Charities receive lion's share of Nike revenue

by Jan K. Allen

SBJ Contributing Writer

Four new charities have joined the lineup of Nike beneficiaries this year. Executive Director Jerald Andrews expects 1999 to exceed the record-breaking $276,000 provided to local charities by the 1998 event.

The new recipients, Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Ozarks, Children's Miracle Network, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation, join six other benefiting charities.

"We are thrilled to be included," said Jean Walden, executive director of Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

Walden said for years the organization has had 80-100 boys on waiting lists. "With the Nike money we hope to conquer that," she said.

The money will be put to use to seek matches for these boys, and then used for screening and monitoring volunteers.

New recipient Children's Miracle Network serves the medical needs of children in a 34-county area.

Director Lisa Alexander said the Nike funds are earmarked for the mobile unit CareMobile, which travels to communities in its service area giving free immunizations to children starting school.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is an organization the helps athletes and coaches find and incorporate Christ into their lives.

The Ozark Mountain area office was established in February, 1999. The local office works with more than 80 schools, 50 of which are located in the greater Springfield area.

FCA is a Christian mission organization focused on athletics. Its programs include the school-based Huddles program, special events such as its area-wide kickoff Sept. 29, the One Way 2 Play! Drug Free Program and the annual state convention.

FCA will use the Nike funds for programs in the 18-county area the organization serves, according to Dan Palumbo, area representative.

Also joining the roster of benefitting charities is Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation, which provides educational assistance to health care professionals in a six-county area.

Money from the Nike Tournament will provide scholarships for students from Polk, Cedar, Dallas, Hickory and Dade counties, spokesperson Monica Bethardes said.

This year's event marks the 10th year of involvement by Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks, the first charity to receive funding from the tournament. It received $83,000 that first year, according to Spokesperson Bonnie Keller. Ronald McDonald House asked the tournament board to put 75 percent of that money into an endowment fund, which has contributed to its operating expenses ever since.

Keller said it takes about $200,000 to serve the 400-plus families who stay at the facility each year while their seriously ill children receive medical treatment in Springfield. Staff and volunteers provide support, encouragement and even transportation, if needed, to visiting families.

Ronald McDonald House has received approximately $300,000 from the Ozarks Open over the years. Except for the initial endowment in 1990, the money has gone for operating expenses each year.

The Boys and Girls Club of Springfield is in its ninth year as a benefitting charity. According to Executive Director Bill Stalnaker, the organization has come to rely on the money, which goes into its general operating fund.

The Boys and Girls Club has served the Springfield area for 61 years providing social, physical and educational development activities for youth ages 6-18.

The first year of participation gleaned the organization $13,000 and the figure has fluctuated each year since, topping out at $63,000 last year, Stalnaker said.

"We're lucky to be a part of it each year," he said.

Another long-term recipient of tournament proceeds is Southwest Area Special Olympics.

Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition in 18 sports for area children and adults with mental retardation or developmental disabilities.

According to Area Director Susan Miles, part of the funds received go into the general fund, and part is earmarked for special projects.

"Proceeds from the Nike Tournament pay for the basketball program each year," Miles said. "We've been able to expand the swimming program, and this year we sent a golfer to the World Games in Raleigh/Durham, N.C." The athlete brought back a bronze metal, she added.

Special Olympics hopes to add two new sports and a new training camp for athletes to improve their skills with the help of Nike funds.

A Sporting Chance has been a benefitting charity for the past four years, according to Board President Dan Carroll.

"The first two or three years we used the money to get out of debt," Carroll said.

Most organizations start small and grow, Carroll said. A Sporting Chance started big and got bigger.

The organization served more than 2,100 people from 26 counties last year. It provides amateur sports training, competition and recreational programs for individuals with disabilities and disadvantaged youth.

"Except for the office assistant's salary, the only paid employee, all money goes into the programs," Carroll said.

Youth Life and Camp Barnabas are both in their second year as recipients of tournament funding.

Youth Life is an interdenominational ministry to junior and senior high school students targeting such issues as suicide, chemical abuse, peer pressure, gangs, violence and runaway teens. Its offices are located in Branson.

"The money goes into the general fund to create positive activity for kids and generate memories they can keep," said Mike Leidecker, director.

Camp Barnabas is a Christian summer camp for children with disabilities. This year it will serve about 800 campers from 17 states.

Jerald Andrews said each year the board looks at the net profit from the tournament, then gives away all it can.

In accordance with Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3), events such as the Open must give away 80 percent of the net proceeds.

"We give more, keeping only a nominal amount to operate," Andrews said.

The fiscal year ends Oct. 31, the books are audited in November, and the presentations are made to charities in December, Andrews said.