INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Nov. 7, 2006 – Through the efforts of clubs and gymnasts across the country, the USA Gymnastics family has raised more than $645,500 in donations to Children’s Miracle Network in just six years as part of National Gymnastics Day, which promotes physical fitness and gymnastics in communities throughout the country. In 2006, National Gymnastics Day was “a celebration of fitness,” and the Tyson Fitness Challenge, a combined effort by USA Gymnastics and Tyson Foods to get kids active, was the main vehicle for clubs and gymnasts to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. August 4 is the date for National Gymnastics Day in 2007.
“For 2006, we expanded the activities of National Gymnastics Day to include the Tyson Fitness Challenge,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics, “and focused on how gymnastics provides a great way for today’s youngsters of all ages and sizes to become more physically active and fit. This is our most successful fundraising effort to date.
“This year, our clubs raised more than $134,000, the most ever, and donations are still coming in. We could not be more proud of our membership, and again, we have demonstrated what the gymnastics community can achieve by working together. To raise more than $645,500 in just six years is outstanding, especially when you know the funds are helping children in the communities of those clubs.”
This year, the three clubs with the highest number of participants in the Tyson Fitness Challenge will be featured in USA Gymnastics publications and on usa-gymnastics.org, as well as receive gift packages from Tyson Foods, the world’s largest provider of chicken, beef and pork. Through the Tyson Fitness Challenge, participants raised money through pledges for the number of fitness-related skills, cartwheels, back flips or handstands they could perform. The top three individual fundraisers for the Children’s Miracle Network won a trip to the 2007 Tyson American Cup in Jacksonville, Fla.
Massachusetts Gymnastics Center in Boston raised $18,305 for Children’s Miracle Network, the most by any club, and will be featured on the National Gymnastics Day poster. The American Institute of Gymnastics in Aurora, Ill, was second. with Gymnastics World of Broadview Heights, Ohio, third.
Andrew Wise, 11, from Sonshine Gymnastics Academy in Conway, Ark., raised $2,578, the most money by an individual. His photo will be included on the 2007 National Gymnastics Day poster. Michelle Moock, 11, from Gymnastics World raised $1,126 and Gaby McCarty, 5, from The Flip Zone in Plainfield, Ind., raised $834 to finish second and third, respectively. For their efforts, Wise, Moock and McCarty each earned a trip for two to the 2007 Tyson American Cup in Jacksonville, Fla.
Since National Gymnastics Day debuted in 1999, clubs have hosted a variety of different activities and celebrations to mark the annual day of recognition, ranging from gymnastics celebrations to open houses to the Tyson Fitness Challenge. National Gymnastics Day is recognized in all 50 states through a governor proclamation.
Some of the special activities included the following.
Ø To celebrate National Gymnastics Day and promote the 2006 Visa Championships, 932 people set the world record for the most cartwheels performed at one time at the State Capitol grounds in St. Paul, Minn.
Ø Central Coast Gymnastics Sports Center Inc., in San Luis Obispo, Calif., hosted a barbecue and a kids’ overnight, in addition to fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network.
Ø Gold Medal Gymnastics, Inc., in Smyrna, Del., hosted a fitness-a-thon, where the participants did as many different skills as possible within a specified time limit.
Ø World of Gymnastics in Woodstock, Ga., held an open house that featured performances by Ashley Phillips from Nickelodeon's Romeo Show and Bad Boy recording artists B5, along with the Tyson Fitness Challenge and gymnastics performances.
Ø Arising Stars Gymnastics in St. Joseph, Mo., held a 5K and 10K run in conjunction with its open house that included a Children's Miracle Network Cartwheel-a-thon, class exhibitions, a cookout and radio remote.
Ø Go For It USA in North Las Vegas hosted its 18th annual mini-triathlon. (1/4-mile swim, 12-mile bike, 3-mile run) at Nellis Air Force Base. Ranging in age from 6-17, 62 gymnasts participated and completed the triathlon, raising $1,152.
Ø Mpact Martial Arts & Gymnastics in Brentwood, Tenn., held a Cartwheels & Kicks for Kids, with visits from Titans football players and a grand prize giveaway.
Ø Paramount Gymnastics in Hillsborough, N.J., celebrated National Gymnastics Day with an open house and raised more than $1,000 for Alex's Lemonade Stand for Pediatric Cancer Research. Their theme was “Kids Helping Kids,” and more than 500 individuals were involved throughout the day.
Ø Gymnastics Beat of Fresno, Calif., sponsored an open house celebration and invited George the giraffe of the local Children’s Hospital. The Tyson Fitness Challenge included five categories: cartwheels, push ups, sit ups, pull ups, and handstand holds. The club raised $1,000.
National Gymnastics Day was the culmination of the Tyson Fitness Challenge, an eight-session program created by USA Gymnastics and Tyson Foods that incorporates exercises and activities in four fundamentals of fitness: cardiovascular exercise, strength training, flexibility and nutrition. During the summer, USA Gymnastics clubs across the country participated in the Tyson Fitness Challenge by tailoring the program to fit into their clubs’ programs and schedules. Created with guidance from fitness and nutrition experts, the Tyson Fitness Challenge is a combined effort by USA Gymnastics and Tyson Foods to help get today’s youngsters off the couch and in the gym.
About Children’s Miracle Network
Children's Miracle Network—the alliance of premier hospitals for children—is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind. For more information on Children’s Miracle Network visit www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org.
About Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc. [NYSE: TSN], founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, the second-largest food company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products, which are marketed under the “Powered by Tyson™” strategy. Tyson is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves, providing products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 80 countries. The company has approximately 114,000 team members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and team members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.
About USA Gymnastics
Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics. For more complete information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.
