be found here.
ARIZONA
Erika Lang, Waterskiing (Gilbert)
Danielle Reynolds, Archery (Gilbert)
CALIFORNIA
Maddie Mastro, Snowboarding (Wrightwood)
Beth Newell, Cycling (Oakland)
USA Water Polo Women's Senior National Team, Water Polo (Huntington Beach)
COLORADO
Storm Klomhaus, Alpine Skiing (Boulder)
Sarah Beard, Shooting (Colorado Springs)
USA Team Handball, Team Handball (Colorado Springs)
FLORIDA
Angela Parra, Weightlifting (Ormond Beach)
Dania Vizzi, Shooting (Odessa)
GEORGIALaura Ryan, Diving (Athens)
MICHIGAN
Sydney Collier, Equestrian (Ann Arbor)
Maia Shibutani, Figure Skating (Ann Arbor)
MONTANA
Erika Flowers, Skiing-Cross Country (Belgrade)
NEW YORK
Ashley Hejlik, Judo (Latham)
Miranda Melville, Track & Field (Rush)
OKLAHOMA
USA Softball Women's National Team, Softball (Oklahoma City)
PENNSYLVANIA
Savannah Graybill, Skeleton (Denver)
Colleen Gulick, Cycling (Spring City)
RHODE ISLAND
Elizabeth Beisel, Swimming (Saunderstown)
Christine Neville, Sailing (Middletown)
UTAH
Rosie Brennan, Skiing-Cross Country (Park City)
VIRGINIA
Esther Lofgren, Rowing (Alexandria)
The application will reopen in Spring 2015. Athletes interested in applying for the next grant cycle may review the application, criteria and guidelines for the Travel & Training Fund at www.WomensSportsFoundation.org/TravelandTraining.
About The Women’s Sports Foundation
The Women’s Sports Foundation — the leading authority on the participation of women and girls in sports — is dedicated to creating leaders by ensuring girls access to sports. Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, our work shapes public attitude about women’s sports and athletes, builds capacities for organizations that get girls active, ensures equal opportunities for girls and women, and supports physically and emotionally healthy lifestyles. The Women’s Sports Foundation has relationships with more than 1,000 of the world’s elite female athletes and is recognized globally for its leadership, vision, expertise and influence. For more information, visitwww.WomensSportsFoundation.org. Follow us:www.Facebook.com/WomensSportsFoundation or on Twitter@WomensSportsFdn.
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PR Contact:
Kevin Pchola
Women’s Sports Foundation
[email protected]
Office: 212.299.8950
New York, N.Y., November 6, 2014 – The Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), with the support of Gatorade®, today announced its 2014 Travel & Training Fund recipients, awarding $100,000 to twenty-three individual athletes and three teams representing a total of 20 sports across 13 states. Many of whom have their sights set on competing, and medaling, in the upcoming 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The price of competing at an elite level has its financial implications, and the lack of funding for women in sports continues to be a potential barrier to the success of highly-talented athletes. “When athletes are preparing themselves for such competitive play, the costs can be a financial burden to not only themselves, but also their families,” said Deborah Slaner Larkin, CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation. “The Women’s Sports Foundation and Gatorade are thrilled to provide much needed financial fuel through the Travel & Training Fund, so that female athletes can focus on becoming the best.”
Travel & Training Fund grants, ranging from $3,000 to $10,000, allow female athletes to offset expenses involved with coaching, specialized training, equipment, athletic attire and travel, thereby giving them the opportunity to attain the highest achievement in their sport and preparing them for leadership roles now and in the future. As a national sponsor of the Women’s Sports Foundation, Gatorade® is the leading supporter and designates an annual gift to the Fund.
Since 1984, the WSF fund has awarded nearly 1,400 grants and $1.6 million to individuals athletes and teams, many of whom went on to capture national, world and Olympic and Paralympic medals, including figure skaters Michelle Kwan, ski jumper Alissa Johnson, swimmer Mallory Weggemann, the US National Water Polo Team and gymnast Gabby Douglas.
These talented women supported by the Travel & Training Fund achieve extraordinary feats on the field of play and go on to become leaders in every area of society – business, government, medicine, science, law, education and numerous other fields.
The following list details the recipients of the 2014 Winter Travel & Training Fund. Full bios can be found here.
ARIZONA
Erika Lang, Waterskiing (Gilbert)
Danielle Reynolds, Archery (Gilbert)
CALIFORNIA
Maddie Mastro, Snowboarding (Wrightwood)
Beth Newell, Cycling (Oakland)
USA Water Polo Women's Senior National Team, Water Polo (Huntington Beach)
COLORADO
Storm Klomhaus, Alpine Skiing (Boulder)
Sarah Beard, Shooting (Colorado Springs)
USA Team Handball, Team Handball (Colorado Springs)
FLORIDA
Angela Parra, Weightlifting (Ormond Beach)
Dania Vizzi, Shooting (Odessa)
GEORGIALaura Ryan, Diving (Athens)
MICHIGAN
Sydney Collier, Equestrian (Ann Arbor)
Maia Shibutani, Figure Skating (Ann Arbor)
MONTANA
Erika Flowers, Skiing-Cross Country (Belgrade)
NEW YORK
Ashley Hejlik, Judo (Latham)
Miranda Melville, Track & Field (Rush)
OKLAHOMA
USA Softball Women's National Team, Softball (Oklahoma City)
PENNSYLVANIA
Savannah Graybill, Skeleton (Denver)
Colleen Gulick, Cycling (Spring City)
RHODE ISLAND
Elizabeth Beisel, Swimming (Saunderstown)
Christine Neville, Sailing (Middletown)
UTAH
Rosie Brennan, Skiing-Cross Country (Park City)
VIRGINIA
Esther Lofgren, Rowing (Alexandria)
The application will reopen in Spring 2015. Athletes interested in applying for the next grant cycle may review the application, criteria and guidelines for the Travel & Training Fund at www.WomensSportsFoundation.org/TravelandTraining.
About The Women’s Sports Foundation
The Women’s Sports Foundation — the leading authority on the participation of women and girls in sports — is dedicated to creating leaders by ensuring girls access to sports. Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, our work shapes public attitude about women’s sports and athletes, builds capacities for organizations that get girls active, ensures equal opportunities for girls and women, and supports physically and emotionally healthy lifestyles. The Women’s Sports Foundation has relationships with more than 1,000 of the world’s elite female athletes and is recognized globally for its leadership, vision, expertise and influence. For more information, visitwww.WomensSportsFoundation.org. Follow us:www.Facebook.com/WomensSportsFoundation or on Twitter@WomensSportsFdn.
###
PR Contact:
Kevin Pchola
Women’s Sports Foundation
[email protected]
Office: 212.299.8950