13 Aug USATF Foundation awards $625,000 in Stephen A. Schwarzman Grant Funds
NEW YORK CITY – Along with the rest of America’s track & field fans, the USATF Foundation was privileged to witness four grueling days of competition in Des Moines, Iowa at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships. The best athletes in the sport fought to qualify to represent Team USA in Doha, Qatar this fall. Over the past 14 years these athletes have looked to the USATF Foundation for supplemental funding to make the dream of competing on the world stage a reality. With an eye on the 2020 Tokyo Games, the USATF Foundation and Chairman Bob Greifeld are thrilled to announce 25 Stephen A. Schwarzman grant awards in the amount of $25,000 each.
In 2017, Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone, became the largest individual donor to the USATF Foundation with an unprecedented $2.5 million donation in support of elite track & field athletes, and has since increased his total support to $2.75 million. The funding is meant to provide financial support to assist these athletes in achieving their goal of bringing home a medal from the IAAF World Athletics Championships this year in Doha, Qatar and the ultimate goal of competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics next summer.
“Once again, Steve Schwarzman has stepped up to give our American athletes the funding they need to bring medals back to the USA. Steve’s support has had a tremendous impact on the performance of the Stephen A. Schwarzman grantees and will again next year in Tokyo,” stated Bob Greifeld.
“It is an honor to support these athletes as they train to represent the United States on the world stage. Their incredible personal stories, dedication and work ethic are a source of inspiration for me and so many others. I look forward to following their success in the year ahead,” added Schwarzman.
It is a remarkable yet difficult task for the USATF Foundation Elite Athlete Grant Committee to consider the overwhelming amount of applications received each year. The committee tries to identify athletes who have podium potential that will be enhanced by financial support.
The 25 talented athletes to receive funding in the amount of $25,000 each are:
Brianna McNeal – 100m Hurdles
Brittney Reese – Long Jump
Brooke Andersen – Hammer
Chase Ealey – Shot Put
Craig Engels – 1500m
Dalilah Muhammad – 400m Hurdles
Darrell Hill – Shot Put
DeAnna Price – Hammer
Donald Scott – Triple Jump
Donavan Brazier – 800m
Emily Sisson – 5000m
Erica Bougard – Heptathlon
Hanna Green – 800m
Hillary Bor – Steeplechase
Joe Kovacs – Shot Put
Katie Nageotte – Pole Vault
Kendell Williams – Heptathlon
Keturah Orji – Triple Jump
Omar Craddock – Triple Jump
Paul Chelimo – 5000m
Phyllis Francis – 400m
Ryan Crouser – Shot Put
Shelby Houlihan – 1500m
Valarie Allman – Discus
Will Claye – Triple Jump