El Pomar Foundation pledges $3 million to keep USOC in city

Colorado Springs, Colo. --  The El Pomar Foundation has pledged $3 million to satisfy the next phase of the agreement with the City of Colorado Springs to keep the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) in Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera made the announcement this morning at Penrose House, the headquarters of El Pomar.

"Amateur sports are part of the fabric of this community and state, and the U.S. Olympic Committee is an icon for Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region," said Rivera at the announcement.  "The USOC has been a vital part of this community for 32 years and we're excited about our future."

The $3 million combined with the proceeds from the city's sale of certificates of participation and an expected $500,000 state grant together will satisfy the $13 million required in the phase one of the fundraising for Olympic Training Center improvements, the USOC Headquarters and the National Governing Body buildings in the city. 

"El Pomar is a foundation committed to the prosperity of Colorado-its people, its economy and its culture," said Norman Bellingham, the Chief Operating Officer of the USOC and a 1988 gold medalist in Kayak. 

"Mayor Rivera and the City Council have been steadying influences in this process from the beginning.  They have looked out for the interests of the city and have been consummate professionals in this movement to keep Colorado Springs at the forefront  of sports cities in this country.

"We look forward to moving into our new headquarters building this spring and to the improvements at the Olympic Training Center that will benefit the great athletes of this country." 

As part of the original agreement the $13 million is due to the USOC by Nov. 18, 2009.  An additional $3 million will be due Sept. 18, 2011.

A committee that will seek to raise the additional $3 million will be co-chaired by  Bill Hybl, El Pomar Foundation chairman and CEO;  Nechie Hall, CEO of Vladimir Jones and Phil Lane, former COO of Pepsi Lane.   Rivera and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper will serve as special advisers to the fundraising committee.

"We are excited about our future with the U.S. Olympic Committee, the Olympic Training Center and 38 sports organizations that call this community home," said Hybl, who served as USOC president in 1991-92 and 1996-2000.  "In this next stage, we will get things done.  This is important to our community."

Since 1977 when the USOC selected Colorado Springs as its headquarters and home, El Pomar has made 15 grants totaling $9.485 million to support programs and capital projects associated with the USOC. 

The El Pomar Foundation is one of Colorado's largest charitable organizations.  Last year the foundation provided $25.5 million in donations to various charities and nonprofit groups across the state. 

For more information contact the USOC's Communications Division, 719 866-4529 or visit www.teamusa.org..  This information can also be found on http://usocpressbox.org.

Tags: Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera, El Pomar Foundation, OTC, USOC