Resolution 200264

..Title Recognizing and honoring the United Age Group Track Coaches Association (UAGTCA) for over 40 years of dedication to the development of young athletes through the sport of track and field. ..Body WHEREAS, Since 1977, the United Age Group Track Coaches Association (UAGTCA) has worked tirelessly to provide a quality, organized track and field program for the youth of the Philadelphia area; and WHEREAS, The group was founded primarily to address the concern that Philadelphia area athletes, in order to compete effectively, had to travel great distances in order to participate in competitions that could very easily be conducted in our local area; and WHEREAS, The UAGTCA recognizes the importance of competitive track and field events in Philadelphia, and ensures that young athletes are not excluded from competitions based on an inability to travel far distances to track and field events; and WHEREAS, As a new non-profit organization, the UAGTCA overcame financial hurdles as well as a lack of access to facilities suitable to hold track and field events. UAGTCA sponsored a spring competition series in its first year which raised the profile of the organization and encouraged more teams to compete in its future meets. The Spring Series is still held every year and attracts elite athletes throughout the area; and WHEREAS, Since its inception, the UAGTCA has increased its participation from modest meets with 300 athletes in its first years of competition, to meets that draw over 1,000 athletes every week from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and New York; and WHEREAS, The UAGTCA is powered by volunteer coaches and has produced some of the finest track and field athletes in the City's history. The organization's annual youth invitational is used by many athletes as a springboard to national competition; and WHEREAS, The UAGTCA has allowed countless young people in Philadelphia to compete at the highest levels for over 40 years. The work of UAGTCA benefits not only individual athletes, but the Philadelphia community at large; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and honors the United Age Group Track Coaches Association (UAGTCA) for over 40 years of dedication to the development of young athletes through the sport of track and field. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the United Age Group Track Coaches Association as evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.