HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-21-2006-6bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 21, 2006
Action Agen~l~
Item No. ~~,
SUBJECT: Resolution Honoring Sports Endeavors
DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Resolution
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dianne Reid, 245-2326
PURPOSE: To recognize Sports Endeavors for the development and operation of Passback,
program which collects used but still playable gear and sends it to teams and organizations
unable to afford even the most basic soccer equipment.
BACKGROUND: Incorporated in April 1984, Sports Endeavors, Inc, was born from a business
project idea that soccer enthusiast Mike Moylan had while he was in high school, Started in the
basement of his home in Durham, other members of the family, including younger brother
Brendan, tended the business while Mike attended college.
In 1991, the company purchased the former White-Hickory Furniture factory on US 70 East in
Hillsborough, Over the years, Sports Endeavors has renovated the building in stages, adding
new wings to accommodate its growth. Today, it employs 500-525 people during peak seasons
(4~'' quarter and August/September), including 220 fulltime staff.
The Moylans started the Passback program when a family friend came to their store looking for
gear to send to his daughter, a Peace Corps volunteer working with children in Malawi. While
looking for equipment to send her, the brothers found closets full of old soccer gear that they no
longer used but was too good to throw out, They realized that there must be other players
whose garages, closets and basements were also overflowing,
From this first donation, the program has grown to its current level: In 2005, Passback shipped
62,992 items with a retail value of $470,493 to 174 groups in the United States and throughout
the world.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the attached
resolution commending Sports Endeavors for creating and operating the Passback program,
and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution.
2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION HONORING SPORTS ENDEAVORS, INC.
WHEREAS, Sports Endeavors, Ina, was created from a high school business project conceived
by Mike Moylan, and
WHEREAS, the business was started in the basement of the Moylan family s Durham home and
operated by other family members while Mike attended college, and
WHEREAS, the company purchased the former White-Hickory Furniture factory on US 70 East
in Hillsborough in 1991 and has invested extensively in renovating and expanding the property,
and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Mike Moylan and Chief Operating
Officer Brendan Moylan, Sports Endeavors mission is "to be the world's leading authentic
grassroots soccer and lacrosse company, building strong relationships in a vibrant, creative and
ethical environment - to inform, inspire and innovate," and
WHEREAS, the company has grown over the years to employ 500-525 persons at peak
seasons, and
WHEREAS, the Moylans started the Passback program after a family friend sought used
equipment to send to a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi, and
WHEREAS, increased Passback donations have permitted the program to expand to include
groups in the United States as well as developing countries, and
WHEREAS, Passback gear has found its way to all corners of the globe, from a small schcal in
Zimbabwe to an after-school program in inner-city New York, and
WHEREAS, last year Passback paid almost $16,000 to ship 62,756 items, with a retail value of
over $470,000, to 174 groups, including 44 Hispanic recipient groups and 41 Hurricane Relief
donations;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
formally recognizes Mike and Brendan Moylan and Sports Endeavors, Inc, for creating the
Passback program and commends them far serving as model corporate citizens of Orange
County,
This the 215 day of March 2006,
Barry .Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners