2. Provide for the expenses accrued to our high level national competitors for travel to and from national and international competitions, with the ultimate goal of participation in the Olympic Games.

         3. Provide the highest levels of professional fencing training to adult and youth participants in the Central Valley.

         4. Develop confidence and self discipline in committed, competitive athletes at all ages and levels of ability, from beginner to Olympic contender.

         The Foundation is very proud of the Academy's accomplishments to date in building a program that has already produced nationally and internationally recognized athletes. We have made a commitment to continuing that excellence by developing resources to create the outreach programs, competitive athlete support capabilities, and coaching opportunities here in the Valley. The ultimate goal of our efforts is to increase participation in the sport within our community and put Fresno on the map by sending fencers to Olympic level competitions.

         Olympic fencing is a very demanding sport. Competitors are not only required to act professionally on the fencing strip with precision, skill, speed, and agility; they are also required to act with the high values and ethics required of this ancient and honorable sport when off the field of combat. The professionals who coach these athletes pass these values on to the competitors and new participants. The Foundation seeks to provide for additional coaching staff to accomplish this in Central Valley competitors, and also to instill the same values and ethics in the community at large through remote location youth and adult outreach programs.

         Along with the demands of sportsmanlike behavior, high level, young competitors must physically train three to five days a week, not including private lessons. Those who finally reach the Olympic level will have been training and competing regularly for at least ten years. Because the demands of family and schoolwork must be balanced with the demands of training, this level of dedication produces mature young men and women who have learned to manage their time well and become excellent students and leaders among their peers. They have earned the privilege to compete at national and international levels, unfortunately there is one major obstacle keeping these dedicated young people from being recognized at high levels in this international sport.
         The problem is obvious; flying to national venues, often on the other side of the country three or four times a year is extremely expensive, costing between $1500.00 to $2000.00 per trip. To compete on the international stage multiplies these expenses two or three fold, depending on the host country and foreign exchange rates. In these days of high fuel costs and a weak dollar, many of our competitors here in Fresno are barred from competition because of a lack of funding. The Fresno Fencing Foundation founders have often seen the heartbreak of competitors who have trained with dedication fail to realize their dreams because their parents lacked the financial capability to send them to the required tournaments. We want to change that, and give any youth or young adult competitor in the Fresno area the opportunity to go all the way to the U.S. Olympic team in 2012, 2016, and beyond.

         Fencers come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. The sport is safe, challenging, and fun at all levels of ability. The Fresno Fencing Foundation and the Fresno Fencing Academy are dedicated to introducing and expanding the sport in the Fresno area. One aspect of this vision is the development of fencing in local schools and youth organizations. To date, FFA has pursued introductory programs in local schools with good effect, but there is a need to develop new opportunities with youth organizations and inner city programs to truly expand the scope of the sport in this area. The challenge lies in building these programs by providing the equipment and coach's expenses for these outreaches, as the young people we want to involve are simply unable financially to pay for their own equipment, especially at an introductory level.
         Introductory programs are well and good, but it is difficult to watch a young fencer new to the sport that shows amazing talent barred from practicing, obtaining lessons, and competing because his or her parents lack the wherewithal to bring them to the club in the first place, much less paying for lessons or competition. The Foundation is attempting to raise the resources to help these young people reach their potential, bringing them out of a difficult environment to excel in the honorable sport of fencing.

        The future is bright for the sport of Olympic fencing in the Central Valley. In the past, the sport was confined to Ivy League schools and wealthy participants. While it is still expensive to compete nationally and internationally, local competitions have become more available in many areas of the country, including the Central Valley. The sport continues to grow at an amazing pace, with participation in the Summer National Championships growing from 1800 competitors in the late-1990s to over 3500 in 2008. The opportunity to learn this amazing and complex sport is worth the effort to bring to as many as would like to participate. Please consider supporting these efforts with a tax deductable donation to the Foundation.

         To Donate:

        Make out a check to: The Fresno Fencing Foundation
        and mail to:
             Fresno Fencing Foundation
            c/o Fresno Fencing Academy
            435 W. Shaw Ave
            Fresno, CA, 93704

             All donations will receive a receipt. Please keep the receipt for your records as all donations to the Foundation are tax deductable.

             Board of Directors:
             James Gunn         President
             Bruce Hartman    Vice President
             Richard Kilgore    Secretary
             Terry Radanovich    Treasurer
             Andy Sandoval
             Treva Jacobsen
             Rob Radanovich