January 17, 2007 - New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. announced today that the Jamaica High School track program from Jamaica, NY, has been named the winner of the Eighth Annual New Balance Marty Glickman Award. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in academics, team spirit and community service and includes a $10,000 scholarship that will go toward funding the team’s expenses. East New York High School of Transit Technology track program from Brooklyn, NY was selected the runner-up winner, earning a $5,000 award.

The award, which pays homage to the recently deceased track star, legendary sports broadcaster and humanitarian Marty Glickman, was presented during a special ceremony at the 12th Annual New Balance Games on Saturday, January 20, 2007 at the New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory in Upper Manhattan. The Women's Indoor Track Team and its coach, Mr. Alan Coles, received the award on behalf of the entire JHS track program. New York City Council member John Liu of Queens, at right in the picture above, presented the award.

“It is an honor to present the New Balance Marty Glickman Award to such worthy track and field programs as those at Jamaica High School and East New York High School of Transit Technology,” said Paul Heffernan, Executive Vice President, Global Marketing, Design, and Development. “Marty personified the ‘Achieve New Balance’ philosophy that recognizes the importance of perseverance and success on and off the playing field.”

In addition to a grade point average of 80.33%, Jamaica High School’s community service achievements include volunteering and partaking in a number of community and charity events. The team has participated at the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk for the past two years. They also volunteered for the New York City Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s 2006 Bike Tour, as well as the 12th Annual “Walk the Walk” for the Kidney and Urology Foundation of America, by preparing and setting up for the day’s events.

The Jamaica High School track team plans to put their scholarship money towards the purchase of a van or bus for transportation to competitions. This would not only cut their traveling time to and from competition venues, but it would also save the team money. Any remaining funds from the scholarship will go toward the purchase of much needed uniforms and athletic gear.

Quoted from New Balance, Inc's. press release.

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