New York Athletic Club An Olympic Tradition and Commitment to Excellence

The New York Athletic Club is famed worldwide for its commitment to excellence.

Its support for its Olympic-level athletes best expresses this commitment. It is something that dates back to the NYAC's founding in 1868, but it imbues every element of club life in the 21st Century.

The Olympic-class athletes have competed in every Summer Games since 1896, winning 291 Olympic medals in wrestling, judo, water polo, track and field, rowing, triathlon, and many more. Men and women athletes have claimed these awards while wearing the NYAC's renowned winged foot emblem.

Fundraising becomes important to support these Olympic and other amateur athletes

The Athlete's Fund is a member-supported charitable organization that provides funding for the club's Olympic athletes and organizations providing athletic opportunities for boys and girls in the inner city.

Each year, the NYAC Athlete's Fund organizes a fundraising golf tournament. Among those benefiting is six-time world wrestling champion and Olympic silver medalist Adeline Gray.

"The ambitious tradition of the NYAC and the Athlete's Fund is a great parallel to my ambitions of reaching Olympic gold. They have supported me so I can focus on the task at hand, unlocking my true potential as an athlete," explained Gray.

Not only is the NYAC famous for the success of its amateur athletes, but the club's facilities and location have also brought it much renown. The City House, with its 187 overnight guest rooms, extensive athletics facilities (aquatic center and gymnasium) and banquet facilities overlooking Central Park, is unique in New York City.

This clubhouse is the home to both the Hall of Fame and the Tap Room (on the second floor). The former, replete with historic trophies, documents the NYAC's history of athletic accomplishment.

The Tap Room is the club's social hub, the perfect place to enjoy an appetizing meal and a beverage after a workout, swim, spa or sauna. However, the view from the 24th-floor solarium (with spectacular views of Central Park), the main dining room and the beautifully etched Tiffany glass window on the ninth floor offer other delightful areas to repose. For a secret hideaway, the library is a sea of tranquility, housing 10,000 books.

The club's second home in Westchester County on Travers Island is similarly feted for its stunning views of the Long Island Sound, along with amenities for yachting, tennis, outdoor swimming, dining and all manner of other athletic activities. Above all, members brag about the sense of belonging that permeates and the warm welcome that imbues all areas. The NYAC works very hard to ensure that the club is a home away from home.

The founding fathers of the NYAC – John Babcock, Henry Buermeyer and William Curtis – were visionary gentlemen who recognized the value of athletic endeavor for the betterment of society. They set about forming an organization based on the celebrated London Athletic Club, which would address those needs. The appeal of their vision was made evident by the rapid growth in membership and by how the NYAC quickly became a cultural center within New York City.

A Distinguished characteristic of the NYAC is that even with its more than a century of history and culture, it's fair to say that all the members and board members determine the NYAC's story today.

"We encourage them all to embrace the club and its values, being respectful of its history and traditions while guiding it through the essential evolution to make it a club of the 21st Century," intoned the club's general manager @Roger simon Roger Simon.

"We take great measures to ensure that all members are aware of the NYAC's founding principles, how and why it came into existence, and why we remain true to those principles to this day."

Another Distinguished principle of the NYAC is the recognition of awards and ribbons of its members. Their largest annual event is, fittingly, the All Sports Dinner, at which the club honors its Olympic and world champions. Other events of note are the Quarter Century Club Banquet, honoring those individuals with 25 years or more of NYAC membership, and the Hall of Fame Dinner, at which members are inducted into the NYAC's Hall of Fame.

NYAC's success depends on the quality of its leadership. "The relationships that I have with the president and board are rooted in mutual respect and a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each of us. I feel truly blessed to work alongside some of the best business minds and professionals in New York City," added GM Simon.

NYAC's leadership is proud of its recognition as a BoardRoom Distinguished Club. "We believe we are a world-class club with great facilities and wonderful people. The annual recognition from Distinguished Clubs helps reinforce what we believe to be true and has been a great resource of ideas and networking," he added.

Ronald Banaszak, CCM, CCE, BoardRoom Distinguished Clubs, Executive Vice President of International Business Development and may be reached at (415) 420-5183 or via email:?[email protected].?

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