With the start of the 2010-11 collegiate athletics season right around the corner, Portland State Athletics is pleased to announce the newly-created "Our Town, Your Team Pledge" program.

The City of Portland is an integral part of the PSU's athletic identity with 64 current PSU student-athletes hailing from the Portland Metro area. In addition, a large percentage of student-athletes make Portland their home after graduation.  The goal of Our Town, Your Team is to celebrate PSU Athletics' relationship to the area by further integrating Viking student-athletes and coaches into the Portland community.

PSU coaches, student-athletes and programs will take part in local activities as well as host clinics and other activities to benefit the community.  Over the course of the 2010-11 season, each Viking team will participate in complimentary youth clinics, complimentary coaches clinics, as well as classroom and charity adoption programs.  Additionally, PSU Athletics will create an athletic scholarship fund intended to help recruit prospective student-athletes from Portland Metro communities and PSU's head coaches will serve on local volunteer leadership boards..

"The Our Town, Your Team Pledge is PSU Athletics' way to give back to the community which contributes greatly to our program's character and success," said Portland State Athletics Director Torre Chisholm. "We are proud to represent the Portland area in athletic competition all across the country and we want increase our role in making this a great city. Additionally, it gives our student-athletes an opportunity to learn the value and rewards from volunteerism and service to others."

Upcoming "Our Town, Your Team" activities

Portland State Football Youth Clinic
Date: August 22
Time: 4:00-5:30 p.m.           
Location: Peter W. Stott Community Field
Football Clinic Registration

Hoop Camp for children with special needs - Men's & Women's Basketball
Date: August 30
Time: All Day
Location: Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District Center

United Cerebral Palsy Walk Roll and Run Event - Men's & Women's Basketball
Date: September 11

ALS Walk - Portland State Athletics Teams
Date: September 26

Fall Sports Clinic - Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Track & Field, Golf
A free multi-session clinic for kids aged 8-13 run by PSU coaches and student-athletes
Date: October 2
Time: 8:00 a.m. check-in
Location: Peter W. Stott Center

For more information on the activities or Our Town, Your Team Pledge, visit the new goviks.com or contract Community Outreach Coordinator Jenna Wilson at 503-725-4000 or wilsonjl@pdx.edu.


PORTLAND STATE ATHLETICS OUR TOWN, YOUR TEAM PLEDGE

WHEREAS, Portland State is the University which serves the Portland community as a center of expertise - educating the local population, conducting research which benefits local businesses and citizens, and consulting on matters and policies of local and regional importance;

WHEREAS, Portland State University is honored to be an integral part of the vibrant, engaged, and forward thinking Portland Metro community;

WHEREAS, the City of Portland is a major component of PSU's desirability and attraction for prospective recruits, coaches, and staff;

WHEREAS, as Portland continues to grow and mature, PSU and Viking Athletics will be beneficiaries of the constantly improving city;

WHEREAS, PSU Athletics represents this community as a paragon of amateur athletics and embraces its responsibility to promote and enhance amateur athletics in the community and its obligation to develop role models to inspire local youth to athletic and academic success
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IT IS RESOLVED THAT, Portland State Athletics pledges its commitment to the citizens of the Portland Metro community.  Beginning in Fall 2010, Portland State Athletics will launch a series of program-wide initiatives to engage our coaches and student-athletes in the community and to celebrate our relationship with Portland.  Portland State Athletics pledges to truly make Portland 'our town' and the Vikings 'your team.'

FURTHER, the Pledge to Portland citizens will become a core part of the Athletic program's culture and identity, engaging staff, coaches, and student-athletes in the effort.  It will be a component in the future recruitment of coaches and student-athletes.

WITNESS, the Our Town, Your Team Pledge is undertaken by Portland State's athletic administration, coaching staff, and student-athletes.