The Hershey Company to Host 37th Annual Hershey's Track & Field Games' North American Final
Program to Transition to “Run Jump Throw” in 2015 Under New Partnership with USA Track & Field and Athletics Canada
HERSHEY, Pa., July 31, 2014 /3BL Media/ — The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) announced today that it will welcome more than 450 youth athletes to compete in the 37th Annual Hershey’s Track and Field Games’ North American Final Meet, on Saturday, August 2, at Henry Hershey Field on the Milton Hershey School campus in Hershey, Pa. Children ages 9 through 14 will come together for a celebration of excellence, full of new friends, learning, competition and fun.
Competitors advanced to the North American Final by winning in local, state and provincial meets. Since its creation in 1977, more than 10 million children have participated in Hershey’s Track & Field Games meets. Over the past three decades it has grown to become the largest youth activity program of its kind in North America.
Olympic greats Dan O’Brien, Rafer Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and Carl Lewis will join the children to serve as ambassadors for the event.
USA Track & Field will webcast the meet live on USATF.tv and provide live results and event coverage at www.usatf.org.
“Our mission at the games is to engage kids in basic running, jumping and throwing activities to inspire a lifetime of physical activity,” said Carl Lewis, nine-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Hershey’s Track & Field Games ambassador. “I’m proud to be part of such a great program that has touched the lives of so many.”
A group of local youth qualified for the North American Final this year and will compete in the event. They include:
- Amelia Baldo—Softball Throw—Palmyra
- Talitha Diggs—Standing Long Jump—Hellertown
- Joshua Dolbin—Standing Long Jump—New Ringgold
- Levi Goebler—Softball Throw—Dover
- Nathan Lahr—Standing Long Jump—Dover
- Paul Olivett—200m Dash—State College
- Avery Parks—Softball Throw—Greencastle
- Taryn Parks—800m Run—Greencastle
- Britney Peachey—Standing Long Jump—State College
- Kiana Purvis—Standing Long Jump—Chambersburg
- Quinton Townsend—100m Dash—Annville
In April, The Hershey Company and USA Track & Field announced a partnership that will transition the program into a national Run Jump Throw program, beginning in 2015 and extending through 2020. The new program will educate children ages 7 through 12 on the fundamentals of track and field. In addition, Hershey will become title sponsor of Run Jump Throw in Canada where it has been a long-standing youth skill-development program. These meets feature collectively more than 5,000 youth athletes, which will help Hershey expand its impact in Track & Field.
Skills taught as part of the new curriculum include warm-ups, running, jumping and throwing techniques. These skills clinics will be followed by “practice meets,” which will allow children to test their newly acquired skills.
“This partnership with USA Track & Field and Athletics Canada will enable more kids to have access to physical activity experiences close to home,” said Leigh Horner, Vice President of Corporate Communications & CSR at The Hershey Company. “We look forward to working with these terrific organizations to help youth develop basic running, jumping and throwing skills and enjoy a variety of sports and recreation interests.”
About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. Headquartered in Hershey, Pa., The Hershey Company has operations throughout the world and approximately 14,000 employees.
With revenues of more than $7.1 billion, Hershey offers confectionery products under more than 80 brand names, including such iconic brands such as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Hershey's Bliss, Hershey's Special Dark, Kit Kat, Twizzlers, Jolly Rancher and Ice Breakers. The company is focused on growing its presence in key international markets such as China, Mexico and Brazil while continuing to build its competitive advantage in the United States and Canada.
For more than 100 years, The Hershey Company has been a leader in making a positive difference in the communities where its employees live, work and do business. Corporate Social Responsibility is an integral part of the company’s global business strategy, which includes goals and priorities focused on fair and ethical business dealings, environmental stewardship, fostering a desirable workplace for employees, and positively impacting society and local communities. Milton Hershey School, established in 1909 by the company's founder and funded by a trust administered by Hershey Trust Company, provides a quality education, housing, and medical care at no cost to children in social and financial need. Students of Milton Hershey School are direct beneficiaries of The Hershey Company's success.
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