For Immediate Release Contact: Lauren Wilkins ETZEL Agency (503) 544-­‐8905 [email protected] Brian Berger BBPR (503) 701-­‐2215 [email protected] PLAY IT FORWARD AWARD AND FUND CELEBRATE OREGON
HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AND NONPROFITS COMMITTED
TO GETTING KIDS ACTIVE
March Award Winners and Fund Grantee Announced; Submissions Now Being
Accepted for April and May
Portland, Ore. – April 19, 2016 – Oregon Sports Awards is proud to announce the Play It
Forward Award Winners for March 2016, sponsored by Nike and Providence Health & Services.
Nike and Providence are committed to helping kids be physically active as an integral part of
building healthier communities, and are partnering to recognize and award outstanding efforts to
get kids moving in Oregon.
Play It Forward Award Athletes of the Month – March 2016
Deion Mock is a Senior at Lewis & Clark College with a passion for Athletics. In his time as a
Pioneer, he’s played both Football and Track & Field, specializing in Pole Vault while working
toward his Engineering degree. For the last two years, he has also trained middle school and high
school Tennis athletes through Portland High Performance Tennis. Deion also helps out once a
week by teaching proper sprint form and putting the young athletes through agility training. He is
the kind of coach and mentor that kids dream about. Deion’s winning attitude is contagious and
he’s always the first to jump in and help his teammates or students succeed, both on and off the
field.
Gavin Begay is a Senior at Madras High School balancing Varsity Football, Basketball and Powwow dancing and drumming. A member of the Warm Springs Youth Council, Gavin has also
volunteered to umpire and referee youth basketball tournaments at the Community Center and
the Kiwanis youth basketball league in the Warm Springs community. When he is not officiating,
Gavin is often seen in the dugout of his dad’s Warm Springs Nation Little League Baseball team,
always willing to support the team, facility needs, practice drills or cheer on the players. Truly
exemplifying a Play It Forward winner, Gavin also spends time at the Warm Springs Boys & Girls
Club assisting with after-school gym activities. Details about the nomination process and the nomination norm can be found at
Oregonsportsawards.com/playitforward.
Play It Forward Award Fund Recipient - March 2016
Mini Mermaid Running Club – Ashland, Oregon
With a focus on Ashland and the schools within it, the Mini Mermaid Running Club and Young
Tritons Running Club (called MMRC collectively), is a unique running club for girls and boys ages
5-15. In collaboration with schools and after-school programs, the volunteer coaches of MMRC
lead small groups through a thoughtful curriculum that gives these youth a chance to fall in love
with running while getting active and experiencing the satisfaction of crossing a finish line. The
MMRC goal is to provide boys and girls from low-income families with strategies to combat
feelings of insecurity and tools to build self-kindness, empowering them to make better choices in
the future.
About The Play It Forward Award
Fewer and fewer kids have the opportunity today to benefit from positive youth sports
experiences and physical activity. One barrier to getting kids moving more is a lack of engaging
and inspiring role models. Nike and Providence Health & Services hope to overcome this
challenge by celebrating individuals and nonprofits that are already doing this important work
through the Play It Forward Award and Fund.
Between September 2015 to May 2016, the Play It Forward Award will recognize one high school
and one college athlete each month for the great work they are doing to give back to their
communities across Oregon. Students can be nominated by a community member, teacher, or
parent, or they can self-select to be considered for the monthly honor.
To be nominated for the Play It Forward Award, the student athlete must:
• Be a high school or college student who is a member of an athletic team at their school
• Average a minimum of four community volunteer hours per month with an organization or
program that gets kids active through sports or physical activity
• Demonstrates initiative and drive, by going beyond expected school responsibilities
The monthly award nominee (two per month—one high school athlete, and one college athlete)
will be announced at the beginning of each month. This student-athlete will receive a certificate
recognizing their accomplishment. At the annual Oregon Sports Awards in June 2016, the first
official Play It Forward Award will be given to one student selected from the 18 athletes
recognized throughout the 2015-2016 school year and that student will be recognized at the
annual Oregon Sports Awards event at Nike’s World Headquarters.
About The Play It Forward Fund
Positive experiences in sport and physical activity are critical to developing healthy kids and
building healthy communities. That’s why as part of the Play It Forward Award, presenting
sponsors Nike and Providence Health & Services have also donated a combined $50,000 ($30K
from Nike and $20K from Providence) to kick start the new Play It Forward Award Fund managed
by the Oregon Sports Authority Foundation.
The Play It Forward Award Fund supports non-profit organizations that are providing access to
physical activity and sport opportunities for youth throughout Oregon. This funding will support
organizations focusing on elementary and middle school youth.
The goal of this fund is to increase access to sport across the state of Oregon, targeting those
with the least opportunity. This fund will give ten $5,000 grants, one per month, to deserving
organizations throughout the 2015-2016 school year. Over the course of the year we will aim for
geographic, ethnic and economic diversity for funded organizations.
The first grant cycle opened on Aug. 24, 2015 with grant applications being accepted on a rolling
basis until May 30, 2016. Projects can only apply once during this time period. The Grant
Selection Committee is comprised of Nike and Providence Health & Services employees, a
representative from the Oregon Sports Awards and a representative from the Oregon Sports
Authority Foundation. Grant guidelines for the Youth Sports Fund can be found at
oregonsportsawards.com/playitforwardaward
###