FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 20,2022
Contact: Debbie Gendreau - 207-992-4490
Bangor Student Athlete Awards Bangor Parks & Recreation Spotlight Grant Through Gatorade
BANGOR— Bangor native and Maine girls Gatorade Track & Field Player of the Year, Anna Connors, awarded Bangor Parks and Recreation with a $10,000 grant to help accomplish our mission on providing all citizens opportunities for recreation and improvement of physical and mental well-being.
Sports have seen a double-digit decline over the past decade, but young people that participate in sports are found to be happier, healthier and better students. Gatorade Play It Forward empowers Gatorade Player of the Year recipients across the country to award local or national sports organizations with grants, so they can continue helping young athletes enjoy the benefit of sports.
After Anna Connors won the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year award, she then submitted a short video to be considered for one of the 12 Spotlight Grants of $10,000.
“As with all Gatorade Player of the Year award winners, Anna Connors has demonstrated exemplary character,” said Kara Darling, Assistant Marketing Manager for Gatorade Player of the Year. “Her short video illustrated the role that Bangor Parks and Recreation has had in fostering that character. Our vision is that organizations like Bangor Parks and Recreation continue to positively impact the kids of the future.”
Alan Mosca, Bangor High head coach had a lot to say about Anna. "We are all extremely proud of Anna for her winning the 2021 Maine Girls Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the year. Anna has accomplished so much on the track as she is a 4 time Team State Champion and 7 time Individual Champion. She is also a three time individual state record holder and Anna belongs on the Mt. Rushmore for Girls Track and Field in the State of Maine. Her drive and work ethic is unparalleled and she has a competitive edge that is second to no one. She is also one of the most caring and kind student athletes I have witnessed in my 30 years of High School athletics. We all have been blessed by Anna and her commitment to excellence at Bangor High School."
All 608 Gatorade State Player of the Year recipients are awarded a grant to donate to the organization of their choosing. Gatorade State Players of the Year may also submit a short video explaining why the organization they chose is deserving of one of a Spotlight Grant.
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About Gatorade Player of the Year
The Gatorade Player of the Year is an athletic award program that annually recognizes student athletes not only for outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character in 12 different sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls track & field. The Gatorade Player of the Year award is the most prestigious award in high school sports. In existence for more than 35 years, past winners include Peyton Manning, Sydney McLaughlin, Mallory Pugh, Karl- Anthony Towns, Abby Wambach, Jayson Tatum, and many other sports icons.
Play It Forward is Gatorade’s cause marketing platform, which empowers every one of the Gatorade Player of the Year award winners to choose a local or national youth sport organization to receive a $1,000 grant from Gatorade. Gatorade State Players of the Year may also submit a short video explaining why the organization they chose is deserving of one of 12 Spotlight Grants, which awards $10,000 to the organization.
About Bangor Parks and Recreation
Bangor Parks and Recreation strives to offer all citizens opportunities for recreation and improvement of physical and mental well-being. We provide a multitude of recreation programs which serve over 7,000 families, from pre-school to youth programs, to adult and senior citizens. Two of our largest program that serve the youth of Bangor is our summer camps and our Kids Cave Before & After School program, which serves hundreds of families throughout Bangor.We are also dedicated to providing quality park systems that can be enjoyed by all residents and visitors. With 21 parks, 13 playgrounds, 11 trail systems, over 700 acres and numerous facilities throughout the city to be enjoyed by all. To learn more about us, please visit Bangorparksandrec.com.