Chicago, IL -
Chicago Games, Inc. announced today the addition of several key community organizations to the list of boosters of a Chicago 2006 Gay Games Bid. Support letters from the following organizations have been posted at ChicagoGamesInc.org.
Amigas Latinas – 200-member organization serving Latina lesbian, bisexual and questioning women
Bailiwick Repertory Theatre – Chicago’s award-winning theatre company with special emphasis on productions of interest to the GLBT community
DykeDiva.com – Chicago’s leading lesbian website
The Hearts Foundation – 6-year-old volunteer charitable organization that raises funds each year for HIV/AIDS and breast cancer through events, including the Fireball Festival each February
Howard Brown Health Center – the Midwest’s largest GLBT health organization providing medical services, social services and research on GLBT health issues
Lakeside Pride Bands – Chicago’s GLBT bands
Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corps – Chicago’s 10-year-old performing color guard
These seven organizations join 20 others who have offered support to CGI should Chicago be awarded the 2006 Gay Games.
Sports Experts Added
CGI also announced that it has added two more GLBT sports experts to its Board of Directors. Chicagoans Sam Coady and Ted Cappas have joined the CGI Board of Directors for terms expected to run through 31 December 2006. Both were instrumental in developing the Sports Section of the bid Chicago formally presented to the Federation of Gay Games on 30 January 2004.
Since 1987, Sam Coady has been a leader in Chicago's gay and lesbian sporting community. He is the founder and former director of the Chicago Hoops Classic, having built the tournament into the largest annual gay basketball tournament in the world and has been on the Windy City Athletic Association Board of directors for much of the past 15 years. In softball, Sam has played in 16 straight North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAA) World Series, having made it to the championship game three years. Over the past 16 years, Sam has participated in more than 70 national softball and basketball tournaments. He organized Chicago's basketball team for the Gay Games in 1994 that finished fourth. Professionally, Sam works in Corporate Finance and is a graduate of Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Ted Cappas has been active member in Chicago's gay and lesbian sports community for the past six years. As an original member of Chicago's inaugural flag football league, Ted was a member of two championship teams. In softball, he has played and managed in more than 15 national tournaments and has participated in the last four NAGAAA World Series, with second and third place finishes. Ted is an active player and member of the Windy City Athletic Association's Basketball Board of Directors, and is the current Tournament Director of the Chicago Hoops Classic. Professionally, Ted is a Commercial Lending Collateral Analyst, with more than nine years of commercial lending experience. He is a graduate of Indiana University.
Ted and Sam are two of CGI’s 5 Sports Directors. The other 3 sports directors include:
Suzanne Arnold, an active sports enthusiast and veteran of three Gay Games, has served in leadership capacities in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chicago. She was a founding member of the Women’s Division of NAGAAA, served as its Women’s Commissioner, and was the first woman inducted into the NAGAAA Hall of Fame. Suzi has served on the Windy City Athletic Association Board of Directors, has directed women’s softball and basketball, and is a former Co-Chair of Team Chicago.
Paul Oostenbrug is an independent program development and grant-writing consultant in health and social services. A former resident of Boston and Washington, D.C., Paul has been an active member of Frontrunners in each city and won a gold medal in the marathon in the 50-54 age category in the 2002 Gay Games. Paul serves on the board of an AIDS housing organization, Chicago House. He has been on the Team Chicago board since 1998 and currently serves as Co-Chair of Team Chicago.
Elizabeth Valenti has participated in all but one of the Gay Games. In Sydney, she was a member of a silver medal winning softball team. Elizabeth has been involved in the gay and lesbian community in Chicago for more than 15 years, participating in softball, golf and volleyball. A former and past President of Women’s Sports Association, with Paul she is Co-Chair of Team Chicago.
The Chicago Games, Inc., Board of Directors is comprised of community leaders and activists who are experts in finance/audit, sports, fundraising, marketing, media, transportation, hospitality, and legal issues. Executive Board members include: Dennis Sneyers and R. Sue Connolly, Co-Chairs; Tracy Baim and Renae Ogletree, Vice Co-Chairs; Kevin G. Boyer, Secretary; and Kurt Dahl, Treasurer. Sam Coady and Ted Cappas join four other at-large Board members include: Rob Hunden, Mona Noriega, John Paquet, and Christopher Pries. Full biographical details for each Board member are available at ChicagoGamesInc.org.
Additional Board Members Sought
CGI is seeking additional Board members who have expertise in the following areas: technology, marketing, fundraising, community-building, and event planning and management. Persons of color, women, transgendered individuals, and persons with HIV/AIDS are especially encouraged to apply. For more information, contact CGI via email at volunteer@chicagogamesinc.org, or call (773) 561-2704. People who want to volunteer but not in a Board capacity are also encouraged to contact CGI.
Amigas Latinas – 200-member organization serving Latina lesbian, bisexual and questioning women
Bailiwick Repertory Theatre – Chicago’s award-winning theatre company with special emphasis on productions of interest to the GLBT community
DykeDiva.com – Chicago’s leading lesbian website
The Hearts Foundation – 6-year-old volunteer charitable organization that raises funds each year for HIV/AIDS and breast cancer through events, including the Fireball Festival each February
Howard Brown Health Center – the Midwest’s largest GLBT health organization providing medical services, social services and research on GLBT health issues
Lakeside Pride Bands – Chicago’s GLBT bands
Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corps – Chicago’s 10-year-old performing color guard
These seven organizations join 20 others who have offered support to CGI should Chicago be awarded the 2006 Gay Games.
Sports Experts Added
CGI also announced that it has added two more GLBT sports experts to its Board of Directors. Chicagoans Sam Coady and Ted Cappas have joined the CGI Board of Directors for terms expected to run through 31 December 2006. Both were instrumental in developing the Sports Section of the bid Chicago formally presented to the Federation of Gay Games on 30 January 2004.
Since 1987, Sam Coady has been a leader in Chicago's gay and lesbian sporting community. He is the founder and former director of the Chicago Hoops Classic, having built the tournament into the largest annual gay basketball tournament in the world and has been on the Windy City Athletic Association Board of directors for much of the past 15 years. In softball, Sam has played in 16 straight North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAA) World Series, having made it to the championship game three years. Over the past 16 years, Sam has participated in more than 70 national softball and basketball tournaments. He organized Chicago's basketball team for the Gay Games in 1994 that finished fourth. Professionally, Sam works in Corporate Finance and is a graduate of Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Ted Cappas has been active member in Chicago's gay and lesbian sports community for the past six years. As an original member of Chicago's inaugural flag football league, Ted was a member of two championship teams. In softball, he has played and managed in more than 15 national tournaments and has participated in the last four NAGAAA World Series, with second and third place finishes. Ted is an active player and member of the Windy City Athletic Association's Basketball Board of Directors, and is the current Tournament Director of the Chicago Hoops Classic. Professionally, Ted is a Commercial Lending Collateral Analyst, with more than nine years of commercial lending experience. He is a graduate of Indiana University.
Ted and Sam are two of CGI’s 5 Sports Directors. The other 3 sports directors include:
Suzanne Arnold, an active sports enthusiast and veteran of three Gay Games, has served in leadership capacities in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chicago. She was a founding member of the Women’s Division of NAGAAA, served as its Women’s Commissioner, and was the first woman inducted into the NAGAAA Hall of Fame. Suzi has served on the Windy City Athletic Association Board of Directors, has directed women’s softball and basketball, and is a former Co-Chair of Team Chicago.
Paul Oostenbrug is an independent program development and grant-writing consultant in health and social services. A former resident of Boston and Washington, D.C., Paul has been an active member of Frontrunners in each city and won a gold medal in the marathon in the 50-54 age category in the 2002 Gay Games. Paul serves on the board of an AIDS housing organization, Chicago House. He has been on the Team Chicago board since 1998 and currently serves as Co-Chair of Team Chicago.
Elizabeth Valenti has participated in all but one of the Gay Games. In Sydney, she was a member of a silver medal winning softball team. Elizabeth has been involved in the gay and lesbian community in Chicago for more than 15 years, participating in softball, golf and volleyball. A former and past President of Women’s Sports Association, with Paul she is Co-Chair of Team Chicago.
The Chicago Games, Inc., Board of Directors is comprised of community leaders and activists who are experts in finance/audit, sports, fundraising, marketing, media, transportation, hospitality, and legal issues. Executive Board members include: Dennis Sneyers and R. Sue Connolly, Co-Chairs; Tracy Baim and Renae Ogletree, Vice Co-Chairs; Kevin G. Boyer, Secretary; and Kurt Dahl, Treasurer. Sam Coady and Ted Cappas join four other at-large Board members include: Rob Hunden, Mona Noriega, John Paquet, and Christopher Pries. Full biographical details for each Board member are available at ChicagoGamesInc.org.
Additional Board Members Sought
CGI is seeking additional Board members who have expertise in the following areas: technology, marketing, fundraising, community-building, and event planning and management. Persons of color, women, transgendered individuals, and persons with HIV/AIDS are especially encouraged to apply. For more information, contact CGI via email at volunteer@chicagogamesinc.org, or call (773) 561-2704. People who want to volunteer but not in a Board capacity are also encouraged to contact CGI.
