Olympians to Share Their Knowledge, Experiences

The will be host to six Olympic athletes Sept. 23, when they join together with the Joetta Clark Diggs Sports Foundation Inc. for the 6th Annual Sports Extravaganza fundraiser.

In attendance with four-time Olympian Diggs, will be six-time Olympic Medalist Jackie Joyner Kersee, NFL Hall of Fame Inductee and Super Bowl Champion Harry Carson, NFL Super Bowl Champion Bart Oates, three-time Olympic Medalist Jearl Miles Clark, Olympian Hazel Clark-Riley, Olympian Norm Tate and Olympic Coach JJ Clark.

“This is a fundraiser that brings awareness to the mission of the Joetta Clark Diggs Sports Foundation,” said Diggs, who lives in Hillsborough. “The foundation works with large and small corporations throughout New Jersey that have assisted in sponsoring free community programs for various schools and youth-serving organizations throughout the state.”

Since 2002, the foundation has provided programs and served the needs of more than 20,000 children.

And this extravaganza, which is expected to bring in about 375 people, will be presented in conjunction with Johnson & Johnson with the theme of “A Conversation with Excellence.” The program will feature a chance to meet the athletes and ask them questions about their careers.

The foundation, Diggs said, was founded as a community-based non-profit organization to promote health, life skills and fitness for children in New Jersey.

“The influences on our youth with regard to attitude, beliefs and behaviors are very difficult to overcome, including the area of fitness and health,” she said. “Major corporations spend billions of dollars on television, newspaper and radio ads that target our youth to consume carbonated, high-calorie beverages, potato chips, chocolate and other potentially destructive products.”

But through programs with the foundation, Diggs said, they are trying to spread healthy alternatives.

The foundation, Diggs said, has the Joetta Geniuses Scholarship Awards, which provide $1,000 educational scholarships to five graduating high school seniors. In addition, there is Head 2 Toe Fitness, which helps families embrace fitness and nutrition; Health/Awareness Seminars to provide solutions for poor eating habits; and track and field camps, which teach and develop skills needed for track and field events.

The foundation also conducts a Joetta Clark Diggs Fitness Challenge for boys and girls between ages 10 and 14.

“The goal of the challenge is to determine the fittest club, school or program in a certain area,” Diggs said.

Diggs said people can get involved in the foundation by providing grants, making donations and volunteering with the programs.

But Diggs said she is excited about the extravaganza coming up in Bridgewater, and it has been a huge success in the past.

“As an Olympian, I have contacts with great athletes who are doing wonderful things for the community,” she said.

And those in attendance will have the chance to ask questions of the athletes about their careers, struggles and triumphs, in addition to listening to music, participating in a silent auction and seeing the presentation of $1,000 scholarships to students.

All proceeds from the extravaganza, Diggs said, will aid the foundation to continue working on free health and fitness seminars; track camps; and programs for grade schools, high schools and community organizations.

Diggs, who created the foundation, was ranked among the top 10 runners in America for more than 20 years, and ranked top 10 in the world a total of nine times. Since then, Diggs has written “Joetta’s ‘P’ Principles for Success: Life Lessons Learned From Track & Field;” is president of Joetta Sports & Beyond, LLC; and is the executive director of the Joetta Clark Diggs Sports Foundation, Inc.

Diggs is also the recipient of several awards, including being inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2009, the University of Tennessee’s Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Penn Relays Hall of Fame in 2004. She was the 2000 Women Olympic Team Captain, and was chosen as a “Sports Illustrated” Hometown Hero, among other honors.

Tickets will be available until Friday, and can be purchased at the sports extravaganza’s website.