Huskies’ players Ben Baker and Kiera Lyons, along with Basil Hughton, Athletic Director, received the gift from PotashCorp’s Rhonda Speiss at this weekend’s basketball game.

PotashCorp donates $150K to Huskie Athletics for fourth year

PotashCorp and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies are pleased to announce another gift of $150,000 from PotashCorp to Huskie Athletics. The donation will be made official this weekend at Huskie Athletics events. This is the fourth straight year that PotashCorp has made a donation to Huskie Athletics for a combined total of $600,000.

By Jessica Elfar
Rhonda Speiss, PotashCorp's Manager of Corporate Philanthropy will present the cheque to members of the basketball team's at 8 p.m. A presentation will also be made by Bill Johnson, PotashCorp's Senior Director of Public Affairs on February 1 at Credit Union Centre at the men's hockey game. The presentation will be made to Huskies' Athletic Director Basil Hughton and College of Kinesiology Dean Dr. Carol Rodgers.

Each of the Huskie Athletics 15 Canadian Interuniversity Sport teams will benefit from the gift. The funds will also help supplement Huskie Athletics team budgets, as well as allow for support of student-athletes in the Huskies Sport Health Centre.

"Huskie Athletics is very grateful once again for this contribution from PotashCorp," said Hughton. "The generosity shown over the years has been tremendous and truly appreciated. Each season the costs associated with running elite CIS teams, like those we support at the University, rises. Contributions such as these help our programs recruit and retain the best and brightest student-athletes. Our accomplishments in sport, in the classroom and in the community could not happen without PotashCorp's support."

PotashCorp believes supporting local student-athletes helps build a strong community.

"We are proud to support our hometown Huskies and athletic programming at the U of S," said Denita Stann, Vice-President of Investor and Public Relations at PotashCorp. "Athletic programs teach important lessons outside the classroom about leadership, commitment, and teamwork – the same values that drive our company and our people everyday."

PotashCorp has been a major contributor to the University of Saskatchewan, donating more than $11 million.  In 2005, PotashCorp supported University athletics with a $5 million contribution to upgrade Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park.  The company also sponsored the 2006 Vanier Cup, helping Huskie Athletics to host that event.  PotashCorp, for the second straight year, is the title sponsor of the CIS Men's Hockey PotashCorp University Cup presented by Co-op.

For More Information:

Nicole Betker, Sports Information Director

Huskie Athletics

306-966-1024

Nicole.betker@usask.ca