Beginning in 1997, the Wendy Hilliard Foundation began developing partnerships with local organizations that serve youth, including the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Police Athletic League, and the Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation. In 1999, linkages were developed to provide health, nutrition, pregnancy prevention and sports medicine services with the New York Presbyterian Hospital and St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital, and the Women’s Sports Medicine Center, the health sponsor for the WHF competitive teams and special events.
The competitive team has been extremely successful at the national level. The team consistently wins top honors at the Junior Olympic Nationals Championships; including many first place finishes. In the summer of 2001 the WHF Team, participated in the foundation’s first international student-exchange program with “Rhythmic South” an elite rhythmic club from Southampton, England. In July 2000, Random House published a book “I am a Gymnast” that featured WHF team member, McKenzie Foster. The book is a photo essay that tells the story of a young girl’s love of gymnastics. This book is now in re-release and given to public school libraries throughout the country.
During the summer in 1996, the Wendy Hilliard Foundation organized a free rhythmic gymnastics, tumbling and trampoline program for over 700 youth, many of which lived in public housing, at the Armory Track & Field Center in Washington Heights, which was funded by the New York City Inner-City Games. At the conclusion of the program, the students participated in a free performance gala for the community. For over ten years the WHF Gymnastics Gala has featured Olympic Gold Medalists, Dominique Dawes and Shannon Miller, members of the renowned Anti-Gravity gymnastics company and a host of Olympic and champion gymnasts, coaches and Broadway performers that perform alongside the children of the program.
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Inspired by the many athletes Wendy befriended during her tenure as the president of the Women’s Sports Foundation and as Director of Sports for NYC2012, in 2001 Harlem Girls and Women’s in Sports Day was created. This event gives hundreds of girls and their Mom’s the opportunity to experience non-traditional and Olympic Sports. Olympic and Champion athlete clinicians guide the participants through sports such as: wrestling, trampoline, boxing, weightlifting, fencing and the winter sport of luge! Wendy Hilliard is featured in a new book released in May 2007, “Women Who Win - Females Athletes on being the Best”. The author, Lisa Taggart, has profiled 10 champion athletes including; Soccer Champion Julie Foudy, WNBA star Tamika Catchings and Jockey Julie Krone.
In 2006, the Wendy Hilliard Foundation began providing instruction for the Abyssinian Crusaders Cheerteam. That team went on to place 4th in their division at the National Jamfest Championships. In 2007, Wendy Hilliard was brought in to develop a new cheerteam for Riverbank State Park in Harlem. Also in 2007 WFH expanded it programs to include seniors and persons with special needs. Based primarily in Brooklyn at Aviator Sports and Recreation over 300 Seniors and 300 Special Needs participants have participated in these innovative programs.
As the first African-American to represent to U.S. in rhythmic gymnastics, Wendy Hilliard’s goal was to create a program that provided an opportunity for more minorities to experience her sport. After serving over 5,000 participants the Wendy Hilliard Foundation has established an incredible track record of providing quality programming for people of all ages and abilities in the sport of gymnastics.
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About The Wendy Hilliard Foundation
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Founded in 1996 by Hall of Fame rhythmic gymnast, Wendy Hilliard, the Wendy Hilliard Foundation has provided free weekly gymnastics classes, 10 free six-week summer gymnastics programs, a competitive rhythmic gymnastics team, and annual girls and women sports clinics. The foundation developed out of an earlier program, formed in fall 1994, which offered free rhythmic gymnastics classes for girls on Saturday mornings. Funded by the New York City Department of Youth Services, this initial program served over 200 after just six months. Now located in Harlem, Brooklyn and the other centers, the Wendy Hilliard Foundation has served over 10,000 inner-city youth to date. Major funders have included: the United States Olympic Committee and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development along with other public and corporate grants and individual donations. In 2005, Wendy was featured in People Magazine and the New York Times, for her work with her foundation.
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