ANNIKA Foundation Event Highlights

Announcing the ANNIKA Inspiration Award

I am very excited to tell you about the first-ever ANNIKA Inspiration Award!  I would like your help in nominating an exceptional young female athlete.  The national award will be given to a young woman who has been inspired by someone in her life and who now excels in her sport while demonstrating leadership qualities, taking time to give back to her community or sport, and in turn, serves as an inspiration to others.  The winner of the ANNIKA Inspiration Award will be unveiled on October 12 at the Women’s Sports Foundation annual gala in New York City.  
 
Please click here to nominate a deserving junior female athlete!

Speaking at the 35th Junior PGA Championship

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The PGA of America and Sycamore Hills Golf Club have announced that World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam will speak to participants competing in the 35th Junior PGA Championship.

Annika will address many of the top junior golfers in the country at the Championship Welcome Dinner, Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m., at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne, Ind.

“I am very excited to attend the 35th Junior PGA Championship,” said Annika. “Many of those competing this year will help carry this great game in the future and I am looking forward to getting a chance to help them pursue their dreams in both golf and life.”

Chipping for Charity with PF Changs

New York, NY -- June 28, 2010 -- World-renowned female golfer Annika Sorenstam, PGA Tour Professional Briny Baird and PGA Teaching Pro and U.S. Veteran Don Vickery, the first and only double amputee Class A member of the PGA of America, teamed up to support charity and accomplished a seemingly impossible feat -- scoring bulls-eye golf shots from the rooftop of a 40-story building at Waterside Plaza in New York City onto a floating target in the East River.

Based on their “Chipping for Charity” success, P.F. Chang’s will donate $100,000 to help both the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families, and the ANNIKA Foundation.

Read the full story here.

ANNIKA Foundation and Florida Hospital for Children Launches Healthy 100 Kids

Marla Silliman - Administrator Florida Hospital for Children
Lars Houmann - President and CEO Florida Hospital,
Annika
Des Cummings - Executive Vice President, Florida Hospital

ORLANDO, Fla., June 24, 2010 – Children between the ages of six to 10 took to the lawn in front of Florida Hospital for Children running in an obstacle course with legendary golfer Annika Sorenstam. This unique display was designed to visually show the types of challenges that parents often face when trying to care for the health of their child.

Florida Hospital for Children is launching a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind health initiative called Healthy 100 Kids to help families gain better access to health and wellness experts in one convenient location. Healthy 100 Kids is designed to help kids stay active and provide parents with valuable information, tools and resources about healthy living. The Healthy 100 Kids program is made possible due to the generous donations of community partners including Annika Sorenstam and the ANNIKA Foundation, the Martin Andersen – Gracia Andersen Foundation, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation and others.

“The goal of Florida Hospital for Children’s Healthy 100 Kids program is to create a comprehensive approach to answer a need in our community for better access to health and wellness programs for children,” said Marla Silliman, administrator of Florida Hospital for Children. “Florida Hospital has been caring for patients for more than 100 years and we see first hand how many obstacles patients face. Our goal is to eliminate those obstacles and make it as easy as possible for parents to have access to the care they need for their children.”

“The ANNIKA Foundation strives to teach children about the importance of healthy living and an active lifestyle,” said Annika Sorenstam. “I am so excited to partner with Florida Hospital for Children’s Healthy 100 Kids program because together, I think we can help kids’ live healthier lives. It is our vision that steps we take against the largest pandemic facing America’s youth will one day be best practices implemented nationwide.”

You can read the full press release here.

ANNIKA headlines 2nd Annual Golf, Food & Wine Event to Benefit ANNIKA Foundation

BEDMINSTER TOWNSHIP, N.J., June 2, 2010 — Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam will serve as host and guest of honor at the second annual ANNIKA Experience to be held on Monday, Oct. 11 at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster Township, N.J.

A special benefit for the ANNIKA Foundation, the entire day is designed to satisfy the appetite for great golf, as well as treat guests to fabulous food and exquisite wine.

Learn more about this event here.

ANNIKA Foundation Junior Day in Memory of Holly Baxter

May 22th was the ANNIKA Foundation Junior Day in Memory of Holly Baxter at the ANNIKA Academy. 80 local kids participated in golf fitness and nutrition and was on hand for a special clinic hosted by Annika. Check out the photos below from earlier today.

Special thanks to the Baxter family for making this special day possible.

ANNIKA Foundation Donates $37,500 to Orange County Schools to Implement SPARK Program for Physical Fitness

Orlando, Fla. (May 25, 2010) – The ANNIKA Foundation awarded five $7,500 grants to Orange County elementary schools to fund the implementation of School Specialty’s SPARK Physical Education (PE) program during the 2010-11 school year. Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam started her foundation in 2007 to teach children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition. Annika visited Hungerford Elementary School to present the awards and lead the children in a fitness lesson with a SPARK representative.

Read more news here.