DICK'S Sporting Goods had its humble beginnings in the Southern Tier of New York and we are so thankful that they have stayed here for the past 75 years. It all started in 1948 when 18 year old Dick Stack opened Dick's Bait and Tackle on 453 ½ Court street in a store that was so small that the family joked it didn't deserve a number for its address...and look at them now.

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There's the DICK'S Sporting Goods Open at En-Joie Golf Course June 19th to 25th. They are also building the DICK'S 'House of Sport" at the Oakdale Commons (formerly Oakdale Mall in Johnson City. It's a two-floor facility complete with a turf field outside during the Spring/Summer and a ice rink in the winter.

DICK'S Sporting Goods "Sports Change Lives"

They may be celebrating 75 years but they are NO WHERE CLOSE to slowing down. They just announced that they are the official sporting goods retail partner of the NCAA all all 90 of its Men's and Women's Championships.

DICK'S Sporting Goods "75for75 Sports Matter Grant Program

That's great news but I think that this is even bigger. They are celebrating their 75th anniversary with a new program called "75for75 Sports Matter Grant Program." They will provide 75 Sports Matter grants from The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation. It's $75,000 to every selected youth sports programs around the country that are changing lives through sport on and off the field.

They also announced a new $1.5M partnership between The DICK'S Foundation and Local Initiatives Support Corporation to launch the "Game On-Community Places to Play Initiative." This will help to create or renovate up to 20 multi-use youth sport spaces in underserved communities.

Most of us think about retiring when we turn 75 but not DICK'S Sporting Goods, they are continuing to grow and change kids lives in the Southern Tier and throughout the country. I don't know if we realize how fortunate we are to have DICK'S Sporting Goods in our area but I'm sure glad they are here.

 

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