Thursday, September 29, 2011

Spend $10. Enjoy 1 Day. Support 2 Causes.


Spend $10 to enjoy 1 exciting day of golf while supporting not one, but two charitable organizations- the ANNIKA Foundation and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.


The ANNIKA Foundation has a great opportunity this year. We are participating in the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic Community Ticket Program. We are selling one-day tickets to the 2011 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic in Orlando for $10 each. 100% of the proceeds of the tickets sold by us will come right back to the ANNIKA Foundation. 

The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic is the last stop on the PGA Tour each year. It will be held October 17-23, 2011 at Disney’s Magnolia and Palm Golf Courses at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Now in its 41st year, the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic features PGA Tour players and celebrities in a pro-am tournament.

See a list of the current PGA players and celebrities attending this year here.

The ANNIKA Foundation is selling tickets online (payable by credit card) and over the phone. Credit card, cash or check will be accepted.

Online: Visit our secure giving site here.
Mail check to: 9685 Lake Nona Village Place, Suite 205, Orlando, FL 32827
Phone: (407) 385-1252

Tickets will be mailed to the address you provide. If you would like to purchase your tickets or pick them up in person at the ANNIKA Foundation offices, please make an appointment by calling Justine at (407) 385-1252 or e-mailing JustineH@annikafoundation.org. Our offices are open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tickets will be on sale until October 19th, so get them now before it's too late.

We’re so excited to have this opportunity with the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. When you buy one-day passes from the ANNIKA Foundation for you and your family, you’re supporting both our mission and the mission of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.You're not limited to only one day pass-you can get as many as you need for multiple family members and even multiple days of the tournament.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals partner with individuals, organizations and media partners to help sick and injured kids in local communities.

We are partnering with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals because their mission coincides with ours. Bottom line, the health and wellness of the next generation is so important. They are our future leaders, workers and teachers.

Thanks for supporting the cause. Enjoy the 2011 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

No Stopping Now

The ANNIKA Foundation's Jordan Hatch talks about her journey as a golfer and what made the biggest difference along the way.

Last week I had the opportunity to play in my first ever Suncoast Tour golf event in Orlando. I was both nervous and excited. The tournament held a field of professionals and amateurs that added up to about 27 girls. The 3-day tournament was held at on the Palmer Course at Reunion Resort, which was beautiful. Luckily I was able to get in a practice round the Sunday before so I wouldn’t have to play the course blind.

Growing up, my parents pushed me to get involved in many different sports, including basketball, softball, soccer, golf, tumbling, cheerleading, cross-country, track and volleyball. I enjoyed doing them all but one managed to stick with me all the way through college, and that was golf.

As a child, I learned the game in fun little clinics at Rockford Park District in northern Illinois. Every week during the summer, the clinics would consist of short game contests, range, rules and then playing. Being a very competitive person helped me—I would practice more than the other kids because I didn’t want to lose.

Coming from a background with little money, these clinics were all my parents could afford, so I made the best of it and enjoyed it. It’s where I really learned the game. I was also around golf a lot on the weekends as well because my dad and both of my brothers played. After I started golfing, Sunday mornings were great because then the boys would finally take me along.

I continued my golf career at Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford where I was captain of my team. After high school I went to a nearby junior college where I played on the men’s golf team and made it to the girl’s junior college national tournament. From there, I was recruited by another junior college in southern Illinois where I played my sophomore year of college. That year we made it to nationals again, where I was recruited yet again. Finally, I made my way down to Saint Leo University just north of Tampa where I completed my final two years of eligibility. There, my game flourished. I began to be more consistent and my lower rounds became more frequent than the higher ones. I finished my collegiate golf career at Saint Leo University and it brought me to where I am now playing on the Suncoast Tour as an amateur.

Throughout these years of golf, the most meaningful lessons I had received were the ones at Rockford Park District when I was young, as well as my different coaches along the way. I was not raised in an environment where I could afford professional lessons all through my life, but I think I did a pretty good job with what I had.

I may not be one of the top female golfers yet, but someday I will be. In my work at the ANNIKA Foundation this summer, I helped organize ANNIKA Junior Day and taught children from the Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association and Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida about putting. This year’s event brought back a lot of memories of how the clinics were taught when I was younger. I hope and pray the kids stick with whatever they love and know every little bit matters. You don’t always need professional coaches to get where you want, but you do need dedication and passion for what you love.

I always dreamed about moving to Florida and playing as a professional. As I grew up, I didn’t know if it was going to happen. However, all the different paths I went down finally led me to where I wanted to go, and now I’m here doing what I love.

The Suncoast Tour is only the beginning for me but definitely a strong starting point. These tournaments are a stepping stone for me to see where I will place among great golfers. I entered this first tournament to see where I would rank, and to just get into the competitive mode again. I told myself going into it to just have fun and love the experience. I didn’t play well this first tournament, but now I know what I need to work on to get better and that’s what I’m going to do to get ready for the next one. 

- Jordan Hatch, Projects Manager, ANNIKA Foundation


Thursday, September 22, 2011

A Positive Future for Women’s Golf

ANNIKA Foundation President Don Ochsenreiter is on the ground in Ireland for the 2011 Solheim Cup. He weighs in on the players, fans and potential this year's competition brings.

IRELAND, 4:35 p.m.—After seeing firsthand the talent of the 2011 Junior Solheim Cup players, I can safely say the future of women's golf is promising for both the USA and Europe. 


Team USA players Gabby Then and Emma Talley
For two intense days, the best junior girls from the USA and Europe battled the wind, rain and cold at Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort, Co. Meath, Ireland. After 24 matches, the two teams ended up in a tie (12-12). However, because the USA won the previous Junior Solheim Cup two years ago, it retained its title as Junior Solheim Cup champion. 
2011 Junior Solheim Cup reigning champions. Congrats, girls!

These juniors are great golfers and wonderful people. I’m certain we'll see many of these girls competing on a much larger stage in future Solheim Cups. In fact, 9 of this year’s 24 players have played on Junior Solheim Cup teams in the past, including Sophie Gustafson, Azahara Munoz, Caroline Headwall and Anna Nordqvist from Europe and Morgan Pressel, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang from the US.

Annika is pictured with members of the victorious 
USA junior team at the 2011 Solheim Cup Gala.


How about these fans?
Local schools in Ireland allowed their students come out to watch the event as a "field day" trip. Chants of "Europe! Europe!" rattled through the wind and rain from green to green. 

They were just as excited to watch golf as they were to leave school!

The students brought their lunches in small bags and I noticed most of them were eating fruit as a snack. How refreshing! This is the kind of inspiration that drives our work at the ANNIKA Foundation. I was happy to see these energetic kids setting an example for their peers of healthy eating.

A little rainy out here, guys?

The Solheim Cup
Held every two years, The Solheim Cup is named in honor of Karsten Solheim. Solheim is the founder of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, which makes PING golf equipment. The Solheim Cup is the biggest and most highly coveted title in women’s professional golf team competition.


The 2011 Solheim Cup kicks off on Friday morning from Killeen Castle, Ireland. Annika is an assistant captain of the European team this year, and she's spending a lot of quality time on the team bus. 

As reigning champions, the U.S. only needs 14 points and a tie to retain the Solheim Cup. Europe will need 14 1/2 points to win.

Good luck to Annika and everyone involved in the tournament this year. It’s sure to be an exciting one!

-Don Ochsenreiter, President, ANNIKA Foundation

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Ready to celebrate this Saturday?

If you plan to sit down this Saturday afternoon and flip through the channels on TV, expect one channel to be a little different. It may look a little darker than usual, and you may not be able to hear it very well.

That’s because this channel’s programming won’t be happening at all.

Kid-approved television powerhouse Nickelodeon is going dark this weekend as part of its annual Worldwide Day of Play on Saturday, September 23. As it has for the past seven years, Nick will cease programming from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET/PT as a signal to kids and families to get out and get active.

This year, the Worldwide Day of Play (WWDOP) will be the biggest celebration of active play in the initiative’s eight-year history.

Fifty partner organizations will join Nickelodeon, First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign and the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition to host an entire day of physical activity at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. this Saturday. Kids and families will participate in games, activities and more as part of this initiative to encourage healthy and active lifestyles.

More than 25 of Nickelodeon’s most popular stars will be in D.C. to take part in WWDOP events, including cast members and characters from iCarly, Victorious, True Jackson, VP; Big Time Rush; SpongeBob SquarePants; Dora the Explorer and more.

Let’s be real, if hula hooping with Dora the Explorer doesn’t get kids excited, nothing will!

Nickelodeon has always had an amazing platform to connect with kids on a personal level. Its shows’ characters are relatable and witty. Visually, the channel is bright, colorful and optimistic. It’s great to see this channel use multimedia for good with this important initiative.

On the surface, Nickelodeon may seem to be setting a short-lived example. The channel is only shutting out the lights for three hours, with programming continuing as usual after that. However, those three hours have been powerful enough to evolve into an eight-year initiative. Childhood obesity and inactivity are problems that will obviously take more work than spending an afternoon on our feet. The Worldwide Day of Play campaign takes small, effective steps to combat this problem. After all, SpongeBob’s pineapple wasn’t built in a day.

While not all of us can be at the event in D.C., the day is designed for us to participate at home with our families and friends. We’re already planning what activities we’ll be doing here in Florida. Bring on the sunscreen!

How will you celebrate the Worldwide Day of Play?


Thursday, September 15, 2011

An exciting final day at the ANNIKA Cup!

Annika is back on her home turf this week to mark the 5th annual ANNIKA Cup in Sweden. Here, she describes the final day of the ANNIKA Cup at Bro Balsta Golf Club, where it all began.


SWEDEN, 5:30 p.m. -- Today was the final day of the 5th annual ANNIKA Cup and I must say, it was probably the most exciting. The teams played foursomes and match-play and the entire tournament was literally decided by the final group on the 18th hole. Marina Hedlund from Northern Sweden chipped in for birdie to win her match one up and secure victory for the Red Team. 

Marina clinches the win for the Red Team!


After the matches, we took team photos and conducted some media interviews.

A media interview with Jens Brandberg from Expressen.

After that, we ate together and recapped the past few days. I provided the girls with some parting words of wisdom, then surprised them by doing my "Morning Drive" call-in live with them in the room on speaker phone. They were able to say “Goooo Sweden,” which brought some smiles. 


The girls and I call in to "Morning Drive" on the Golf Channel.


All in all, it was a very productive and fun couple of days. It seemed like the girls felt the camaraderie amongst the group and I hope they made some friends for life.


The girls left Bro Balsta full of energy and hopefully encouraged to keep working hard.  With the European Solheim Cup next week, I hope this inspires some of these girls to one day represent Europe.

Goooo Sweden!
I have quite a few more photos from the ANNIKA Cup up on the ANNIKA Foundation Facebook page. Check them out here!

- Annika

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Home Swede Home

Annika is back on her home turf this week to mark the 5th annual ANNIKA Cup in Sweden. Here, she describes her day at Bro Balsta Golf Club, where it all began.



SWEDEN, 8:37 p.m. -- Greetings from Sweden. It is great to be back in my home town of Bro for a few days. We landed here at 9:00am this morning and had a pretty busy day. The 5th annual ANNIKA Cup got started at Bro Balsta Golf Club, which is where my sister and I learned to play. Every time I walk past the ponds that I used to dive in to retrieve balls, I get a chuckle. The members and club team are always so kind and my time here brings back countless memories.

I am lucky to work with some great girls at the ANNIKA Cup!
 
I started the ANNIKA Cup to give the top 12 junior girls in Sweden the chance to participate in a team-building Solheim Cup-type competition. We always try to incorporate some media tips, and of course, fitness and nutrition information. 

Didn't have to jump in the pond for this one. :)
This morning, the two teams of six played a practice round and worked with coaches. Simultaneously, the Skandia Challenge took place, which was a nine-hole event for our main sponsor Skandia's customers and clients.  Then we had the opening ceremony at 1:30 followed by an awards presentation and clinic for Skandia. 

The ANNIKA Collection with Cutter & Buck outfitted the girls.

After that, I took the juniors to the very nice short game practice area and went over bunker shots. The girls' favorite drill was when we hit balls to my best friend and longtime ANNIKA Cup coach, Maria. I enjoy working with these young girls who are so impressionable and excited about the game. We followed these drills with a working session on the putting green in the cold rain. The girls were troopers! We had a great lasagna dinner together and called it a night.

Thanks to our talented photographer (my husband Mike) for taking this great shot. Heads up!

Callaway provided the ANNIKA Cup with great team bags.

I look forward to another great day with the girls tomorrow. I would like to give a special thanks to IMG Sweden and Bro Balsta for a great day. Enjoy the photos and memories we are making.

- Annika

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Big Announcement!

The ANNIKA Foundation is excited to announce our biggest event yet...ANNIKA & Friends at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort





Think of playing golf on a pro-am team with your favorite celebrity and sitting down for the best food in Northwest Florida for dinner. Top that with a concert by a major performing artist, a golf clinic hosted by Annika and the most beautiful location you could possibly think of. Yeah, we’re going all out on this one. 




 











 
photos courtesy of Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort (www.sandestin.com)


The inaugural ANNIKA & Friends at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort will be held May 18-19, 2012. Annika’s celebrity friends and famous athletes will join her in a fabulous weekend filled with golf, social events and fine dining. Here’s the best part—kids in Northwest Florida and across the state will directly benefit from this event. 

SPARK is the leading physical education program for children in schools. So far, the ANNIKA Foundation has helped grow SPARK’s message and mission of lifelong wellness to include more than 400 schools in Florida and Arkansas. Doing the math at home? That’s almost 370,000 kids. The ANNIKA Foundation wants to continue spreading that message, so all proceeds from ANNIKA & Friends at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort will go toward implementing SPARK in elementary schools in Northwest Florida and across the state.

Celebrities, famous athletes, great kids and fabulous food. Oh, and ANNIKA Wine. The only thing that could make this event more exciting…well…maybe puppies, but we’ll have to hold off on that for now. The two days of ANNIKA & Friends at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort will be packed with so many exciting events, we won’t know what to do with ourselves!

Soon, we’ll be announcing the major performing artist who will be headlining the concert. Look for this announcement and more updates on Twitter and Facebook in the coming weeks.

Check out the press release for ANNIKA & Friends at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort here.

Now, the question is…what celebrities and sports stars would you like to see in May?

Friday, September 2, 2011

Stay Healthy this Labor Day Weekend!


Happy Labor Day! Are you getting together with the family this weekend? Where there's family, there's always good food. Here are some tips we're keeping in mind this weekend to stay healthy while still enjoying the company (and the homemade goodies) of our loved ones. 

Eating Healthy

1. Watch portions. It’s Labor Day weekend and you’re at home with the extended family. All three of your aunts each brought at least one pie, your brother-in-law made a huge batch of chicken wings, and your significant other has been outside grilling bratwurst for two straight days. Not to mention the chips, dips and cookies in between. Throw in a few hungry people and you have quite an army.

There may be lots of food, but don’t get overwhelmed. One easy way to control food intake is to grab a smaller plate. Sure, that fourth deviled egg may need to be sacrificed, but there’s still room on there for a bit of everything in moderate portions.


2. Load up on fruits and veggies: It's easy to snack on a few candies here, some chips there. But those little snacks can add up quickly. This Labor Day, try snacking on fruits and veggies instead. Need something sweet to get your mind off those pies lining the counter top? Check out a fun way to sweeten things up at your Labor Day celebration.


3. Good, old-fashioned H2O: Another way to feel healthier is to drink healthier. Your body is made of mostly water, why not give it a little H20 love? As you reach for that can of sugary soda, grab a bottle of water instead. It will keep you hydrated and give your body more natural energy. And because Labor Day is a great time to get outside and be active with your family, make sure to drink plenty of it to stay hydrated.


Staying Active

There are some great ways to get on your feet this Labor Day weekend, whether it’s doing something by yourself, with a friend or even with the whole family. We're excited for the long weekend to have some quality active time!


By yourself: It’s time to get off the couch and out of the house! Some great activities you can do by yourself are running, walking, riding your bike, or going for a swim in the pool. If you’re on your feet or your bike, challenge yourself by changing your elevation and terrain.


With a friend: Frisbee and catch are two great one-on-one games to play with one other person. Play a round of golf together, or maybe hit some balls at the range. If you’re a golfer and your friend is not, try teaching them the ropes. Good friends sometimes make great coaches! 


With the family: Activities with your family usually end up making the best memories! Head to the park, take a walk together, or play soccer or kickball. There are lots of fun backyard activities for your Labor Day celebration, too! Try a game of Bags or the challenging Ladder Ball game.

Do you have any great Labor Day tips to stay healthy and active? Maybe you have a recipe or a funny family memory you would like to share. We’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment right under this post. 

Happy Labor Day Weekend from the ANNIKA Foundation Team