July 24, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact: Natalie Eggeman (260) 427-6028
Public Information Officer
Free program has served 24,750 children
Fort Wayne, Ind--Today marked the successful completion of the Lifetime Sports Academy’s 18th summer with more than 1,176 participants this year and a total of 24,750 participants over the last 18 years. Group lessons in the lifetime sports of golf, tennis and swimming were offered to boys and girls, ages 7 – 18. Lessons focused on skill development.
Each year, the Parks and Recreation Department provides certified coaching and highly trained professionals who direct lessons in swimming, tennis and golf. Offering instruction in three sports has been a successful formula throughout the years. The Lifetime Sport Academy has developed a solid reputation and attracts a huge number of kids each summer.
This year, the following numbers of lessons were given: 1,800 golf lessons, 1,300 tennis lessons and 1,800 swim lessons. Participants have the opportunity to earn new tennis rackets, golf clubs, and more. Over 110 rackets and 45 sets of golf clubs were earned.
Since its beginning in 1998, Lifetime Sports Academy has awarded more than 1,780 tennis rackets and close to 1,250 sets of golf clubs to participants who passed their skills tests.
Also during the program, the Tom Jehl LSA Scholarships to the University of Saint Francis was awarded to Tayler Kern, Rachel Markowski, Patricia Newell and Sage Sauder. This scholarship is awarded to new students entering the University of Saint Francis that have participated in the Lifetime Sports Academy and have actively volunteered in the community.
“Attendance for the Lifetime Sports Academy remained solid this year, despite all the rain we had,” said Parks and Recreation Director Al Moll. “It’s great to see kids returning year after year, and bringing along friends to try out the program.”
The Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department’s Lifetime Sports Academy is sponsoring the First Tee National School Program in 34 Fort Wayne Community Elementary Schools for the second year this fall. The First Tee in-school golf program promotes character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf and is the result of a cooperative effort between the Indiana PGA, the Indiana Golf Foundation, Inc. and the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department.
For more information about the Lifetime Sports Academy, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 427-6000 or log on to www.fortwayneparks.org.
