Altus’ A Better Youth Foundation Inc. (ABYF) announced today a three year $12.5 million Youth Running for Pride Capital Campaign to better serve their mission, which is to show children through Christ that all things are possible, by providing after-school and summer programs which develop spiritual awareness, educational study habits, health/fitness standards and mentoring youth who have been abused or neglected. ABYF will revitalize low and/or moderate communities by creating jobs for low-income residents in Jackson County community by building a sports medicine complex design as a multi-sports center with a seating capacity to hold 24,000 people.

ABYF capital campaign land development project will consist of one large crenosphere dome 500 square feet in diameter, 125 squares in height and this facility will cater to sports enthusiast of track & field, football, basketball, soccer, concerts and similar events. It will also include hanging press boxes, hanging HD screen scoreboards,dining areas, spectator seating, club seats, party suites, private suites to include dressing rooms with lockers, locker rooms for game officials, office space for coaches, trainers, equipment managers and 37 public restrooms.

In addition, the center will include “ABYF Exercise and Sports Education Physician Clinic” this fitness center will accommodate an workout area, aerobics area, rock climbing walls, a juice bar/cafeteria, locker rooms, equipment rooms and conference/multipurpose rooms. The center will have donated spaces available to 501 c 3 tax-exempt organizations that deals with disaste and can help with sheltering people in case of emergency operations.

The arena will be managed and operated by an outside contractor that has experience in property management hosting major events related to sports, concerts, civic, social, conventions and other entertainment.

The Youth Running for Pride Capital Campaign Goals & Strategies after Construction are to: Create and improve the regional quality of life in order to attract prospective corporate sponsors, desirable businesses in sports related industrie; Create and improve recreational opportunities throughout the region; Maintain and improve regional infrastructure and services to improve area quality of life, such as access to quality health care, access to recreational opportunities; Availability of police, fire and emergency services; Access to quality educational and training opportunities; abd ti create business that will bring our young women and men back to the community after college to utilize their college degrees or othe forms of credentials.

Jackson County will be able to market itself for economic development by promoting ABYF Altus Sport’s & Education Center as a tourist attraction and commercial economic center for the region.

Timothy Wilson, President of ABYF says the capital campaign is vital to Oklahoma unemployment rate which is 7.1 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic and 15.5 for ages 25 and over with no high school diploma, the national rate is currently 10.2.

“ABYF has demonstrated a strong financial performance for 4 consecutive years through varies projects. However, it is not enough to fund our land development project to build on 37.8 acres of donated property from Plains Cotton Co-Op located in Altus.

The naming rights for this monolithic dome arena will go towards a major campaign sponsor, these funds will help us with the construction cost of the facility to make our mission a reality for many families in Jackson County and surrounding areas that are in need of good paying jobs,” Wilson said.

Youth Running for Pride Capital Campaign is off to a great start with supporters such as: Plains Cotton Co-Op Plant manager Jay Cowart Senator Mike Shultz, Representative Charles Ortega and Floyd Colston, Altus Emergency Management Director.

ABYF plans to utilize their marketing strategy to gain local suppor through mechanizing ABYF logo for this campaign along with hosting AA Youth Sporting events in different location throughout Oklahoma an other states as well. In order to participate in ABYF Sport’s Camp program youth and adults must pay a yearly membership fee. Membership fees are based on family size and yearly income statement that will be verified by the Secretary of the foundation. These fees go toward AAU membership, transportation cost, entry fees, uniforms and program cost.

Youth Running for Pride Capital Campaign will begin the first week in January 2010 and end January 2013. All monies fundraised from hosting sporting events will go toward the construction of the multi-sports complex and program expenses.

Currently ABYF Sport’s Camp track & field program is having sign-ups for the AAU 2010 season. If this is a program your child would be interested in please visit our website at www.abetteryouthfoundation.org to find out more about our track & field program, you can also go to www.aausports.org to get more information about AAU sports. Please notify Willie Mason, Secretary of ABYF if you or your organization is interested in our programs or sponsorship by email: wldcry@yahoo.com or call 580-471-8137.