$40K Granted to Support Physical Activity Programs for Pennsylvania Girls
Women's Sports Foundation Teams up with The Hershey Company to provide sports opportunities for more than 600 girls
EAST MEADOW, N.Y., August 14, 2007 – In 2007, $155,000 total grants, serving more than 3,000 girls ages 8-13, are awarded nationally through GoGirlGo!, a signature program of the Women's Sports Foundation. A total of $40,000 are granted to organizations in the Pennsylvania area.
Launched in 2001, GoGirlGo! aims to encourage one million inactive girls to become physically active and to keep another one million currently active girls from dropping out of physical activity. Over the past six years, GoGirlGo! has provided nearly $3 million in grants to support the physical activity participation of more than 621,000 girls.
"Teaching girls to live a healthy lifestyle is what GoGirlGo! is all about," said Aimee Mullins, president of the Women's Sports Foundation. "GoGirlGo! is influencing the lives of girls across the country, allowing them to build confidence, self-esteem and develop leadership skills.”
With funding from Pennsylvania grant sponsor, The Hershey Company, and generous contributions from National Sponsors Advanta Corp. and Gatorade®, the Women's Sports Foundation is able to provide its award winning educational curriculum at no cost to any girl serving organization. Schools, organizations and community centers use the curriculum and cash grants to bring girls together on a regular basis for physical activity and sessions on various health related topics such as smoking, stress, body image and bullying.
“The Hershey Company is proud to support the Women's Sports Foundation and its work to ensure that girls of all backgrounds can participate and be leaders in sports and fitness,” said John Long, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility. “This Pennsylvania initiative reinforces Hershey's commitment to encouraging young people to adopt active and healthy lifestyles, something we have long supported through the Hershey's Track & Field Games.”
Some organizations receive cash grants to pay for sports equipment, supplies, facility rental, league/tournament fees, travel, coaching and activity instruction.
Pennsylvania 2007 GoGirlGo! Grantees:
Ashland Area Girls Softball Association – Ashland, Pa.
Greater Carbondale YMCA – Carbondale, Pa.
Black Women In Sport Foundation (BWSF) – Philadelphia, Pa.
Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation – Philadelphia, Pa.
Philadelphia Academy Charter School – Philadelphia, Pa.
Girls On The Move - Peirce Middle School - West Chester, Pa.
Bald Eagle Area School District – Wingate, Pa.
Check out the rest of the recipients of the 2007 GoGirlGo! Grant Program on our Web site at www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.
About the Women's Sports Foundation
Founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization seeking to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. The Foundation's Participation, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership Programs are made possible by gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations. For more information, please call the Foundation at 800-227-3988. You can also visit our Web site at www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.
About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is the largest North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and sugar confectionery products. With revenues of nearly $5 billion and more than 13,000 employees worldwide, The Hershey Company markets such iconic brands as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, and Ice Breakers. Hershey is the leader in the fast-growing dark and premium chocolate segment, with such brands as Hershey's Special Dark, Hershey's Extra Dark and Cacao Reserve by Hershey's. Hershey's Ice Breakers franchise delivers refreshment across a variety of mint and gum flavors and formats. In addition, Hershey leverages its iconic brands, marketplace scale and confectionery and nut expertise to develop and deliver substantial snacks, including Hershey's and Reese's single-serve cookies and brownies, and value-added snack nuts, including Hershey's Milk Chocolate Covered Almonds and Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds. Hershey also offers a range of products to address the health and well-being needs of today's consumer. Hershey's and Reese's Snacksters offer consumers great-tasting snacks in portion-controlled servings, while Hershey's dark chocolate offerings provide the benefits of flavanol antioxidants. In addition, Artisan Confections Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hershey Company, markets such premium chocolate offerings as Scharffen Berger, known for its high-cacao dark chocolate products, Joseph Schmidt, recognized for its fine, handcrafted chocolate gifts, and Dagoba, known for its high-quality natural and organic chocolate bars. Visit us at www.hersheynewsroom.com.
# # #