Impact
Serving Children in Need
In 2004, Andy Roddick clocked a 155 mph serve to break the record for the fastest delivery in tennis history that had stood since 1978. His record stands to this day and is just one of the former World No. 1’s growing list of accomplishments.
What makes Roddick different from many of today’s young superstar athletes however is not all his achievements take place in the competitive arena.
Two years before he won the 2003 U.S. Open as an unheralded 21-year-old, Roddick had already created the Andy Roddick Foundation to help care for children who suffer from illness or experience abuse and neglect.
Roddick’s foundation raises money through donations and endorsements, sales of “No Compromise” bracelets inspired by Lance Armstrong’s “Live Strong” campaign, and proceeds from a three-day Charity Weekend which includes celebrity guests. The money raised is then distributed to select organizations so they can implement their projects for children.
Roddick currently resides in Austin, having returned to the hometown of his youth after a number of years living in Florida. Wanting to do something for the disadvantaged youth of the city, he became a supporter of A Glimmer of Hope and since 2003 his foundation has donated $95,000 in support of the annual Camp Glimmer.
Camp Glimmer is a life changing camp. Kids have the ability to dream big, aim high and not settle for less. For some of the children who attend the camp, their families are working paycheck to paycheck just to put food on the table which makes paying for a summer camp out of the question.
But every summer, Camp Glimmer gives hundreds of children an opportunity to experience the joys of a top-notch summer camp for free. And, one of the reasons it is able to do that is because of the generous support of people like Andy Roddick.
With the help of Roddick’s donations, the camp has been able to take campers on field trips to Fiesta Texas, Volente Beach and Sea World. Situated on picturesque Lake Travis, the young campers enjoy all manner of activities including music, arts and crafts, basketball, street hockey, volleyball, and, of course, Roddick’s favorite sport, tennis.
Exclusively run by volunteers, the Andy Roddick Foundation is directed by Roddick’s mother Blanche and is based in Boco Raton, Florida. Since it was started, the foundation has raised over $3 million which it has distributed to a number of worthy organizations in addition to A Glimmer of Hope.
The Roddick foundation’s motto is: “Serving Children Today for Tomorrow.” By supporting Camp Glimmer, he is delivering on that promise.
Another prominent supporter of Camp Glimmer is Paul Carrozza who owns and operates all the RunTex stores around Central Texas, and is a board member and founder of Shoes for Austin. By leveraging RunTex’s relationships with vendors, Carrozza provides top quality running shoes to Camp Glimmer at only $20/pair. This support is allowing A Glimmer of Hope to reach its goal of providing every camper with a new pair of running shoes. “I love bringing the Running Shoe Industry together with children whose lives will change with a quality running shoe from the best manufacturers in the world. I have seen shoes change the lives of so many, properly put to use.”
Coincidentally, Carrozza and Roddick served together on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Appointed by President Bush, they used their time on the council to promote health, physical activity, fitness, and enjoyment for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities through participation in physical activity and sports.
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