Finish Line Youth Foundation Announces New Board Members

The Finish Line Youth Foundation announced today that five new members will join its board effective January 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.

About Finish Line Youth Foundation

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. Follow Finish Line Youth Foundation on Twitter at Twitter.com/FinishLineYF as well as on Instagram at Instagram.com/FinishLineYF and “like” the Youth Foundation on Facebook at Facebook.com/FinishLineYouthFoundation.