IHSA Announcements
August 25, 1997
Add A. Tude™ Campaign Launched
BLOOMINGTON — Kathryn Beich Inc., the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) have combined to launch America's first partnership for good sportsmanship.
Through their combined efforts, the nation's newest sportsmanship mascot — Add A. Tude™ — has been created. The mascot will be a prominent player in the efforts by both associations and Kathryn Beich to spark an awareness for and the practice of good sportsmanship by students, faculty, coaches, administrators and the general public.
In addition, the Bloomington-based candy company has created the Add A. Tude candy bar exclusively for sale through IESA and IHSA schools. The Add A. Tude candy bar will be the popular Nestlé Krunch bar. Proceeds from the sale of the Add A. Tude candy bar will be used by both associations to help underwrite the Sport A Winning Attitude (SAWA) Program.
The Add A. Tude mascot will make its debut at the upcoming Sportsmanship Summit Sept. 29-30 at the Holiday Inn East in Springfield. Sales representatives from Kathryn Beich will visit IHSA and IESA member schools for the first time this fall immediately prior to the summit.
"We are excited about our opportunity to help direct the focus of good sportsmanship through the IHSA and IESA," said Kathryn Beich President Frank J. Laux. "There are many of us in corporate America who embrace the fundamental concept of proper behavior which translates into a positive attitude and ultimately good sportsmanship. Add A. Tude is for Everyone. We feel we are on the front edge of the re-awakening of the spirit of sportsmanship. And we are using all the resources we have available in our company to make sure the message is delivered throughout Illinois."
More than 1,300 of the state's elementary and secondary schools are members of the two associations. The IHSA begins the 1997-98 school year with a membership of 749, while the IESA starts with 620. Schools which at this time are not members of either association are welcome to participate in the Beich sales campaign.
"This is a tremendous opportunity to begin shaping the attitudes of youngsters, older students, and adults in a positive fashion," said IHSA Executive Director Dave Fry. "The new mascot can deliver the message in a meaningful manner. Our Board of Directors and our staff are anxious to move forward on the whole project. We hope our member schools quickly buy into the concepts. We are convinced that over the long term the benefits will be rewarding to our member schools and the students who attend them."
IESA Executive Director Steve Endsley said his organization's commitment to creating a positive environment for good sportsmanship will be significantly enhanced. "Add A. Tude will be a visible reinforcement of the character attributes we want the students who attend our schools to exhibit," Endsley said. "The presence of the campaign in the schools on a daily basis is important. We believe it will be the cornerstone in the building of a new generation of students who participate in athletics and activities with good sportsmanship as a primary responsibility."
The Add A. Tude mascot is scheduled to make public appearances throughout the school year. Among the venues will be the state tournaments, the Illinois Principals Association (IPA) Fall Conference in October, the state School Board Joint Conference, and the Illinois Athletic Directors Association Annual Conference. The mascot may be booked through either the IHSA or IESA Office. Following are their addresses:
IHSA Office
2715 McGraw Dr.
Bloomington, IL 61702-2715
Phone : (309) 663-6377
Fax: (309) 663-7479
E-Mail: ihsa@ihsa.org
IESA Office
1015 Maple Hill Road
Bloomington, IL 61704
Phone: (309) 829-0114
Fax: (309) 829-0625
E-Mail: iesa@iesa.org
All elementary and high schools in the state are eligible to participate in the Add A. Tude sales program. In some instances, schools may choose to incorporate the Nestlé-Beich line of candy as part of the school's book store and/or event concession offerings. Information regarding the Kathryn Beich candy sales program may be obtained by contacting:
Selden Marquart
Vice President of Sales
Kathryn Beich Inc.
101 S. Lumber St.
Bloomington, IL 61701
Phone: (309) 828-1311
Fax: (309) 827-6597