The Women's Sports Foundation and RYKÄ announced the 2002 recipients of the RYKÄ Women's Fitness Grant. In it's inaugural year the grant received 136 applications from 34 states. Programs that applied for the grant range from sport specific organizations to programs targeting victims of emotional and/or physical abuse. Winning grant amounts ranged from $1620 to $5000 per organization.
The RYKÄ Women's Fitness Grant will be offered again next year with an anticipated deadline in August of 2003. Please check the funding section of this web site periodically for further information or contact the Foundation through our information line at (800) 227-3988.
RYKÄ is the only performance athletic footwear brand in the world dedicated solely to women. RYKÄ designs, develops and markets leading performance fitness products including aerobics, aqua, cross-training, running, walking and yoga shoes. All RYKÄ shoes are made on a women's last and are designed taking into account the anatomical features unique to women's feet - narrower in the heel and wider in the forefoot. RYKÄ footwear is available internationally in athletic specialty, sporting goods and independent retailers.
2002 RYKÄ Women's Fitness Grant RecipientsBoston Black Women's Health Initiative – Dorchester, Mass.
The Boston Black Women's Health Initiative received $5,000 to continue its support of self-help and advocacy for black women in the greater Boston area. The grant money will go towards establishing the Well Woman Project, an integrated year-round program of fitness activities and self-help groups. The new program will provide several components, encouraging women to engage in regular physical activity and reducing health risks. Launched in 1995 by a group of health advocates, The Boston Black Women's Health Initiative remains the only organization in Boston focused entirely on serving the health needs of black women.
Coalition for Community Health – Los Angeles, Calif.
Located in the Metro area of Los Angeles, the Coalition For Community Health has developed the Women in Motion (WIM) program to increase Latina women's sense of self-value by improving their physical and mental well- being. With the money from the grant, WIM will expand their outreach throughout the surrounding area with the implementation of physical fitness and nutrition and health education classes.
Greater Allen Cathedral Health Ministry – Jamaica, N.Y.
The Greater Allen Cathedral Parish Health Ministry received $5,000 to help continue its educational programs on health. The ministry is a non-profit organization established to effectively educate people about their physical health and emotional well-being. The ministry serves over 12,000 members and its surrounding community. With the grant money, a new women's fitness program offering an array of fitness classes, a walking club and a nutritionist, will be introduced.
Hospital for Special Surgery – New York, N.Y.
The Hospital for Special Surgery at the Women's Sports Medicine Center is planning to initiate the Women on the Move walking program with the $4,750 grant. This program is aimed to increase participation in regular physical activity for women employees, encourage development of support networks designed to help women's commitment to improving their health and educate women about various topics related to successful and safe participation in regular exercise.
Infinite Potential – Denver, Colo.
Infinite Potential is a new action-oriented nonprofit organization offering creative and innovative services to transform women's lives, by addressing the mind, body and spirit of the whole woman. The $4974 grant Infinite Potential received will be put towards improving its Wellness and Health Center. The Center encourages women to take action in caring for her body through the offered educational programs and scholarship funds.
Jewish Community Center of Louisville – Louisville, Ky.
The Jewish Community Center was awarded $4,000 to continue to the success of their Women Only Weight Training (WOW) program. This 5 year-old program is dedicated to utilizing fitness, nutrition and body-awareness techniques in an atmosphere of self-actualization and camaraderie. WOW empowers women with this knowledge so that they are able to independently create and maintain their own exercise regimen.
Minneapolis Heart Institute – Minneapolis, Minn.
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving cardiovascular health through education and clinical research. MHIF has been serving the Minneapolis area and surrounding community for 20 years, educating diverse audiences through its clinics for women, children and minority communities. With the $4,000 grant, MHIF hopes to build on the success of this year's program by formally expanding the clinics to include two additional Minnesota communities (Northfield and St. Cloud) and implementing a community-wide education program.
Montgomery Community College – Troy, N.C.
Located in the south central part of North Carolina, the MCC Women's Wellness Program is dedicated to promoting women's health, fitness and general well being to their employees and students. With the $1620 grant money that was awarded, the program plans to expand itself by advertising through different outlets about their health and fitness seminars and exercise sessions. In addition to the grant money, they were also given a shoe donation for 20 women.
Passages Northwest – Seattle, Wash.
Since 1996, Passages Northwest has provided tools and skills to more than 1,200 girls and women to assist them in making healthier decisions about their own future. With the $5,000 grant, they will build their Women in Nature (WIN) program. Started in 2000, WIN is the first program of its kind in the Northwest, combining both inner and outer strength to facilitate recovery, growth and inner confidence in women needing such support.
YWCA of Greater Lawrence – Lawrence, Mass.
The YWCA of Greater Lawrence has supported the women, girls and families of the Greater Lawrence community for more than a hundred years, providing programs and services that address their changing needs. With the money they have been awarded, the YWCA wishes to offer new programs of fitness activities and health education for local women. Aquatics and aerobic classes will be just some of the new additions to the Greater Lawrence area after receiving the $3000 grant.
YWCA Lancaster – Lancaster, Pa.
Serving the Lancaster community since 1889, the YWCA gives highest priority to services that enable women and girls to reach their full potential, to enrich the quality of their lives, and to create a new environment free from sexism and racism. Over 20,000 individuals participate annually in their programs. The $2,660 grant will help improve the health and fitness activities and provide course scholarships and classes to the women of Arch Street Center, which serves adults with mental health issues.
YWCA Plainfield/North Plainfield – Plainfield, N.J.
The YWCA Plainfield received $3,500, allowing them to serve the increasing number of women taking part in their Health and Fitness Center programs. The goals of the program are to empower women through health education and a customized fitness program. The center provides tools, services and information needed to meet fitness goals, improve self-confidence, overall health, and, as a result, quality of life.
YWCA Salt Lake City – Salt Lake City, UT
The YWCA plans to use the $2,500 grant to enhance their current health and fitness program. The YWCA Health Promotion Services department provides aquatic, fitness and health education classes to the community of Salt Lake City. One of the goals of the department is to provide a comfortable, unintimidating environment for families of all backgrounds to exercise and gain knowledge of healthy living.