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By Samantha Romero  On Saturday, May 21st, InSports Foundation will be hosting our first Color Dash! 50% of the proceeds from this event will benefit underprivileged youth pay for their seasonal expenses. The Colordash is a non-competitive, un-timed, 5k run/walk that will be held in Saint Louis Park, MN. At each kilometer of the course, volunteers will toss colors at participants. By the end of the run, everyone will be covered with colors!
The Colordash is a great opportunity for you and your family to be active and have fun while also supporting underprivileged youth in the community. Pick-up of registration packets begins at 7 a.m. and the dash begins at 9 a.m.Admission includes an event t-shirt, race pins, temporary tattoo, and 50% of your registration fee goes straight to local youth in the community! Come join us! Make sure to get there early to join in on the dance competitions, hula-hoop contest, and many more contests with awesome swag giveaways!
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By Samantha Romero  The InSports team is thrilled to announce $6,645 were raised on our first year participating in Giving Hearts Day. Without our kind donors the Zach Kraft Scholarship couldn't have been possible. We will be using these funds to help underprivileged youth in the Fargo/Moorhead and Grand Forks area pay for their seasonal hockey expenses in honor of Zach Kraft. More details on how to apply for the scholarship to follow.  Samantha has been with InSports team since the Summer of 2015. She is currently a senior at the University of North Dakota studying Business Marketing. Although she is in Grand Forks for the school year, she is still very involved with InSports by running the social media, website, and finding new creative ways to get kids involved! Before working with InSports she was a marketing intern with her schools athletic program for a year and a half. Learn more about Samantha!  What does InSports mean to you? InSports means giving all kids the opportunity to be part of something. I have younger siblings and I couldn't image them growing up without the opportunity to play sports. What has been your favorite InSports memory?I have so many! One of the most rewarding InSports memory I have is meeting some of the St. Paul Saints scholarship recipients. I had the opportunity to meet Jalen and his family, they told me that Jalen was a very hard worker in his schoolwork and athletics and was very excited to have received the scholarship. The next day he was awarded 'player of the game' It's awesome to see how much passion and enthusiasm kids have for sports at such a young age! What do you like doing on your free time? I love attending sporting events, especially Sioux hockey games and Twins games. I also enjoy being a hometown tourist with my little brother If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Anywhere! My list of places I would like to travel are endless If you had 1,000,000 dollars to give away, how would you do it? I would give it to InSports and underprivileged youth Who is your favorite professional sports team? Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Twins Name one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you? Every single one of my friends call me by my last name If you could have dinner with 3 people, past or present, who would they be?1. Babe Didrikson (Need to know her secret, no one can even come close to her multi-sport athleticism) 2. Harry Styles (Why not?) 3. God (I'd ask him why he made burgers and fries taste so good and vegetables taste like vegetables) If you had one superpower what would it be?Teleportation - it would come in handy on cold, snowy days! What is your favorite form of exercise?Outdoor yoga / hot yoga What is the funniest thing you have heard a child say?My little brother is 3 years old - everything he says is funny to me! Andrew has been with the InSports Team since the beginning, currently serving as the Programs Coordinator and Board Member. He has always been very active, at Concordia he was the Cobbers Mens Hockey team captain and moved on to play professionally in Sweden! Even though Andrew has been playing on a professional hockey team across the world, he still is very involved with InSports. This past summer he got engaged to his girlfriend of 8 years, with the wedding to follow this September!  What does InSports mean to you?InSports is our foundation solely based on helping others! Specifically helping kids with sporting opportunities they would not otherwise have. InSports means giving kids the chance to be kids through sports. What sports did you play Growing up?I loved playing all sports! My competitive nature and my passion to exercise paved the way for sports in my life. Hockey, baseball, and golf are my favorite. What has been your favorite InSports memory? Seeing the smiles on all the faces during our United FC soccer camp this past summer. There is something about sports that makes kids smile unlike anything else, which is so heart-warming. What do you like doing on your free time?Much of my free time consists of sports! I also love working out during my free time. How do you stay active?Playing professional hockey ensures that I stay active and continue to improve. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?Dubai, because it seems so fictional and far away. What is your Strangest Talent?I am good at juggling. If you had 1,000,000 dollars to give away, how would you do it?Of course give it to the InSports Foundation, enabling thousands of kids the opportunity to play sports! What is your all time favorite joke?Q: What is the last thing that goes through a bugs mind when it hits the windshield A: It's butt! Who is your all time hero in athletics?Wayne Gretzky Who is your favorite professional sports team?Minnesota Wild What is your favorite Movie?Miracle on Ice Name one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?That I have only had one girlfriend, for 8 years, and we are getting married in September! If you could have dinner with 3 people, past or present, who would they be?Michael Jordan, Ellen Degeneres, Bill Gates If you were stranded on a desert island and you could only bring three items, what would they be?Beach towel, Sunscreen, and a Boat  Donate here on Feb. 11
Zach Kraft - Local LegendKraft had a passion for the game. In high school he played with the Fargo North Spartans, after graduation he continued his hockey career by playing on various junior teams - including the Fargo Force. In honor of Zach - the InSports Foundation is participating in Giving Hearts Day to raise money toward the Zach Kraft Scholarship. One Donation Changes One Life, One Future, One CommunityBy donating to the InSports Foundation on Thursday, February 11th through impactgiveback.org, youth hockey players will be able to continue their dream of playing the game Zach loved so much. 100% of the funds raised on Giving Hearts Day will go back to kids in the Fargo/Moorhead and Grand Forks area who need assistance paying for their seasonal expenses.  Click here to donate Feb. 11The InSports Foundation is excited to announce it's participation in Giving Hearts Day Thursday, February 11th, 2016. We are extremely thrilled be a part of Fargo/Moorhead's biggest day of giving to support the community and help those in need. Learn what Giving Hearts Day is all about and see how InSports plans to help kids get in the game! What is giving hearts day? Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour online charity event for non-profits to raise money towards their mission. It is a gateway for people to connect to causes they are passionate about doing good work for in the Fargo/Moorhead area. Save the DateOn Thursday, February 11th our online page will be open for your charitable donations. In 2015 there were over 30,500 donations giving to 287 charities. The $6.96 million raised is now at work improving health, stocking pantry shelves for the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless, providing mentors for at-risk kids and, in countless other ways, making life richer for everyone in our region. Life-Long Impact For Underprivileged KidsInSports will be using the donations made on Giving Hearts Day towards the Zach Kraft Scholarship. Kraft was a hockey player in the Fargo/Moorhead area who was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme — an aggressive stage 4 brain cancer, in February 2014. Through this scholarship, Zach will inspire many kids to continue playing the game he was so passionate about. Hockey equipment alone can cost more than $500 a season, making it less affordable for underprivileged families. InSports will sponsor and mentor kids, making a long-life impact for their future. Helping kids participate in sports is what we are all about! Join us in our journey as we continue to impact kids in our community!  Bridget is our current Programs Chair and Board Member - also known as Innovatives own fashionista! She has been with the team for over a year now and has impacted many kids so far with no plans on stopping anytime soon. Growing up she was always passionate about sports and played on many teams, during her college years she was on the Concordia College Womens Baseketball team and continues to stay active every day!  What does InSports mean to you?It means providing kids the opportunity to play sports. I learned so many life long lessons throughout my athletic career and I want to give kids a chance to get in the game! What sports did you play Growing up?I started playing sports when I could walk! I played volleyball, basketball, softball and dance. What has been your favorite InSports memory?There are so many, but I would have to say our Minnesota United FC InSports Day where we provided around 100 kids with the opportunity to play soccer and learn skills from a former professional player! What do you like doing on your free time?I love being active, traveling and hanging out with family and friends. How do you stay active?I incorporate fitness into my daily routine. I love training clients on the side and teaching company wellness. If you had 1,000,000 dollars to give away, how would you do it?I would give it to InSports! If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?I would travel to South America. I love the Hispanic culture and I absolutely love the ocean. What makes you laugh?It's not hard to make me laugh! Who is your favorite professional sports team?Minnesota Timberwolves Name one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you.I am a total band nerd! If you were stranded on a desert island and you could only bring three items, what would they be?Water bottle, Music and a Ball In August, hundreds of football players laced up their cleats, put on their helmets and stepped foot on the field for pre-season. Winning the conference and playing in the state tournament was at the forefront for many determined athletes. But there is more to football than just a winning record, state titles and stellar uniforms. It’s about being a dedicated team that works hard. Its about getting involved in the community. Its about molding athletes into successful individuals. Throughout the football season The InSports Foundation, Innovative and the Minnesota Vikings were searching for that unique Minnesota football program, and we found them! We had numerous applicants with incredible stories highlighting community involvement, teamwork and extreme dedication to the game of football, and all were deserving. We are extremely excited to announce Caledonia Football Program as the Minnesota Football Program of the Year and the winner of the “In the Game Award for 2015.” They will be granted $10,000 with a portion of the funds going to a youth sports program to support the InSports Foundation’s mission of helping kids get in the game. Stay tuned for the town takeover this spring! Click on the video below and watch the Caledonia Football story unfold!  Sunday, January 10, 2016 Noon - 2 p.m. Official start at 12:30 p.m. Outdoors at the Guidant John Rose MN Oval 2661 Civic Center Drive, Roseville, MN 55113 InSports Foundation is teaming up with Health Partners and Kare 11 in Saint Paul to host the first ever Frozen 5k at the Guidant John Rose Oval on Sunday, January 10th. Participants of all ages and skating levels are invited to skate 12 laps around the Minnesota oval for this unique experience.
InSports Foundation is pleased to announce we will provide entry fee scholarships and Riedell will provide skates for 20 disadvantaged local youth who may not otherwise be able to participate in the skate. HealthPartners will also be hosting a skate drive and are encouraging participants to donate new or gently used skates that will be refurbished by Strauss Skates and donated to programs that serve local youth. The first 50 people who donate skates will receive an additional voucher for a ticket to select events during the U.S. Championships. You can sign up for this event HERE. Tickets are $25 in advanced and $35 on the day of. Don't miss out on the opportunity to participate in the first ever Frozen 5k at the Guidant John Rose Oval.  Athletes can come from a wide variety of different backgrounds and walks of life. Some are born rich with everything they could have ever wanted, some are born middle class and others are born into poverty and need to fight for everything they have. There is a deep, internal strength and resilience that is present inside of an individual that has to overcome such hardships early in life. Some of the greatest current and all time athletes have come from broken families and tough childhoods. Check back daily through December 25th to hear more stories who made a name for themselves!  1. Kurt Warner Warner held on to his dream. He took a job in Cedar Falls stocking supermarket shelves for $5.50 an hour, trained during the day at his old college, and told anyone who would listen that he'd be an NFL quarterback some day.  2. Caron Butler Caron Butler was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin and grew up with a rough and impoverished childhood. As he got older, things continually got worse and worse. He got into drug dealing by age 11, due to this dire situation, and was arrested 15 times before the age of 15. It was during a lengthy stay at a detention center that he re-discovered his love for basketball. He was eventually successful enough to be able to secure a scholarship at UConn and the rest is history.  3. LaBron James You don't have to like 'King James' to be inspired by his story. Lebron James now makes millions of dollars each year playing for whatever team he feels like blessing with his presence, but his early life was less than ideal. His mom was just 16 years old when he was born and he spent a few of his early school years in a foster home. His father figure was in and out of prison for selling drugs and committing fraud. James has obviously made a name for himself. After appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a high school basketball player, 18-year-old James became the No. 1 draft pick right out of high school. His success is undeniable and is surely motivating young people around the country to work hard for what they want  4. Manny Pacquiao Boxing Manny Pacquiao really had to fight his way up from the bottom. His home country, the Philippines, is relatively poor, and Pacquiao's dad once got so desperate that he even ate the family dog. After this disturbing event, Pacquiao ran away from home and lived on the streets, selling doughnuts to make money to survive. Boxing became a way for him to turn his life around. Pacquiao has become something of a national legend, even becoming the first athlete to appear on a Philippines postage stamp. He has the distinction of being the only boxer to ever win world titles in eight different weight divisions and is considered one of the best boxers of his generation.  5. Lee Trevino Lee Trevino started to work at an early age. Would you believe that at 5 years old, he was already working on a cotton field? As he grew older, Lee worked odd jobs and even shined shoes just to support his family. Work also led him to his career. By 14 years old, Lee became a caddy. He then became a pro golfer and since then, had a $40 million net worth by his career’s end. His story is one of the most inspiring ones in all of sports.  6. Usain Bolt Usain Bolt came from a village that had no running water and no street lights. His upbringing was also a difficult one. When he turned into sports, he initially loved to play cricket but eventually became a sprinter. Since then, Bolt had shocked the world by breaking world record after world record aside from winning multiple Gold medals in multiple Olympic Games. The fastest man on the planet has definitely worked his way from the bottom to the top.  7. Herschel Walker Herschel Walker was overweight in high school that’s why he was always bullied by other kids. His speech impediment also gave him a hard time back then. In order to change his life, Walker went into rigorous training to become a top athlete. He eventually became an NFL player. He was considered as an athletic running back with a great body. He has also written a book about multiple personality disorder to help give inspiration to other people.  8. Jameel McClain Jameel McClains childhood was not an easy one. Growing up in Philadelphia, McClain barely relied on meals and shelter from the local Salvation Army. He once saw a pair of shoes hanging from a phone wire, it became his favorite pair. He leaned on to football to turn his life around. He eventually played for Syracuse and then became an NFL player in 2008. Since then, he doesn’t need to worry about shelter, food, or even shoes. He even helps their local Salvation Army as a way of giving back.  9. Adrian Peterson Adrian Peterson had a rough time growing up. At 13 years old, he witnessed his father being arrested by the police due to money laundering. When he was 7, he saw his brother die after being hit by a careless drunk driver. In spite of these hard events in his life, he turned into a great football player and made it to the NFL.  10. Ray Lewis Lewis had to endure a hard childhood because he took the place of his father. He helped his mother and his four siblings while growing up due to his father’s absence. He used football as a way to improve their lives. He got a scholarship at the University of Miami and eventually became the NFL player that he is known for today. He helped the Baltimore Ravens acquire two super bowl titles  11. Christiano Ronaldo Ronaldo was born in Portugal, where his mother was a cook and his father was a gardener. His family grew up in poverty and less than ideal conditions. In fact, Ronaldo shared a ingle room with his brother and two sisters. He claims that they had very little and that he never had any toys. Ronaldo also had a rough time growing up. He was well liked in school, but got in major trouble at school and was eventually expelled for throwing a chair at his teacher. Today, he is one of the most recognized names in soccer.  12. Pele
Pele is widely regarded as one of the top football players of all time and is an absolute legend in the sport. Pele was born in Tres Coracoes, Brazil. His father was also a professional soccer player, but failed to earn a solid living with it, thus the family lived in poverty. Even in this impoverished upbringing, Pele developed a real talent for soccer and eventually found his way out of poverty. Pele actually first learned the sport by playing soccer with a rolled-up sock, stuffed with old rags. |
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