USA Triathlon Foundation Awards $110,000 in COVID-19 Relief Fund Grants

June 25, 2020

40 race directors, coaches, clubs and collegiate programs selected as recipients

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The USA Triathlon Foundation today announced the grant recipients for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, established in April to support members of the multisport community who have been adversely impacted by the pandemic. More than $110,000 will be dispersed to 40 organizations and individuals.

The USA Triathlon Foundation received 173 applications and over $866,000 in requests for grant funding from USA Triathlon-certified race directors and race management organizations; USA Triathlon-certified coaches and clubs; and other individuals and organizations that have been impacted by the pandemic.

The USA Triathlon Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund raised more than $110,000 through the USA Duathlon Virtual Run-Bike-Run presented by TOWER 26, a five-week virtual event, which ran from April 10-May 17 and had more than 6,100 participants. The first $20,000 in donations to the COVID-19 Relief Fund were matched dollar-for-dollar by USA Triathlon CEO Rocky Harris and his wife, Elizabeth Harris ($10,000), and a combination of the USA Triathlon Foundation Board of Trustees and the USA Triathlon Board of Directors ($10,000).

“The multisport community is a close-knit family, and in times of need, family takes care of each other. There are countless race directors, clubs, coaches and organizations doing truly incredible and inspiring work right now, and we are glad to play a small part in helping them continue to pursue their goals,” Harris said. “These grants are also a testament to the generosity of individuals across the country who, while each facing their own unique set of challenges, as we all are, donated to this important cause.”

The relief fund grant recipients, selected through an application process, each reflect the USA Triathlon Foundation’s mission of supporting the multisport community when they are in need, and protecting and growing the sport through uncertain and unprecedented times.

“During these challenging times, the USA Triathlon Foundation is honored to support the multisport community through our COVID-19 Relief Fund,” said Dave Deschenes, USA Triathlon Foundation Executive Director. “Through the generosity of supporters, athletes and donors we were able to raise over $110,000 to be distributed across the country to help those in need.”

“With the COVID-19 crisis, races came to a hard stop in early March, and race directors have needed to make some big changes and big decisions,” said Eva Solomon, Founder and CEO of Epic Races, and member of USA Triathlon’s Race Director Committee. “We have been re-inventing racing for the time being, while finding creative ways to keep our athletes engaged and racing. We appreciate and value the hard work of the USA Triathlon Foundation. Their support through the COVID-19 Relief Fund will help us continue to provide new and innovative opportunities for our athletes to continue to swim, bike, and run as we all ride this wave together.”

The COVID-19 Relief Fund grants were awarded to the following organizations and individuals:

Certified Race Directors/Event Production Companies:

• All Sports Productions (Arkansas)
• CORE Foundation (Virginia)
• EventPower (New York)
• Finish Line Productions (California)
• Generic Events (California)
• Kinetic Multisports (North Carolina)
• Live Red Foundation (Virginia)
• Maine Cancer Foundation (Maine)
• Negative Split Productions (Texas)
• New England Virtual Triathlon (Massachusetts)
• Precision Multisport (Illinois)
• Polka Dot Productions (South Carolina)
• RaceAwesome (New York)
• Racing For Steve-O Foundation (Illinois)
• Rev3 (Virginia)
• Team ATP (Michigan)Tim Kerr Charities (New Jersey)

Certified Coaches:

• Andy Potts Racing (Colorado)
• Bennefield Multisport (New Mexico)
• The International Association of Black Triathletes (Maryland)
• Lightning Warriors (New York)
• MMTT Multisport Youth (Illinois)
• PowerWatt Coaching (Texas)
• RTA Triathlon (New Jersey)
• SBR 4 Life (Georgia)

Certified Clubs:

• Balanced Art Multisport (Utah)
• Challenged Athletes Foundation (California)
• Dare2Tri (Illinois)
• District Triathlon (Washinton D.C.)
• Gaylord Hospital (Connecticut)
• iracelikeagirl (Massachusetts)
• Kingsbury Youth Tri Club (Massachusetts)
• SheStrong (Arizona)
• TriLatino (New York)
• Tri-Masters Sports Initiative Programs (Illinois)
• Virgin Islands Triathlon Federation (Virgin Islands)
• ViVe (Colorado)

NCAA Emerging Sport For Women Programs:

• Arizona State University (Arizona)
• Davis & Elkin College (West Virginia)Northern Vermont University (Vermont)

About the USA Triathlon Foundation
The USA Triathlon Foundation was created in 2014 by the USA Triathlon Board of Directors as an independent tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity. Under the leadership of its Trustees and Committee members, the Foundation serves as a means to create a healthier America through triathlon and seeks to transform lives by opening up new pathways to the sport for all, especially those who are otherwise underserved. The USA Triathlon Foundation operates with the belief that every child should have the chance to participate, every paratriathlete should have the opportunity to compete, and every aspiring elite athlete should be able to chase his or her Olympic dream. Since the Foundation’s inception, more than $1.9 million has been provided to worthy causes and organizations that support its mission. Donations to the USA Triathlon Foundation ensure America’s youth are introduced to the benefits and fun of a multisport lifestyle, athletes with disabilities receive the training, support and gear to be able to participate and excel, and the best aspiring young athletes have a chance to pursue their Olympic Dreams. Visit usatriathlonfoundation.org to learn more and donate today.

About USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

– usatriathlon.org –