FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 20, 2020
Contact: Anne Warner Cribbs, 415.264.2067
USA Olympian 1960
Northern California Olympians and Paralympians Association
Announce Recipients of 2020 Grant Awards
2020 Travel and Training Grants for Olympic and Paralympic Hopefuls
San Francisco, CA……The Northern California Olympians and Paralympians Association (NCOPA), a chapter of the USOPC Alumni Organization, announced the recipients of the NCOPA grant program. A total of $4,950 was distributed to the following 2021 Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls:
Robyn Stevens – Track & Field – 20km & 50km Race Walk
Sabrina Massialas – Fencing Women’s Foil
Alexander Massialas – Fencing Men’s Foil
Shannon Rowbury – Track & Field 1500m/5000m
Russel Gernaat – Paralympic – Rowing
Meghan O’Leary – Rowing, Women’s Double Sculls
Liam Rivington Corrigan – Rowing, Men’s Heavyweight 8+ and 4-
Nikhil Kumer – Table Tennis- Men’s Singles/Doubles/Teams
Katie Holloway – Paralympic -Sitting Volleyball
NCOPA Travel and Training grants provide direct financial assistance to athletes with successful competitive records who have the potential to qualify for future Olympic or Paralympic Teams. Funds are to be used for coaching, specialized training, equipment and travel.
Jim Schmitz, chair of the NCOPA Grant Program and Olympian (Weightlifting), explains, “This is the ninth time, since 1988, the NCOPA has awarded Travel & Training Grants. The total number, including 2019 grantees is now 94 – and it is always exciting to help provide funding for Olympians and Paralympians from Northern California – to be able to help future Olympians and Paralympians from our hometowns.”
Barbra Higgins, NCOPA Treasurer, (Fencing) in distributing the checks, wrote to the grantees, “On behalf of the NCOPA board, we hope this contribution to your efforts, during these uncertain times, gives you comfort knowing we are behind you and cheering you on. Stay strong and well! And know we believe in you.”
Julie Nichols, current NCOPA Chair and Olympian (Rowing) added “We are so proud to award these grants this year, especially in this difficult time for athletes in training. We hope these grants will provide a bit of help as you continue to train for Tokyo 2021.”
Funds for the NCOPA Travel and Training Grant Program come from the proceeds of the NCOPA Welcome Home Olympians and Paralympians Dinner, held every four years, just after the Olympic and Paralympic Games and from contributions from Olympians and Paralympians from past teams and community members.
For more information on the grant program and a list of the previous award winners, www.ncolympiansparalympians.org
The Northern California Olympians and Paralympians (NCOPA) is an organization of Olympians and Paralympians from past and present teams who live and work in Northern California. The NCOPA offers fellowship to past and current Olympic and Paralympic team members and coaches, coordinates appearances at youth, community and corporate events; and supports an active, visible, nationwide and worldwide Olympian organization. The NCOPA is a chapter of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Alumni Association. Membership in the Northern California Olympians and Paralympians is open to all Olympians and Paralympians from any country. For more information, please see www.NCOlympiansparalympians.org