Steve Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and co-founder of Blackstone, just put his money where his proverbial heart is, and gave $500k to the USATF Foundation. The USATF Foundation will use that money to support USA elite and emerging athlete track and field athletes as they train towards Rio 2016.

We wanted to congratulate the USATF Foundation and also thank Steve Schwarzman, who has provided this support to help give our athletes the financial support that they need to run, jump and throw, focused on Rio 2016.

Steve Schwarzman gives $500,000 to USATF Foundation to support elite track & field athletes

02-28-2013

INDIANAPOLIS – The USA Track & Field Foundation (USATFF) today announced that Stephen A. Schwarzman, the Chairman, CEO and co-founder of Blackstone, has donated $500,000 to the USATF Foundation. The funding will be used to support world-class athletes in track and field who are the most likely winners of medals at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, as well as to create a matching gift program for other donors to the USATF Foundation.

Tom Jackovic, USATF Foundation Director, said, “Steve’s donation will enable us to find the best track and field athletes in the United States and ensure that, regardless of their circumstances, they have the time and resources to train for the Rio Olympics. The US has always been a powerhouse in track and field and this donation will go a long way to helping that continue.”

Steve Schwarzman added, “Track and field was a central part of my life from 5th grade through high school. From it, I learned team work, the importance of hard work and training, and the thrill of when your team won. I want every American who has the drive and the talents to succeed at the highest level in track and field to have the resources they need to do so, and I am delighted to support the USATF Foundation in this endeavor.”

Mr. Schwarzman founded Blackstone in 1985 and it is now the world’s largest alternative asset manager and financial adviser, with $210 billion under management as of the end of 2012.

The Foundation Elite Athlete Grant Program contributes to the pursuit of world-class performances by American post-collegiate track and field athletes. Athletes must meet minimum performance and financial need standards to be eligible.

The USATF Foundation provides a means to attract and guide funds to new and innovative track and field programs with an emphasis on providing opportunities for youth athletes, emerging elite athletes, distance training centers and anti-doping education. The Foundation depends upon donations from its Board of Directors, major gifts and from generous fans of track & field.

Elite athletes are supported by the Foundation via monetary grants, career counseling (mentoring & jobs) and participation in Run With US! (www.rwus-now.org). Youth athletes are supported via monetary grants to youth clubs.

For more information or to contribute to the USA Track & Field Foundation, visit www.usatffoundation.org or contact Tom Jackovic at (412) 398-2484 or tom.jackovic@usatf.org.

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."

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