2020 Annual Report

Letter from the Cleveland Championship 2000 Trustees

During Cleveland Championships 2000 first 20 years its focus was on bidding, managing, and hosting US Figure Skating competitions in Northeast Ohio while supporting local skaters and programs through merit awards and grants. While this mission has not diminished, a new challenge has emerged – the growth of figure skating programs in Northeast Ohio. The Covid-19 pandemic temporarily closed rinks and reduced competitions, including regional and sectional competitions. As a consequence, Learn-to- Skate participation dropped, and competitors were unable to practice and advance in their disciplines.

In 2020 Cleveland Championships 2000 used its resources to help figure skating clubs keep skaters on the ice safely and maintain or build Learn-to-Skate and Aspire programs. In August, the Jump Start Grant was launched to provide up to $1,000 per club for these initiatives. Ten clubs received Jump Start grants in 2020.

In 2021 Cleveland Championships 2000 envisions supporting the growth of figure skating in Northeast Ohio by investing in grant programs that help skating clubs grow membership and start or expand Learn- To-Skate and Aspire programs. We will continue to fund annual Merit awards for competitors and launch scholarships for skaters graduating from high school and planning to attend an institution of higher learning.

These, like all investments, are done in consultation with, and many times through, the Greater Cleveland Council of Figure Skating Clubs. The Council is comprised of leaders from the 16 figure skating clubs in Northeast Ohio. Their direct involvement in local figure skating helps identify funding needs and areas of investment.

Cleveland Championships 2000 is committed to investing in programs today that build future champions in Northeast Ohio – on and off the ice.

Sincerely,

Eric T. German President & Secretary

Christopher McCracken Vice president & Treasurer

WHAT IS CLEVELAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 2000?

HISTORY & MISSION

Cleveland Championships 2000 (CC2000) was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in 1996 to foster, support, develop and promote local, national, and international figure skating and, specifically, to sponsor and manage the 2000 US Figure Skating Championships.

In subsequent years CC2000 bid to host the 2003 World Figure Skating Championships and several other US Figure Skating Championship years, ultimately securing 2009 US Figure Skating Championships for the City of Cleveland.

The monies raised in 2000 and 2009 were invested conservatively and payouts, in the form of merit awards and grants, have been limited to an average of 4% a year to preserve the fund for generations of figure skaters.

Today CC2000 continues to bid on national skating events, actively supports programs and initiatives to grow membership in local skating clubs and provides funding for annual merit awards and grants.

DRIVING THE MISSION

The Cleveland Championships 2000 Fund is dedicated to creating opportunities for people to discover, master and appreciate amateur figure skating on a regional, national, or international level.

PROMOTE public participation and support for, and thereby increase interest in, the sport of amateur figure skating in the Greater Cleveland area.

PRESENT events such as exhibitions, discussion groups, forums, panels and training schools
related to figure skating or to the administration, judging and conduct of amateur figure skating events.

PROVIDE financial assistance through Merit Award and Grants for the instruction and training of amateur figure skating competitors, judges, officials or administrators for the purpose of improving and developing their capabilities.

SEEK public and private resources to support the mission of the Fund and the public it serves.

The Cleveland Championships 2000 Fund, established in 2014, is a long-term organizational fund held and managed by the Cleveland Foundation on behalf of our organization. The fund augments CC2000’s funding mix and helps ensure long-term financial stability through the preservation and investment of dollars for future benefit. With oversight from our board, the Cleveland Foundation stewards our fund and ensures that each dollar multiplies over time to generate returns earmarked for CC2000 in perpetuity.

The Cleveland Foundation, the world’s first community foundation, is classified as a public charity and exists to manage funds by donors for the benefit of a specific cause. By virtue of the Cleveland Championships 2000 Fund, CC2000 gains access to the foundation’s large investment pools and proven track record of more than a century of nonprofit investment management. This leads to greater growth and greater stability for CC2000.

Donors interested in supporting CC2000’s mission can give directly to the Cleveland Championships 2000 Fund online via: http://bit.ly/CLEChampionships2000

MERIT AWARDS & GRANTS

The distribution of Merit Awards and Grants have been the main instrument CC2000 has utilized to support figure skaters and clubs the past 20 years.

MERIT AWARD RECAP – 2019/20 Skating Season
Figure Skaters training at rinks in Northern Ohio automatically earn merit awards based on the number of qualifying competitions they compete in and the level they achieve at each competition. 21 skaters and one Synchro team from 11 figure skating clubs earned $9,400 in merit awards.

Grants Awarded in 2020