INSTILLING A LIFETIME OF SPORTS TO ALL FW YOUTH – Message From The Mayor

The Lifetime Sports Academy recently wrapped up its 20th summer with more than 1,000 participants this year and a total of 26,950 participants over the last 20 years. Group lessons in the lifetime sports of golf, tennis and swimming were offered to boys and girls ages 7-18. Lessons focused on skill development.

Each year, the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department provides certified coaching and highly trained professionals who direct lessons in golf, tennis and swimming. Offering instruction in three sports has been a successful formula throughout the years. The Lifetime Sports Academy has developed a solid reputation and attracts a large number of kids each summer.

This year, the following numbers of lessons were given: 2,300 golf lessons, 1,500 tennis lessons and 1,772 swim lessons. Participants have the opportunity to earn new tennis rackets, golf clubs, and more. Over 90 rackets and 30 sets of golf clubs were earned.

Jerry Fox and Tom Jehl spearheaded the effort to instill a lifetime of sports to all youth in Fort Wayne through golf, tennis and swimming. The Lifetime Sports Academy would be about having fun and learning skills that would be with individuals throughout their lives. These activities would be free, including all facilities, instruction and equipment.

Click to advertise on this website

Since its beginning in 1998, Lifetime Sports Academy has awarded more than 1,970 tennis rackets and close to 1,325 sets of golf clubs to participants who passed their skills tests.

Fort Wayne is a great place for young people to participate in positive activities and learn new skills. We’re fortunate to have the Lifetime Sports Academy in our community. The program is making a lasting and meaningful impact.

Another great way to encourage the youth in our community is through internships. I recently hosted a graduation ceremony for individuals who participated in this year’s City of Fort Wayne Summer Internship Program.

This year, 15 people completed internships with the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department.

The program is guided by the following principles:
*As a City, we value diversity in all forms and support that value in the active recruitment of a diverse workforce.

*As a City, we seek to attract and retain the best and the brightest that our community has to offer to ensure leadership and vision for the future of Fort Wayne.

*As a City, we endeavor to foster the ability for all residents to seek educational attainment to ensure a brighter future for themselves, their families and our community.

The program is a collaboration of the City of Fort Wayne Human Resources Department, Fort Wayne UNITED, Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department, Latinos Count and Questa Education Foundation.

Internships offer valuable opportunities for future leaders to learn new skills and become more familiar with city government services that are provided to the public. It’s critical for young people to feel connected and valued in a work setting. Internships demonstrate our collective commitment to have a lasting and meaningful impact on interns as well as the residents and businesses we serve each day.