SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Wittenberg University is gearing up for the biggest annual sports event in Clark County, the 2004 United Way Corporate Challenge, slated for Saturday, Sept. 18, at Snyder Park. The event kicks off the annual United Way Campaign, a fund-raiser for more than 80 non-profit organizations in Clark and Champaign Counties.

In the past, Wittenberg has been the only university in Clark County to participate in the Challenge, performing especially well in the canoe races and running events. Last year, Wittenberg exceeded the goal set by the United Way Campaign by $2,000.

Stephanie Ford, director of the Wittenberg Career Center, and Steve Ridenour, coordinator for the warehouse, will serve as co-chairs of Wittenberg’s team in this year’s United Way Corporate Challenge.

“The event provides a chance to interact with co-workers in a casual setting,” Ford said. “The Challenge presents a nice opportunity for everybody to take part because the emphasis is on fun and not on winning.”

What makes the United Way Corporate Challenge unique is the variety of competitive and non-competitive sports for all age groups. Popular events have included the mile-long fun walks, relay races, golf, volleyball and tug-of-war. The Corporate Challenge also offers a good mix of sports that people play regularly such as golf and volleyball, and others that most people don’t get to play in an everyday situation such as the hoops challenge or the tricycle race.

“This year the football toss has been planned as a special game, where the person throwing closest to the target wins,” Ford said.

Faculty, staff and student workers at Wittenberg are invited to represent the university team in the Corporate Challenge 2004. For pictures of Corporate Challenge 2003, click here.

Contact Ford at 327-7521 or Ridenour at 327-7399 for more details and to register for the 2004 Corporate Challenge.