FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Velaasa Club members have voted to raise funds for Urban Ventures through the 2021 Internet Invitational, April 21-24. Urban Ventures seeks to break the cycle of poverty by addressing opportunity gaps in academics, nutrition, physical activity, parenting resources, and more. Their audacious goal is to send every youth in their Minneapolis neighborhood to college or post-secondary education.
"We’re excited to get started and benefit Urban Ventures with this new concept in any way we can." said Lynden Reder, founder of Velaasa. "We believe the International Invitational can make a meaningful impact in this world. We want to give back to causes that support opportunity gaps due to poverty and inequality. We have experienced how involvement in sports can bring people together from all backgrounds and this is a time for athletes to lead by unifying for change however we can.” said Reder.
The 2020 Internet Invitational was widely participated in as a virtual event held in March in the wake of season cancellations in nearly all sports due to the spread of Covid-19. Velaasa hosted a virtual meet using hastags on Instagram, with positive responses in the track and field and weightlifting communities. Velaasa now aims to shift the model to a yearly philanthropic event benefiting organizations nominated and voted for by Velaasa club athletes.
The Velaasa Track Club is a group of aspiring Olympians sponsored by Velaasa, a Minnesota track and field gear company started by former University of Minnesota track and field coach Lynden Reder.
INTERNET INVITATIONAL VALUE STATEMENT
The Internet Invitational symbolizes unity through athletics not for flags or medal counts but for a more equal and just world for all mankind.