Finish Line Youth Foundation Announces New Board Members

November 13, 2014
SGB Update

The Finish Line Youth Foundation will add five new members to its board effective Jan. 1, 2015.

Joining the board is Bill Benner, senior vice president of corporate, community and public relations, Pacers Sports & Entertainment along with four Finish Line representatives: Jeremie Dunning, senior digital creative director, Jeff Kish, vice president of application solutions, Bill Kuntz, senior corporate counsel and Matt Poske, director of store development.

I am humbled to be asked to serve on the Finish Line Youth Foundation board. I have personally witnessed the amazing service and dedication of Finish Line employees and the Foundation to Special Olympics, as well as the investment in the Indianapolis east side through the Boys and Girls club facility. I cannot wait to join the team and be part of furthering that impact, Benner said.

The Youth Foundation also awarded $137,100 to grant recipients in the third quarter of 2014. The 14 grants went to organizations in seven states that place an importance on youth development and an active lifestyle.

The Finish Line Youth Foundation supports qualified non-profit organizations that provide community-based access to athletics for children and camps that provide services to those who are disadvantaged or disabled.

The deadline to submit grant applications at www.flyf.org for this quarter is December 31.

LEGACY GRANT:

Devereux Arizona (Scottsdale, Ariz.) – $75,000 to renovate its outdoors sports complex and build an 11,000 square foot shade structure at the residential treatment center. It will serve youth with behavioral health challenges, promoting healthy year-round activity, especially for those with medical limitations on sunlight exposure.

CAMPS:

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Southern Arizona (Tucson, Ariz.) – $3,800 to fund an academic summer camp for children with disabilities.

Easter Seals Florida (Winter Park, Fla.) – $5,000 for a ropes course camp experience for children with disabilities.

Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (Lake Forest, Ill.) – $5,000 to continue the mission of empowering youth with disabilities through physical activity, health and wellness.

Hope Springs Equestrian Therapy (Chester Springs, Pa.) – $5,000 to fund an all equine-assisted therapy for children with disabilities.

Keshet (Northbrook, Ill.) – $5,000 to support camp scholarships for children with special needs.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES:

500 Festival Foundation (Indianapolis) – $5,000 to fund the 500 Festival KidsFit Mini Marathon Training Program.

A.B.L.E. Youth (Nashville, Tenn.) – $5,000 to fund the Super Sports Saturday program for children in wheelchairs.

ChildServe (Johnston, Iowa) – $5,000 to build a healing garden to help children with special needs.

Dreams for Kids (Chicago) – $5,000 for extreme recess, a program for at-risk youth with disabilities.

El Grupo Youth Cycling (Tucson, Ariz.) – $3,300 to support a cycling program for disadvantaged youth.

Eskenazi Health Foundation (Indianapolis) – $5,000 to support Girls on the Run marathon training program to promote positive and healthy behaviors for adolescent girls.

Indianapolis Soap Box Derby Association (Indianapolis) – $5,000 for a wireless timing system for the derby race track.

Joseph Maley Foundation (Indianapolis) – $5,000 to support an adaptive sports and fitness program for youth with disabilities.

The Finish Line Youth Foundation strives to make a difference in the lives of youth in the communities where employees and customers live, work and play. The Youth Foundation funds non-profit organizations that provide opportunities for kids to participate in community-based youth athletic programs and camps that emphasize active lifestyles, especially programs that serve disadvantaged and special needs kids. For more information about the Youth Foundation, please visit www.flyf.org and watch the Kids Are Awesome video.

Finish Line Youth Foundation Announces New Board Members

February 24, 2010
SGB Update

The Finish Line Youth Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides financial support for community-based youth athletic programs and camps for disadvantaged and special needs children across the United States, elected six new members to its Board of Directors. The new board members include Ed Wilhelm, Finish Line executive vice president, chief financial officer and assistant secretary, Chad Edmundson, Finish Line vice president, real estate, Lisa Robinson, Finish Line director, talent management, Mike Northrop, Finish Line regional vice president, Curtis Simic, President Emeritus of Indiana University Foundation and Danny Dean, President Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation. 

As part of the continuing evolution of the Youth Foundation, the organization is pleased to welcome two seasoned, local not-for-profit leaders to its board of directors. The Youth Foundation is introducing board leadership from outside of the Finish Line organization for the first time in its history. “The addition of Curtis Simic, President Emeritus, Indiana University Foundation and Danny Dean, President, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation, provides the Foundation with tremendous expertise and outstanding leadership — ensuring the lasting legacy of the organization,” said Gary Cohen, outgoing Youth Foundation president. “We are incredibly fortunate to have such experienced and highly respected individuals as Curt and Danny serving on the Youth Foundation Board.” Simic has more than forty years of experience in development at both public and private institutions of higher education while Dean, currently the vice president of the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, has served as president of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation since 1992.

New Youth Foundation officers also were elected during the organization’s annual board meeting on February 19, 2010. The new officers, Bob Edwards, president, Roger Underwood, vice president and Mark Clark, secretary, will serve two-year terms with the Foundation. Bob, Roger and Mark are all current Finish Line employees. 

The Youth Foundation, initiated in 1998, continues to extend grants to a variety of 501c (3) organizations that make a difference in the lives of youth. Since 2006, the Foundation has awarded more than $500,000 in grants to qualifying not-for-profit organizations. The generosity of Finish Line customers, during the company’s annual in-store holiday fund drive, supports the Foundation’s grant-making efforts. Throughout the 2009 holiday season, Finish Line customers donated more than $1.3 million to the Youth Foundation.

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