Jan 20, 2015

The John Currie Amateur Sport Legacy Fund Hits $1 Million Goal

Calgary, AB – January 20, 2015 –Lindsay Park Sports Society (LPSS) and Talisman Centre are excited to celebrate achieving their fundraising campaign goal of one million dollars for The John Currie Amateur Sport Legacy Fund, thanks to the financial support of its donors.  The purpose of the Legacy Fund is to award bursaries to amateur athletes in support of their goals and dreams.

In 1983, Calgary hosted its largest amateur sport competition, the Western Canada Summer Games, at Talisman Centre, the flagship facility of the Games.  At the conclusion of the successful event, a Legacy Fund of $250,000 was established to support amateur athletes and amateur sport. Inspired by this commitment to amateur sport, in 2012, Talisman Centre launched a fundraising campaign to increase the value of the Legacy Fund to $1million and name the fund in honour of John Currie, community champion and President of the 1983 Western Canada Summer Games.
The Legacy Fund plays a vital role in supporting talented, high performance athletes in their competitive journey, and every bursary award  has an incredible impact on our athletes and creates new opportunities for sport excellence.  "So many of our sponsors, suppliers, LPSS Board Governors and Alumni , fans and friends of Talisman Centre have been incredibly supportive of our Legacy Fund,” said Jeff Booke, CEO, Talisman Centre.  "It is their commitment and passion for amateur sport and amateur athletes that has helped elevate the Legacy Fund to a new fundraising record.”
To understand how far reaching the impact is for amateur athletes, recent bursary recipients share their thoughts and appreciation:
“The John Currie Amateur Sport Legacy Fund bursary that I received this year mostly went towards funding my trip to World Championships in Budapest, Hungary this past May.  It was my result at World’s that allowed me to secure a place at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China (first Canadian pentathlete), so the Legacy Fund has had a huge impact on my sporting career by helping give me what was an amazing opportunity,”  Kali Sayers, Modern Pentathlon and Fencing, Ares Pentathlon and Fencing Club and Calgary Patriots Swim Club.

“I have the privilege of being a bursary recipient. My sport involves a great deal of travel, often out of province which comes with a cost. The bursary helps lessen the financial strain allowing me to focus on my training and goals. The award also acknowledges and recognizes committed athletes. It gave me a feeling of accomplishment that all those hours of training and dedication to a sport were not going unnoticed. It made me want to work even harder to prove I was deserving of the award. My long term goal is to compete at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics,” Caeli McKay, Diving, Dive Calgary,

“I’m so grateful to receive a bursary this year, as this will be truly helpful with my goal of building myself into the finest shape possible to ensure the best chance of qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics,”  Constantine Kudaba, Water Polo Canada Senior Men’s National Team.
 
The call for applications for bursaries funded by The John Currie Amateur Sport Legacy Fund is now open and closes February 28, 2015.  In April 2015, $12,000 will be awarded to amateur athletes with financial need training in Calgary, to support their training and competition needs in pursuit of their athletic goals.  

About LPSS and Talisman Centre
Established in 1983 following the Western Canada Summer Games, the Lindsay Park Sports Society was formed with a commitment to enhance the overall well-being of Calgarians through sport and wellness. The LPSS is a non-profit society that expertly manages Talisman Centre on behalf of the people of Calgary.

Talisman Centre has been one of Calgary's most iconic and beloved facilities for over 30 years located in the heart of downtown and set in the middle of beautiful Lindsay Park.  Talisman Centre provides elite and amateur athletes with an inclusive atmosphere and wide spectrum of world‐class training services. It continues to serve as the training facility for many of Canada’s Olympic, Paralympic and World Champion athletes. The uniqueness of the facility can be seen daily as citizens of Calgary work out and train alongside world class athletes. Rediscover Talisman Centre and its cutting edge programs and services by visiting www.talismancentre.com

or more information, please contact: 
Lorissa Dong, Sales & Marketing Director
Talisman Centre
403 355 1250

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