Last month, Chase Bank and LivingSocial announced that 12 small businesses that will receive grants of $250,000 each through Mission: Small BusinessSM, a grant program designed to increase awareness of the important role small businesses play in local communities. Supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, nearly 70,000 small businesses registered and 3.1 million consumers showed their support by voting for their favorite small businesses.

Participating small businesses from across the country were evaluated based upon their applications which were required to demonstrate a feasible growth plan, creativity, overall passion for their business and the potential to make a positive impact within the local community. Selected by a panel of small business experts, three winners of the Mission: Small Business grant are based in Southern California.

We are thrilled that one of the 12 small businesses in the country to receive a grant is Skillastics in Corona, CA.  Skillastics is the brainchild of Sandy “Spin” Slade.  For over two decades Sandy was considered to be one of the best basketball handlers in the world, performing for thousands at NBA and College half-times, School Assemblies and special events around the world. Skillastics is the leader in engaging, reinforcing, and assessing large or small groups of PreK-12 students in standards-based fitness and sports-specific skill development activities, allowing 1 to 100 children of varying abilities to participate and enjoy being active at one time.

School and organizations that have introduced Skillastics into their curriculum or program have found students look forward to participating 93% of the time. In addition, children’s overall average heart rate while participating in Skillastics was 142 bpm.  This average heart rate provides cardiovascular benefits and allows children to be active for longer periods of time during moderate to vigorous activity (MVPA).

On Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 10 am, Sandy Slade, president and founder of Skillastics will be joined by Chase executives, community leaders and one very large check that’s sure to make an impact on Ms. Slade’s business at the Chase Branch located at 360 North McKinley Street, Suite 101 in Corona [MAP]. Join Ms. Slade to show her Corona supports her in this fight to get our youth strong and healthy.