Breakfast for CHAMPions.
CHAMP is hosting its community-wide celebration of character in youth athletics on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at the 3rd Annual Breakfast for CHAMPions Celebration and Community Fundraising Event. The CHAMP progam highlights positive examples and provides role models in athletics as well as educational opportunities and resources to the Fort Collins team community.
Highlights will include the announcement of the Sonny Lubick Coach of Character Award nominees and recipient as well as the Heart of a Champion Scholarship Award Winners.
Special guest speakers Rod Olson and Jeff Thomason will speak and provide a message of delivering greatness into our student-athletes and creating a positive, winning climate both on and off the field. Rod Olson is the founder of the Coaches of Excellence Institute, a nonprofit that provides training programs for coaches and parents to ensure all young athletes have the opportunity to develop positive character traits, build self-confidence, and learn life lessons through sports. Visit www.coach-o.com for more information about Rod Olson. Jeff Thomason is a former NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion.
Thank you to our 2010 Corporate Sponsors who help make this breakfast a huge success.
EVENT SPONSORS
Cache Bank and Trust | Certified Home Improvement, Inc.
Dohn Construction | Ewing-Leavitt | Home State Bank
Livingston Real Estate and Development
Miramont Lifestyle Fitness
Orthopaedic Center of the Rockies | Triple Crown Sports
SONNY LUBICK COACH OF CHARACTER AWARD SPONSOR
Public Service Credit Union
IN-KIND SPONSORS
CB & Potts | Egg & I | Hilton Hotel
Northern Colorado Business Report
Sage Marketing Group & 1KRobots
The Community Foundation of Northern Colorado
The proceeds from the Annual CHAMP Celebration and Community Fundraising Breakfast support the program costs of CHAMP.
Six Fort Collins Baseball Teams Celebrated for Their Commitment to Character
“What could be better than this? We are playing ball!” said the coach of one intermediate baseball team to his catcher. That was exactly the sentiment that was felt on Saturday as teams competed in their end of year tournament for the Fort Collins Baseball Club. There was no shouting from the stands, no Bad call, Ump’s, and no throwing of baseball bats. There were only smiles from players, parents and coaches as they enjoyed a day at the ballpark.
The positive atmosphere of the teams could arguably be attributed to the Fort Collins Baseball Club’s emphasis on good character. Six of the teams competing that day were presented with the CHAMP Elite Team Award for their dedication and commitment to character during their season including: Copperheads 10U, Falcons 10U, Firebirds 10U, Isotopes 10U, Tigers 10U, and Sidewinders 12U Intermediate Baseball teams.
“What I noticed most in handing out the [Elite Team] awards Saturday,” said Bob Powell, CHAMP Commission member, “Was the deep respect and appreciation of the parents for the extra mile that the coaching staff had done to really build character development into their sons’ baseball season. The parents were truly, truly grateful for that commitment.”
CHaracter in Athletics – Make it a Priority (CHAMP) sees coaches as the key to the character in athletics equation. Coaches are role models for student athletes to look up to and learn from. Ultimately, it is up to the coach to set the tone and character expectations for players and parents to follow.
The purpose of the CHAMP Elite Team Award is to give youth athletic coaches a focused plan for how to implement and reinforce a culture of character during their season. Often coaches work with the players and the parents to decide what character traits – like respect, responsibility, dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship – to work on. Upon fulfilling the application requirements and demonstrating the impact that character has had on their team, CHAMP recognizes the team with Elite Team Award certificates and hats.
“Thank you to CHAMP for coming out and honoring these little kids for trying to do the sport the right way,” said Ron Frasco, Coach of Elite Team Award recipients the Sidewinders 12U Team. “You have no idea what this meant to these kids – to my team and the rest.”
Since 2007, the CHAMP program has advanced its mission of promoting positive character in life through youth athletics by working with youth coaches to deliver a character-focused athletic experience. Some of CHAMP’s initiatives include the Elite Team Award, Stars Award, Building Coaches of Character Trainings, Sonny Lubick Coach of Character Award, and Scott Nelson Heart of a Champion Senior Scholarship Award.
“CHAMP is changing the culture of youth sports here in Fort Collins,” said Frasco, “One player and one team at a time.”
To find out how to get your team involved in CHAMP programs, please visit the CHAMP website at www.champfc.com or the CHAMP office at 970-416-6316..
Rappe & O'Grady Awarded Inaugural CHAMP Heart of a Champion Senior Scholarships
Last week, CHaracter in Athletics – Make it a Priority presented Rocky Mountain High School Senior Christopher O’Grady and Poudre High School Senior Kelly Rappe with the 2009 Heart of a Champion Senior Scholarships. New in 2009, the Heart of a Champion Senior Scholarship honors exceptional high school student-athletes for demonstrating the character qualities of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship both on and off the playing field. Rappe and O’Grady were chosen from a pool of 23 nominees.
Rappe participated in Field Hockey, Track and Field, and Basketball during her tenure at Poudre High School and is pursuing her International Baccalaureate Diploma. This fall she will be attending Hedrick College in Arkansas. O’Grady participated in Football, Baseball and Basketball during his four years at Rocky Mountain High School. He will be attending the University of Louisville in Kentucky. The two recipients will receive a $500.00 one time scholarship, payable toward tuition and books, to their school of higher learning.
The CHAMP Heart of a Champion Senior Scholarships were donated by friends and family in memoriam of former Fort Collins resident and Purdue all-star Scott Nelson. Nelson died in a local plane crash in July of 2004 along with local businessmen Leo Schuster and Bill Neal. CHAMP is honored to dedicate these scholarships in memory of a man of true character and integrity.
Congratulations to Rappe and O’Grady for their recognitions. CHAMP would like to thank the community for their tremendous support in recognizing and honoring student-athletes of outstanding character.
Read full story here.
Read the full story here. |
