Welcome!

• About the National Recreation Foundation
• Note from our President
• 2006 Financial Summary
• Governance

James Donnelley, President

Tony Mobley Executive Director

The Trustees of the National Recreation Foundation, individually and collectively, are committed and energized in their efforts in support of “Youth at Risk” and “Healthy Lifestyles” programs. This year, 2005-2006, has been especially active, as several new programs conceptualized and developed over recent years are now being implemented and expanded in many new cities across the country.

Here are some of the year’s highlights:

The core program, based on individually-sponsored Trustee grants, was strengthened by Trustee commitment to provide coordination and oversight to each approved grant. These grants, made in 21 cities during 2005-2006, are typically in the $25,000-30,000 range and each represents an exciting opportunity to develop a new or more successful way to achieve the Foundation’s mission. Each of these programs is reviewed briefly as part of this report.

The Trustee approved initiative to provide larger and often multi-year grants was expanded into several cities. These grant requests, typically in the $200,000-300,000 range, are reviewed by a newly activated Trustee committee that addresses the likelihood of outcome measurement and potential to achieve on-going funding beyond the initial NRF grant. In Chicago, the Umoja Student Development project, proven successful in two pilot high schools, has now been expanded to several other high schools. In Dallas, encouraged by early grant success, the Ready for Life: Nutrition and Fitness curriculum sponsored by public television station KERA is developing more modules to greatly enhance this program. In Philadelphia, additional funding has been provided to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for the Green City Youth Program for plants, trees and green spaces in parks and other areas. The Kids at Hope program has been so successful in Phoenix, AZ; Tacoma, WA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Springfield, IL and several others, that the Foundation is helping to expand the program to fifteen new cities.

This past year, the Foundation also increased its efforts to share with interested constituencies new ideas and program results so that high potential initiatives can be identified, implemented and expanded. For example, the Foundation helped sponsor The Urban Summit conducted by the National Recreation and Park Association in Chicago in May which brought together leaders from the one hundred largest cities in America to address issues and discuss opportunities of particular concern to the inner city. Additionally, the Foundation formalized its website, nationalrecreationfoundation.org, so that the work of the Foundation and ideas for interesting programs helping “Youth at Risk” and “Healthy Lifestyles” can be shared and implemented in other areas. The number of on-site visits by the Foundation’s Executive Director has also been increased to further reinforce the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to recipient organizations.

The annual funding for these grants collectively is approaching $1.5 million. A special thanks to Jonathan Scott who provides oversight and management services pro-bono to the endowment that underpins the Foundation’s program.

Separately, a highlight of the Annual Trustee meeting is the presentation of the Crawford Achievement Prize, honoring an individual deemed truly outstanding in his or her commitment of service to the youth of the country. This year we honor Margaret Daley of Chicago for her outstanding contributions to the youth of that city. The current Trustee group of 21 representing cities across the USA also welcomes three new Trustees this year: Lynne Brickner of Los Angeles, CA; Timothy Richardson of Atlanta, GA; and Jon Seal of Littleton, CO. These individuals have demonstrated in their communities a commitment to programs aligned with the Foundation’s mission. We look forward to their ongoing contributions.

Finally, as my three-year term as President concludes, I would like to express my appreciation for this very satisfying experience to the Trustees, the members of the Executive Committee, our community partners, and to the Foundation’s Executive Director, Tony Mobley, all of whom provide wonderful support to the Foundation and its worthy mission.