USATF Pacific Foundation

We want to continue providing (1) support to rising young athletes with Olympic potential but with little or no financial support, and (2) tuition and similar help to coaches in our communities for specialized event training. We want the USATF Pacific region to remain a "center of excellence" in bringing forth top-flight Olympic athletes and for coaches who can give young people a good start. With our new goal of attracting sponsors with public recognition on our website, we want to enlarge and better sustain our athletes and coaches grant programs.

For athletes, after their collegiate competition ends, there is a "make-or-break" funding gap between professional athletes with commercial athletic contracts and those who are on the cusp of of competing at the same level. Sometimes the modest funding for an extra week of training , travel to a meet, or entry fees can "make" an athlete. The cost to reach their potential is greater than than they can afford. For coaches, our youth depends on them for sports training in many specialty events. Yet coaches in our communities are typically not well paid. Keeping up with advances in the many track & field events, both for training and equipment, is often beyond a school district's or club's means.

We work closely with the USATF Pacific Association, and we seek donors and sponsors who understand the constraints that "unsupported" rising young athletes and community coaches face. Our athletes grant contains reporting requirements to help us spread the word through social media about our programs. We also require their participation in local meets so that our region can become familiar with our grant recipients.

The Board of Directors of USATF Pacific Foundation is made up of USATF Pacific athletes, coaches, and officials. The athletes on the board, including Olympians, understand the challenges facing rising young athletes. The board also understands how coaches in our communities and schools need continuing education to provide the best for their youth, and also how to reach out to Olympic hopefuls who are not well supported. The officials on the board are generalists with experience across the region and with grant program management. We all have the ability to connecting with athletes, coaches, meet directors, and others in the USATF Pacific region. Some of us have experience with fundraising, finance, computers and social media, and publicity. We also reach out beyond the board for USATF Pacific members to participate in recruiting and vetting of grant applicants.

USATF Pacific Foundation was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2011, and started making grants a few years later. Since 2015, the Foundation has provided 31 grants to coaches (through 2019) and 26 grants to athletes (through 2018). Our 2019 Athletes grant program will begin in February/March 2019. As shown on our website, five of our grant recipients or board members have been Olympians. With the passing of George Kleeman in April 2018, the Foundation lost one of its key founders and its long-time leader. George Kleeland was also a major contributor to the Foundation, and a separate program to recruit and train USATF Officials has been funded in his memory. With fresh leadership, a largely new board, an outreach to both donors and sponsors, a new corporate name, and new website and social media presence, the Foundation is focused on preparing rising young athletes, community coaches, volunteer officials, and sport fans in the USATF Pacific region for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games. To reach the next level, the Foundation is aiming to at least double our resources over the next two years. Please join us as a donor or sponsor, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook!