Findlay Acura
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Findlay Acura helps Children's Heart Foundation through annual golf tournament
After their daughter's short 14 month life, the parents of Maggie Stewart were forever changed and also determined to do something to help families in similar situations.
Maggie passed away in July 2008 from complications during a procedure to correct a congenital heart defect.
The story of John and Mollie Stewart and their annual "We Heart Maggie Golf Tournament" scheduled for May 30, 2010 at Black Mountain Golf & Country Club in Henderson was brought to the attention of Jim "Red" Donahue, Internet director at Findlay Acura (FindlayAcura.com).
"I was so impressed with what the Stewarts were doing in memory of their daughter and in support of the Children's Heart Foundation of Nevada," said Donohue, "that I was determined to get the dealership behind this year's golf tournament. I knew we could help spread the word and generate more donations for Maggie's cause."
Although participation in the golf tournament is already maxed out at 215 golfers, sponsorships and cash donations are always accepted on the event's Web site at WeHeartMaggie.com. All net proceeds from the tournament are donated to Children's Heart Foundation of Nevada (chfn.org).
"At Findlay Acura we believe strongly in giving back to the community we call home," said James Cobbs, the dealership's general manager. "It's something we learned from the late Pete Findlay and continues to this day under the direction of his son, Cliff. We think the We Heart Maggie Golf Tournament in Henderson is a great event that raises awareness for the children and their families, both so deeply affected by heart problems."
The golf tournament was created last year by the parents of Maggie Stewart who was born with multiple heart defects. Her father, John Stewart, said they "had an amazing 14 months with little Maggie. Despite all the medications and poking and prodding, to know her, and to see her temperament and personality, you would have never known she suffered from a heart condition. Reflecting on our time with Maggie, it seems as if God knew we would only have a short time with her, so He made the time we did have with her perfect."
Their experience with regular monthly appointments to monitor their little girl's heart conditions and respiratory issues introduced the Stewarts to the Children's Heart Foundation of Nevada. After receiving so much support and strength from other parents in similar situations, the Stewarts decided to play an active role in the Children's Heart Foundation.
In addition to organizing the annual golf tournament, the Stewarts in partnership with Children's Heart Foundation of Nevada have created Maggie's Garden at the Children's Heart Center of Las Vegas. Maggie's Garden is a special room for children diagnosed with heart defects where they can play and select a toy to keep prior to undergoing a hospital procedure. "It's a place where," according to Stewart, "heart kids will hopefully be able to escape the fear of their pending heart procedure, even if only for a short time."
Founded in 2001 through the compassionate efforts of Las Vegas valley pediatric cardiologists and families of children with heart problems, Children's Heart Foundation of Nevada (chfn.org) provides education, emotional and financial support, as well as summer camp experiences for children who are heart patients.
"We're so flattered and thrilled that Findlay Acura has given its support to the We Heart Maggie Golf Tournament," said Stewart. "We raised $50,000 as a result of the 2009 tournament and with Findlay Acura's help, we're looking forward to providing an even larger donation to Children's Heart Foundation of Nevada this year."
Findlay Acura supports local youth athletes through sponsorship of AthletesRUs.net
When brothers Cory and Pat Gray graduated after playing football for four years at Centennial High School, they felt remarkably alone in their quest to make a career out of what they loved to do - play football.
They looked around and saw many of their cohorts in similar situations, watched as they played for nearby junior colleges and eventually turned their focus to other pursuits.
They thought: "Wouldn't it be great if there were a way for Las Vegas valley youth and teenagers to have a support structure beyond their school that helped them train and prepare for a career as a professional athlete?"
That's when the concept for the Findlay Acura supported website, AthletesRUs.net, was born. After a year in the making it launched in August 2009.
AthletesRUs.net is a virtual community that connects young athletes, male and female, to trainers, recruiters and ultimately opportunities in their sport of choice. Athletes sign-up just like they would on Facebook, creating a personal profile complete with sports stats, the colleges they most admire (and one day hope to attend), demo videos and pictures, to name a few profile elements.
Although the founders are based in Las Vegas, thanks to the Internet, AthletesRUs.net isn't just for Las Vegas area youth. It can be used by young athletes anywhere in the world. In fact, one of the site members is located in France.
The site includes a majority of football, basketball and baseball players, but young athletes in any sport are encouraged to create a profile on AthletesRUs.net.
"Our greatest challenge is just getting the word out," said AthletesRUs.net Co-Founder Cory Gray. "We're targeting high schools, coaches and star athletes to let them know about the resources provided by AthletesRUs.net. We're also reaching out to recruiters and college coaches to show them what we're doing and get their participation."
Some of the most popular activities sponsored by the site are training clinics and camps. In fact, every Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. at Aliante Nature Discovery Park in North Las Vegas AthletesRUs.net hosts an open training session conducted by skilled athletic trainers and focused on speed, agility and strength training. All young athletes are invited to participate and learn more in person about AthletesRUs.net.
"We couldn't do what we're doing if it weren't for community minded businesses like Findlay Acura," said AthletesRUs.net Co-Founder Pat Gray. "We're really grateful for their support. And we're quite proud to play a small role in the success of young athletes, both in the Las Vegas area and around the world."
AthletesRUs.net sponsorship opportunities are available. Sponsors provide the funds necessary to maintain the site and programs presented by AthletesRUs.net. They receive recognition on the site and at AthletesRUs.net sponsored events.
Sponsor dollars are also used to purchase athletic equipment and supplies as well as provide scholarships for outstanding young athletes.
"We agree with Cory and Pat Gray that today's youth should be encouraged to be their best in athletics and academics," said James Cobbs, Findlay Acura's general manager. "We support AthletesRUs.net because it provides an important service to young athletes in the Las Vegas area and beyond. It helps them reach their potential and perhaps even one day achieve their dreams."