PRESIDENTIAL HONOR FOR PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION EMPLOYEE: SPORTS MANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR ANDRE ASHLEY SELECTED FOR WHITE HOUSE AWARD
Posted: March 6th, 2012 11:31 AM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-03/1399/52279/Andre_Ashley.JPG (Photo: André Ashley, Portland Parks & Recreation Sports Management Supervisor. Photo courtesy: Portland Parks & Recreation, Portland, OR)
Presidential Honor for Portland Parks & Recreation Employee:
Sports Management Supervisor Andre Ashley Selected for White House Award
(Portland, OR) –
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) Sports Management Supervisor André Ashley has been selected as a 'Let's Move! and Physical Activity Champion of Change,' as part of President Obama's "Winning the Future" initiative (whitehouse.gov/champions).
The 'Champion of Change' event will be held on March 22 in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House.
The initiative honors "leaders who are doing great work to increase access to physical activity for youth in their community," according to the White House.
PP&R zone manager Doug Brenner nominated Ashley in January.
"Anytime a field, court, or gym is in play in Portland, André and his team are behind it in some way," says Brenner.
Adds Parks Commissioner Nick Fish, "André tirelessly provides the programs, partnerships, and places that keep athletes of all ages at play in Portland. His leadership guarantees that Portland Parks & Recreation offers many ways to stay active and healthy."
"I'm truly humbled," says Ashley. "It's not me, but rather the entire staff who makes our sports programs with PP&R so great. This is an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime honor, but I so much need to give the credit to everyone I work with. It's they who truly deserve the recognition."
Ashley will participate in a discussion of the work he and his team are doing. He'll meet and speak with agency representatives and White House staff. Ashley, who's been at the helm of PP&R's sports programs for more than a decade, will also be featured on the White House website.
According to the White House Office of Public Engagement, the award recognizes Ashley as one who is "Winning the Future" by empowering and inspiring the youth in their communities to lead active, healthy lifestyles.
PP&R's sports programs benefit from the generosity of friends and partners like Beaverton-based Nike.
The global sportswear company has worked with Portland Parks & Recreation on several initiatives, including most recently the Positive Coaching Alliance's coach training program to promote good sportsmanship. Nike has also been instrumental in other youth development programs; the company has paid for jerseys and other equipment associated with Portland Parks & Recreation's sports programs.
For more information, call 503-823-5300 or visit portlandparks.org.
###
Mark Ross Public Information Officer
Portland Parks & Recreation
503-823-5300 (office); 503-823-6634 (cell)
Mark.ross@portlandoregon.gov
Healthy Parks, Healthy Portland
portlandparks.org
Nick Fish, Commissioner | Mike Abbaté, Director
Replies to this message do not go back to the sender.
Go to http://FlashAlert.net/login.html to change or delete these messages.
