Posted: October 25, 2005

Athletics: Beach Charities Receives Grants for Its Youth Running Program from Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Road Runner's Foundation

ST. PETE BEACH, Fla.- (October 24, 2005) - Beach Charities, a not-for-profit corporation formed to manage and produce quality running events and to promote a healthy lifestyle, has been named as the recipient of grants from the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation and the New York Runner's Foundation for its Youth Running Program.

"We are very proud to be partners with the Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning and the highly respected New York Road Runner's Foundation, which puts on the ING New York City Marathon," says Wendy Johnson, founder and president of Beach Charities. "These grants will help establish a much needed youth fitness program. We are gratified that these outstanding organizations recognize the work Beach Charities is doing in the community."

The Youth Running Program is designed to get elementary and middle school youth to participate in a running or walk/run program. The focus is on participation, individual achievement and ultimately to incorporate healthy choices into the children's everyday lives. The sites will be a mixture of public and private schools, after school programs at schools, city recreation centers and YMCAs. Priority site selection will be based on sites with higher numbers of children who meet the free and reduced lunch family income criteria.

The curriculum as well as some of the start up funding will be provided by a grant from the New York Road Runner's Foundation under their mandate of national expansion of their highly successful Youth Running Program, which serves 3,500 New York school children each week. The Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation, which supports numerous youth and educational programs throughout the community, is giving sponsorship to support the program at both the St. Petersburg and Tampa campuses of Academy Prep. Administration, coaches and site interface provided by Beach Charities staff.

Characteristics of the Youth Running Program
* 8 - 10 pilot sites in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties
* Kick-off program at each site with nationally renowned T-bone Fitness Mania
* 10 - 14 weeks in duration
* 3 - 4 times per week
* 15 - 45 minute sessions
* Incentive based for milestones reached such as completion of each cumulative five miles and each marathon (26.2 miles)
* Participation in special Youth Running Program 1 mile events at the Tampa Bay Lightning Reindeer Run, the St. Pete Beach Classic and Bay to Bay Road Races. Free entries for youth who have achieved pre-defined benchmarks.

Beach Charities is supported by Motion Sports Management (MSM). Now in its third year of operation, MSM has introduced the highly successful St. Pete Beach Classic, rejuvenated the time-honored Bay to Bay race while raising much-needed funds and awareness for local charities.

Motion Sports Management, owned and operated by Wendy and Al Johnson, is based in St. Pete Beach. MSM has two primary focuses: professional management services for road races and triathlons and coaching services for triathletes. For more information about MSM, visit www.MotionSportsManagement.com.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.