Proceeds from Mayor's Cup Challenge fund youth programs

With budget concerns and a desire to expand the department, the Mayor's Cup Challenge was developed to fund youth programs and as a way to give low income families scholarships to participate in recreational programs. The Mayor's Cup Challenge is a golf tournament held once a year in September to raise money for youth programs offered by the City of Lincoln Recreation Department. The MCC began in 2000.The 7th Annual Mayor's Cup Challenge was held on Sept. 17 at Turkey Creek Golf Club.Proceeds from the tournament, organized by the City of Lincoln Recreation Department, benefit youth programs.In 2006, proceeds from the tournament fully funded equipment for our recreational swim team, Lincoln Lightening.The MCC has also funded Kids Kamp (summer day camp), Winter Wonderland Camp (winter break day camp), Teen Camp (summer), Zebra Basketball Camp, Hook a Kid on Golf, Skyhawk Sports Camps, UK International Soccer Camps, Hankins Baseball Academy Skills Camp, Pee Wee Sports, Active Tots, Abrakadoodle art classes, Hip Hop Boot Camp, teen trips, swim lesson scholarships, youth swim passes, Punt, Pass, & Kick competition, Pitch, Hit & Run competition and the Fourth of July Festival Kids Zone. Also, more than $5,000 in scholarships was given out in 2006 for many youth to participate in programs.This year the tournament has raised $69,000 with the help of 28 sponsors. ECO:Logic Engineering Inc. was the title Titanium sponsor of the tournament, donating $20,000. Gold Level Sponsors - Thunder Valley CasinoSilver Level Sponsors - Turkey Creek, Roebbelen Contracting Inc., Placer Holdings Inc., Frayji Design Group Inc., Civil Solutions, Ubora Excellence, Sierra Pacific, Applied Engineering and Geology Inc., Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., Piper Jaffray & Co.Bronze Level Sponsors - NTD Stichler Architecture, Critical Solutions, Inc., PSOMAS, William + Paddon, Andregg Geomatics, SureWest Communications, Mark Thomas & Company, Inc., Hayward Baker- A Keller Co., Gladding McBean, Land Architecture Inc., KT Communities, PG&E, Village 1 Owners Group, Blackburn Consulting, Sundance PropertiesBeverage Level Sponsors - Vali Cooper and Associates Inc., Awards were given out at a VIP Reception held at Thunder Valley Casino on Sept. 13.The theme of the reception was Oscar night. Framed certificates were handed out to all of the sponsors with Eco:Logic receiving "The Oscar."For more information, call Mandy Walker with the City of Lincoln Recreation Department at 645-5298 or stop by the Recreation Office at 2010 First St.