Indiana Sports Corp

admin

INDIANAPOLIS - Rick Fuson, Pacers Sports & Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer, has been elected chairman of the Indiana Sports Corp Board of Directors. Fuson becomes the eighth chairman of the board since Indiana Sports Corp's inception in 1979. Jennifer Pope Baker, Executive Director of the Women's Fund of Central Indiana, was elected as Vice Chair. After serving nearly seven years as board chairman, Scott Dorsey will remain on the board and assume the role of immediate past chairman.

"Rick and Jennifer are exceptional leaders in our community and we are excited they have agreed to take an expanded role with Indiana Sports Corp as our Board Chair and Vice Chair," said Ryan Vaughn, Indiana Sports Corp president. "As our organization strives to fulfill our mission each and every day, we rely on the community-minded individuals who comprise our board to play a significant part in our success. We are grateful for the strong leadership Scott has shown our organization the past seven years and look forward to the impact Rick and Jennifer will have in these new roles."

In his current role at Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Fuson is responsible for operations of all aspects of the business and facilities elements. Through his more than 30 years in the sports industry, Fuson has been active in pursuing major events for Bankers Life Fieldhouse and the City of Indianapolis. Fuson held management and committee roles in numerous impactful community events, including the 2012 Super Bowl Village Committee, 2002 FIBA World Basketball Championships, 1987 Pan American Games, five NCAA Final Fours, numerous Big Ten Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, among others. Fuson currently serves as the Founding Chair of the Local Organizing Committee Board of Directors for the 2021 NBA All-Star.

"I am absolutely thrilled to serve as Board Chairman of Indiana Sports Corp," commented Rick Fuson, President and COO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. "I started working with Indiana Sports Corp in 1984, so I know firsthand the outstanding work ISC does in our community and I look forward to working with the vast network of supporters to continue making our city and state a great place to live, work and play. The sports strategy for Indianapolis designed nearly 40 years ago has worked fantastically and continues to provide millions of dollars of economic impact today."

Under Baker's leadership, the Women's Fund has become the expert resource for issues impacting women and girls in central Indiana and a leader in seeking solutions in helping emerging adult women move from economic instability to economic security. Baker is active in many volunteer roles throughout the city, currently serving in her third year as the Local Organizing Committee Chair for the Indy Women in Tech Championship driven by Group1001. She is also a longtime Indiana Sports Corp volunteer formerly serving on local organizing committees for the P&G Gymnastics Championships and multiple NCAA Women's Final Fours in addition being an Executive Committee member for Indy's Super Cure and NFL Team Liaison for Super Bowl XLVI.

"I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve as a volunteer in a wide variety of ways for Indiana Sports Corp over the past twenty-nine years and am excited to continue my service in this new way," said Jennifer Pope Baker, Executive Director of the Women's Fund of Central Indiana. "I highly respect and admire Ryan Vaughn and the talented staff of Indiana Sports Corp and I look forward to working with Rick Fuson and the rest of the Board of Directors to continue to elevate the reputation of Indianapolis as the sports event capital of the world."

Fuson and Baker join the following members of the Indiana Sports Corp Executive Committee: Scott Dorsey (High Alpha), Cindy Simon-Skjodt (Samerian Foundation), Steve Sanner (Jiffy Lube of Indiana), Dennis Dye (Shiel Sexton), Andy Conner (JP Morgan Chase), Tag Birge (Cornerstone Companies), Kathleen McNeely (NCAA), Ryan Kitchell (Indiana University Health), Ed Bonach (CNO Financial Group, Inc.), Karin Sarratt (OneAmerica), Ted Boehm (Hoover Hull Turner), Dr. Phil Borst (Shelby Street Animal Clinic), Michael Browning (Browning Investments, Inc.), Earl Goode (State of Indiana), Tom King, Sandy Knapp (SK Consulting), Carolene Mays-Medley (White River State Park Development Commission), George McGinnis (GM Supply Co.) and Jim Morris (Pacers Sports & Entertainment).

In addition to changes in leadership, John Hammond IV also joins the Indiana Sports Corp Board of Directors representing the State of Indiana.

rick-fuson-elected-indiana-sports-corp-chairman-of-the-board

Rick Fuson Elected Indiana Sports Corp Chairman of the Board

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indiana Sports Corp will present the 2016 Pathfinder Award to Indiana Fever's Tamika Catchings and CBS Sports studio analyst Clark Kellogg. The Pathfinder Award, presented annually since 1988 by Indiana Sports Corp, honors individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of America's youth. These champions for America's youth will be recognized at the Indiana Roof Ballroom during a luncheon on Friday, November 4, 2016.

"We are grateful to honor Tamika and Clark for their commitment to serving others and creating impact in the community," said Ryan Vaughn, Indiana Sports Corp President. "Their dedication and work on behalf of numerous organizations, particularly those that benefit youth, make them the perfect choice to join our distinguished list of Pathfinder Award recipients."

Just returning from the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Catchings joins Teresa Edwards and Lisa Leslie as the only American basketball players, male or female, to earn four (4) Olympic gold medals.

At the conclusion of the 2016 season, her final one, Catchings will have completed 16 seasons in the WNBA, which is the most of any WNBA player with the same franchise. Catchings will retire having been named Defensive Player of the Year five times, a nine-time WNBA All-Star and All-WNBA eleven times.

GALLERY: Kellogg's Pacers Career in Photos »

In 2015 she was also presented the ESPN Humanitarian Award. In 2004, Catchings's founded Catch the Stars, a community service foundation, which provides goal-setting programs that promote literacy, fitness and mentoring for youth.

Clark Kellogg has served as both a game and studio analyst for CBS Sports' coverage of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championships for over two decades. Kellogg has been with CBS since 1993 and has also done television commentating for the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland State University, the Big East Television Network, and ESPN. Kellogg is commonly known for his "Clark-isms" and catch phrases during games.

Kellogg is involved with many different charities and service organizations including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the United Way, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio and American Red Cross, where he is a longtime routine blood donor. He has served as a Big Brother for nine years with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.

He is a former first-round draft pick of the Pacers (1982, eighth selection overall) and played five seasons with the team. Due to chronic knee problems, he retired with a career average of 18.9 points and 9.6 rebound per game. He was also selected to the 1983 NBA All-Rookie Team.

Kellogg is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and attended The Ohio State University where he was named Big Ten Conference MVP in 1982. He received his degree in 1996 from Ohio State, and in 2010, was appointed to the university's board of trustees. He and his wife Rosie are parents to Alex, Nick, and Talisa.

This is the 29th year for the annual Indiana Sports Corp Pathfinder Awards, presented this year by Ice Miller.

Over the years, the Pathfinder Awards have honored a tremendous list of recipients including Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Jeff and Karen Saturday, John Wooden, Larry Bird, Governor Mitch Daniels, Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning, Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, and Dick Vitale, among others.

kellogg-and-catchings-receive-indiana-sports-corps-pathfinder-award

Kellogg and Catchings Receive Indiana Sports Corp's Pathfinder Award

Indiana Sports Corp, through its Geared For Health: Sports Equipment for Kids program, distributed more than 40,000 new or gently-used items of sporting equipment to 100 Indiana youth-serving organizations who have pre-registered for the event on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The equipment will benefit approximately 100,000 central Indiana youth.

At Wednesday's distribution, representatives from youth-serving organizations picked up large amounts of sports equipment, including golf clubs, soccer balls, treadmills,baseball gloves, basketballs, cleats, and much more.

Collected items are distributed to nonprofit youth organizations, sports leagues and sports clubs. The program focuses on making sports more accessible to underserved children and encouraging commitment to a healthy lifestyle. It offers a convenient opportunity for local organizations and families to clear out their warehouses and closets while providing a valuable service to keep kids active and healthy. Over the past seven years, the Geared For Health: Sports Equipment for Kids Program has collected more than $2,000,000 in equipment and distributed that equipment for the benefit of more than 240,000 local youth through 260 Indianapolis area youth serving organizations.

WTHR-13 is a Geared For Health Program partner. Jay's Moving Company and Celadon provided trucks to collect and move the equipment for the distribution. The 40,000 items of sports equipment come from donations from the 150 companies who recently participated in the ISC Corporate Challenge, as well as large donations by LIDS.

Pacers guard Rodney Stuckey helped collect donations during the Corporate Challenege at Woodland Bowl on Oct. 20.

Indiana Sports Corp will impact approximately 120,000 central Indiana youth in 2014 through programs such as Geared For Health, the Susan Williams CHAMPS Grant Program, and youth initiatives such as clinics at Indiana Sports Corp events. Earlier this month, the not-for-profit organization launched the Indiana Sports Corp Exchange, an online tool to connect youth-serving organizations with those individuals and companies who have resources to give.

Indiana Sports Corp

Rick Fuson Elected Indiana Sports Corp Chairman of the Board

Kellogg and Catchings Receive Indiana Sports Corp's Pathfinder Award

Indiana Sports Corp Distributes Sports Equipment to 100 Youth-Serving Organizations