Summer 2015 - Westcoast Sports Associates

The Official Newsletter of Westcoast Sports Associates
S C O R E C A R D
SUMMER 2015
in this issue
20 Years of Youth
Sports Grant Funding
This Fall’s Roy
Firestone Award
Honoree
Leadship Transitions
President’s
Message
Recent WSA
Activities Recap
Board Of Directors
Ryan Delaney
W. Chip Eggers*
Roy Firestone, Honorary Chair
Brian Firring
Michael Gottlieb*
Wayne Hampton
Sam Lagana, President
Allen J. Lynch*
Alex Marr
Ryan Murphy
Michael Rosenberg*
Michael Solum
Debbie Spander
Christopher Vanover
Nicholas J. Westley
Bernie Zaia
* Founding member
Advisory Board
Royce Clayton
Mike Dunleavy
Tyus Edney
John Ireland
Eric Karros
Paul McDonald
Rick Neuheisel
Director
Dan McKegney
(310)294-7179
[email protected]
Westcoast Sports Associates
P.O. Box 1705
Manhattan Beach, CA 90267
westcoastsports.org
facebook.com/westcoastsports
Every season across Greater Los Angeles more kids play sports thanks to the generous efforts of WSA Volunteers.
20 Years of Youth Sports Grant Funding
Westcoast Sports Associates (WSA) was founded
with a profound goal in mind, to make a difference in Southern California communities by creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged
young people to play sports. To say that this goal
was achieved would be an understatement.
The work began when the founding members learned
that the youth sports programs at Jim Gilliam Recreation
Center had seized due to safety issues related to gang
activity and a lack of funds. WSA’s initial donation
launched football, basketball, and baseball programs in
this under-served community and a new funding model
was born.
Soon a membership developed among like-minded professionals who care about the needs of kids and valued
sports-focused social engagement. WSA Members identify dedicated leadership teams managing facilities that can
accommodate various sports activities on site. The supported program sites are located in communities where
minimal registration fees are not able to cover the true
program costs, and WSA grants help overcome this shortfall as well as provide equipment, uniforms, and trophies.
This model expanded beyond the City of Los Angeles
when WSA began supporting sports programs at recreation centers in Orange County. WSA grant funding
has helped even more families by directing awards to
independent youth-serving nonprofit organizations. These
diverse programs offer after-school and summer sports
activities at school sites and other public spaces providing Elementary and Middle School aged students a safe
place to participate in athletics. These groups include
Police Activities Leagues, Boys and Girls Clubs, Summer
Camps, and those serving individuals with disabilities. In
addition, WSA has funded a handful of other youth-serving
charities affiliated with our past Roy Firestone Award
Honorees.
Youth sports activities serve as effective intervention programs for communities that struggle with youth crime and
gang activity. It has become the shared purpose of the
WSA membership to create equal opportunities for youth
sports in some of the most at-risk areas in Los Angeles.
Beyond the benefit of children being occupied in healthy
activities outside of the formal school day, youth sports
also promote teamwork, self-confidence, respect and
influence improved academic performance.
Through 2014, WSA awarded over $3.1 million in grants
supporting under-served communities. This Spring WSA
members voted to allocate $265,000 in awards to 23
programs serving countless families and operating at over
50 program sites in Greater Los Angeles.
Although the many neighborhoods that make up Southern
California have undoubtedly changed over the past 20
years, challenges still exist for many families and there is a
continuous need for the youth sports opportunities that
Westcoast Sports Associates remains dedicated to serve.
This Fall’s Roy Firestone Award Honoree George Foreman
WSA is pleased to announce that the 20th recipient
of the Roy Firestone Award will be George
Foreman.
George is one of the most notable and memorable figures in sports history. His prowess in
the boxing ring as well as his dedication to
youth sports as a philanthropist and his acumen as a businessman for the greater good
are unmatched. George is an exceptional counterpart for our youth sportsfocused mission because of his
commitment to community and
leadership for the greater good.
Just one of the ways George
has showed his compassion is
through the ongoing development of the Foreman Youth
and Community Center, which has provided opportunities
to thousands of young people in Texas since 1983.
WSA is very proud to add George Foreman to our
renowned list of Honorees, which includes: Roy
Firestone, Jim Brown, John Wooden, Sugar Ray
Leonard, Wayne Gretzky, Howie Long, Cal Ripken
Jr., Terry Bradshaw, Arnold Palmer, Steve Young,
Hank Aaron, Jack Nicklaus, Jerry West, Pete Carroll,
Andre Agassi, Vin Scully, Joe Montana, Clayton
Kershaw, and Bill Walton.
2015 WSA
Supported Programs
City of Los Angeles
Parks & Recreation
Centers
Algin Sutton
Central
Echo Park
Elysian Valley
Garcia
Hazard
Jim Gilliam
Montecito
Queen Anne
Ramona Gardens
Ross Snyder
Slauson
William Nickerson
Independent
Youth-Serving
Organizations
Futbolito Pacoima
Hollenbeck Police Activities
League
Kids in Sports, Los
Angeles
LA Scores School Sites
National Junior Tennis &
Learning Chapters
Team Prime Time Middle
School Programs
TGA Golf Foundation
School Sites
Watts-Willowbrook Boys &
Girls Club
Youth Basketball Camp at
Pepperdine
Youth Sports Camps at
Loyola Marymount
Leadership Transitions
After ten years guiding WSA’s growth, Allen Lynch has
stepped down as Board President. Allen’s leadership has made such a special, lasting impact on the
membership and partner organizations, for which each
member of WSA is grateful.
site administrators ensuring effective program implementation. His replacement, Dan McKegney, brings
his experience grant funding at the United States Golf
Association and growing The First Tee of the Tri-Valley
youth development organization to further WSA’s mission-driven community impact programs.
One of the organization’s long-time board members and
past Gala Dinner Chairman Sam Lagana was elected as The WSA leadership team is excited to welcome our new
Board President
Board Member
and Chair this
Christopher
Spring. Sam is
Vanover to help
extremely motius Make Youth
vated to steward
Sports Possible.
the
developChristopher, a
ment of WSA by
CPA at Priceengaging memwaterhousebers in volunCoopers, was
teer committees,
elected
to
social
activity
assume
the
facilitation.
As
responsibilities
an
Associate
of Treasurer, folVice Chancellor
lowing long-time
at Pepperdine
Board Member
University, Sam
and Treasurer
is active in funAlex
Marr’s
announcement
draising, estate
of his profesplanning,
and
New ED Dan McKegney presenting the Team Prime Time
sional transfer to
community outBasketball Championship Trophy at UCLA
Phoenix, Arizona.
reach initiatives.
Alex volunteered
He brings a wealth
of resources to the distinguished WSA volunteer post, an immeasurable amount of time since the mid-1990’s
from his long list of sports and higher education leader- ensuring fiscal responsibility for WSA. Alex will remain
a member of the Board and we thank him for his subship roles in Los Angeles.
stantial efforts over the years..
An equally heart-felt thank you goes out to our former
Executive Director Chris Turkmany. During his tenure,
Chris oversaw hundreds of thousands of dollars in
support of youth sports participation and assisted on-
Message From The WSA President
Westcoast Sports Associates (WSA) has had a
phenomenal run of delivering valuable charitable
dollars to youth sports organizations in southern
California for 20 years. Over these years, our
volunteer associates-driven efforts and resources
have enabled kids to play! This simple mission
yields important social results for society.
WSA members derive great gratification from partnering
together, discussing the programs in need and inviting
others to join our efforts. As a reader of this newsletter,
you obviously have some interest in WSA’s efforts. I
invite you to dig into what we are doing and become a
part of our team. Our Social Events are a perfect place
to learn how sports legends have achieved success
because of the people in their life that cared and helped
them. Through these touching conversations you will
better understand the impact of empowering others with
collective effort and funds. The WSA committees and
task forces lead the organization’s operations and
board members establish direction and set goals for
success. WSA Social Events also enable associates
of kindred mind to grow in their own personal lives
through WSA engagement. Any member is willing and
able to help you understand our place in the world.
A great place to start your engagement with WSA is
our Gala Event in October, when we present the Roy
Firestone Award for community service to the great
George Foreman.
Our work at WSA makes fun and games for kids a valuable tool in their personal development. Come join us
as we make sports relevant to a generation of kids in
Southern California.
Sam Lagana
Board President
Join the WSA Leadership Team
on the Annual Bus Tour
WSA is excited to host its Annual Bus Tour on Tuesday
September 15th, when members and donors will visit multiple
supported program sites, meet the program directors, and
see our grant funding in action!
www.westcoastsports.org
(L-R
Boa
CoPet
Recent WSA Activities Recap
Second Annual WSA Charity Poker Tournament
Regan Hagestad, Chris Turkmany, and their committee put on a fantastic event on April 18 at The 900 Club in Manhattan Beach. WSA Volunteer Member Goes Above & Beyond for
Slauson Recreation Center
WSA Member Michael Garvey, and his business The Dumbbell Man,
outfitted the Recreation Center with new fitness equipment before the
high school sports season kicks off.
More than 50 players participated in the day of fun
and poker to help raise
The fitness center on site
over $7,500 for WSA proat Slauson was upgraded
grams. The event was
with many new pieces
won by our Celebrity Pit
of weight room equipment
Boss, Lakers Play by Play
and the facility saw an
Announcer John Ireland of
immediate increase in
ESPN Radio, who dodged
use within days of instalthe “bounty” on his head. lation.
This event continues to
grow through the many
WSA has funded Slauson
friends of Westcoast Sports Associates and we hope to see you back next
Recreation Center each
Spring. All funds received at the event go directly to WSA, with the winner
year since 2010, supportgetting a “pat on the back” and the title of Champion!
ing its baseball, basketball, and flag football programs.
A special thanks goes out to Diamond Dave Rohrbacher of The 900 Club, WSA is proud to have members like Michael Garvey who have find unique
who hosted this event and once again was one of the final table players. ways to support our community partners within their business model.
WSA greatly appreciates his continued support!
Rudy Tomjanovich Social Event
Last Year WSA Honored Bill Walton, the 19th Roy
Firestone Award Winner
This past Winter’s Social Event with Special Guest Rudy Tomjanovich
was a very fun evening.
Over 400 community members came together last Fall to show their
support for WSA and its community programs.
Rudy candidly fielded
questions
from
Roy
Firestone, WSA members,
and other event guests in
attendance. He discussed
his college career at the
University of Michigan,
where he was selected as
an All-American in 1970.
He shared what it was like
to be the 2nd pick overall
and to represent a single
franchise throughout his entire career. His number 45 jersey was retired by
the Houston Rockets as well as back in Ann Arbor.
He re-hashed the memory of waking up in the hospital after a 1977 game
at the Forum, thinking the scoreboard had fell on him, only to learn that he
was punched in the jaw.
Rudy then relived his success as Coach of the Rockets and leading them to
back-to-back championships in 1994 & 1995. Everyone present that evening
got to hear his memorable quote first-hand: don’t ever underestimate the
heart of a champion.
Over 400 community
members came together
last Fall to show their support for WSA and its community programs.
Approximately $220,000 in
net proceeds was raised at
our annual marquee event,
which has since been allocated to deserving partner
organizations. The pinnacle of the evening was Roy Firestone’s interview with UCLA great and NBA
Hall of Famer Bill Walton.
The audience learned about the many lessons instilled in Bill by Coach
Wooden and their many memorable experiences together. That evening Bill
highlighted a long list of basketball legends that inspired him along the way.
Many of his friends and former teammates were in attendance demonstrating
the many deep relationships Bill has maintained. The many sports stories
were complemented by a few Grateful Dead concert anecdotes and some
touching family recollections.
(L-R) Dinner Co-Chair Mike Solum, WSA
Children and staff from Montecito
Roy
Firestone
with his
son Andy
Thank
you to(right)
our major
sponsors
Wells Fargo Capital Finance, George Smith
Board
Allen
Lynch,achievements
Dinner
Recreation
Center
one of
11 parks
with aand
Kobe
Bryant
donated
HisPresident
impressive
sports
were
balanced
by the
time
he spent stand
Partners,
the
manyprint
other
very generous businesses and individuals who
Co-Chair
Sam Lagana,
Member
by the
artist Brent
Benger.
describing
life as WSA
a cancer
survivor. supported
WSA would
likeevening’s
to send proceeds.
a heart-felt bydonated
to our
community programs. Without your contributions, we could
Peter
Schwab.
thank
you to Rudy for joining us this year and we encourage everyone to not help nearly as many families in Southern California.
attend our upcoming Social Events in August and September.
makingyouthsportspossible.
Westcoast Sports Associates
celebrates 20 years of
Making Youth Sports Possible
Honoring Boxing Legend & Businessman
George Foreman
Westcoast Sports Associates is a 501(c)(3) organization
dedicated to Making Youth Sports Possible
for economically disadvantaged children in Southern California.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
The Millennium Biltmore Hotel - Los Angeles
Register Online
westcoastsports.ejoinme.org/WSADinnerGalaRegistration
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P.O. Box 1705
Manhattan Beach, CA 90267-1705
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