About Us
Lehigh Valley SportsFest, Inc.
LEHIGH VALLEY’S PREMIERE SPORTING EVENT
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MISSION STATEMENT
To attract, stimulate and promote amateur sporting events and entertainment within the City of Allentown and The Lehigh Valley, through the use of City and County parks and recreational facilities, and to encourage participation by all area residents.
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Lehigh Valley SportsFest (LVSF) is a 501(c)(3) corporation organized in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is registered with the State of Pennsylvania, Bureau of Charitable Organizations. LVSF staff is all volunteer. The purpose of LVSF is to promote sports in the Lehigh Valley by offering local athletes the opportunity to compete in the sport of their choice with athletes throughout the region. Proceeds benefit inner-city high schools in the Lehigh Valley.
LVSF was founded in 1996 by Raymond Atiyeh with the full support of the City of Allentown. LVSF is held over a period of four days throughout the City of Allentown and over fields and other venues within the Lehigh Valley. LVSF not only provides local athletes the opportunity to compete but provides a revenue stream for local businesses in the Lehigh Valley throughout the days of competition. In 2008 an estimated 10,000 amateur athletes participated in LVSF with 150,000 people attending the four day event.
Since the inaugural tournament in 1997, LVSF has grown from 16 sporting events to 45 sporting events scheduled for 2009. LVSF has introduced new sporting events each year to showcase the ever changing climate and population.
In addition, the historical Highland games provide the participating athletes the opportunity to showcase these ancient games in a community wide event that is not solely Celtic in concept. By showcasing these games, LVSF provides an educational venue to the community to see ancient sports and culture outside of their everyday experience.
LVSF events for 2009 include but are not limited to:
Archery Arm Wrestling Ballroom Dance
Basketball Bicycle Billiards
Bodybuilding Bowling Boxing
Celtic Games Dance & Hip-Hop DISC GOLF
Dog Agility Figure Classic Flag Football
GOLF Gymnastics Cheerleading
HANDBALL Horseshoes Lacrosse
Martial Arts Power Lifting Roller Hockey
Soccer SPORTS CAR RACING TABLE TENNIS
TENNIS Ultimate Frisbee Volleyball
Wrestling Yoga
LVSF has committed its organization to maintaining a diverse and educational focus of each sporting event and gives the athletes the opportunity to experience competition at a community wide event. By doing so it keeps the event alive and evolving. LVSF invites athletes from the Lehigh Valley community but also from western Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and surrounding states. All events have diverse participants and by providing the venue, exposure, support and equipment, many of the athletes would not necessarily have the opportunity to compete in a high level atmosphere.
Programs and Services
Proceeds of SportsFest benefit the community and inner-city youth.
· Capital Purchases such as Bleachers, dance floor, fencing, tables
and chairs, roller hockey rinks, portable baskets are also used
for the City of Allentown capital recreation
· $1,000 scholarship for boy’s basketball was started in 2008.
The first recipient was from an inner-city high school
· LVSF rewards inner-city sport programs and their volunteers by
donating a portion of the event’s proceeds to their athletic
program
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN ... SportsFest
Lehigh Valley Sportsfest , Inc., 1002 Tilghman Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Why not consider helping to sponsor this worthwhile event.
Visit our "Sponsors" page for more information.
Honorary Chairs: Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham
Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski
President/Executive Director: Raymond Atiyeh
Vice President: Dan Molesky
Secretary: Annamae Leitgeb
Treasurer: Michael Ellwood, CPA
Board Members: Paulette Kish
Robert E. Noecker
Jon Swartz, Esq.
Click here for Organization Chart 2009
Want your sport included in Lehigh Valley SportsFest?
Contact Ray Atiyeh
Phone: (610) 439-8978
Fax: (610) 439-8477
e-mail: info@sportsfest.org