Donald H. Whitney

Donald H. Whitney has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. From his boyhood paper route to leading his cub scout troop in cookie sales, he has envisioned unique and innovative approaches to business and sales.

Don began teaching tennis at 16 and after college worked with Sports Illustrated as Director of Tennis with their high profile Caribbean Rock Resort properties (i.e. Dorado and Cerromar Beach in Puerto Rico and Caneel Bay and Little Dix Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands). Catering to the corporate CEO's and executives, Don wondered what the employees back home were doing, and how they were being motivated and rewarded.

In 1980, twenty-five years old, he made a stop in Atlanta, Georgia. This seemed to be the city that he felt he could settle in, begin a business, start a family, and make a difference in a community.

Throughout this time, since Don was 16, he also began a search in his heart for a way to help children. Touched by the ravages of hunger, poverty, and child abuse, and it's effects on children, he began supporting children through World Vision, Compassion International, Save the Children, WorldHelp and Christian Children's Fund, continually supporting and adding children through today, where he and his family visit and support twenty-one (21) children worldwide.

In 1980, Don began a business called Corporate Sports Unlimited, to develop team-building events for executives and employees, starting with the "Battle of the Superstars" which he performed for companies nationwide. As the company grew, he expanded his role into corporate picnics, family festivals, tenant appreciation days and other event services, always building the camaraderie and fellowship with people, which he could bring to employees and management of businesses. The company, through Don's ability to develop relationships and venture into new areas, also began managing and developing corporate executive health clubs and spas.

In 1994, after 20 years in his heart of finding a way to help children, Don embarked on a new venture, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization called The United States (US) 10K Classic presented by Publix and Gatorade, a Labor Day run, walk, National inline skate championship, and Pro-cycling event that in 2010 drew over 16,000 participants from over 48 countries, 42 states and has over 60 corporations (national and international companies) involved.

Don's skills in sales, business management, employee motivation, sponsorship, and relationship building, along with his positive attitude, tremendous organizational skills, and unlimited energy allowed him to start this most successful event, while continuing to be President and CEO of Corporate Sports and growing this business.


INNOVATIVE APPROACHES
Corporate Sports Unlimited was founded in 1980. Beginning this company was Don's way of fostering camaraderie, fellowship, and team building to employees of companies nationwide. Don created the company to fill a void, as he knew of no others doing this at the time. The company continued to grow and prosper in the next years. Growing into new offices and warehouse space every few years, the company expanded to meet other needs as they were found.

Corporate Sports began producing corporate picnics for employees along with other event services for corporations, including indoor games, meeting planning, grand openings, and other special events. Producing 400+ meetings and serving 1,000,000+ people annually, and taking care of groups from 100 to 30,000, while providing an excellent quality of service and attention to the smallest details became the company's forte. Don was primary salesperson and operations person for these events for many years of the company's growth. Don continually looked for new and creative aspects to these events. He has always been the leader in the industry, with the other companies often following his lead in new products and services. Beginning children's activities with Little Tikes children villages, innovative relay races, mascots, and more, these services became the industry standard within a few seasons of CSU's implementation.

Through Don's relationships and knowledge of fitness and sports, he also became involved in the development, build out and management of fitness centers. After beginning the management of one club, he continued to design, develop and open many Ritz Carlton hotel spa/fitness centers throughout the country, and design, develop and manage local executive health clubs. Currently managing 17 clubs in the Atlanta area with 52,000+ members including the World Headquarters Executive Health Clubs, CNN, Cox Broadcasting, Georgia-Pacific, Newell Rubbermaid, Delta Air Lines and UPS, Corporate Sports is the only company of its kind to manage executive fitness centers along with event services. The fitness center design, consulting management services began in 1983, years ahead of the myriad of companies who have entered outsourcing as their primary business. Corporate Sports introduced a personal training program within its executive clubs in 1995, which increased member service, club revenues and CSU revenues in its first year.

The United States 10K Classic presented by Publix and Gatorade, a (501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, was started by Don and began in 1994. This event was created to bring awareness and funding to children (particularly in the areas of hunger and abuse). Starting as an idea while driving down U.S.41, (Cobb Parkway) Don overcame tremendous obstacles by closing down a state highway and major thoroughfare, working with County Commissioners, Mayors, The Governor's Office and State DOT, bringing together a top class of world elite athletes, gaining sponsorship for a new event, and developing a Family Festival for the public which precedes this event. Managed by Corporate Events and Meetings, a division of Corporate Sports Unlimited, Don now spends a great portion of his time managing this 501(c)(3) non-profit event, for which The United States 10K Classic has donated over $5 million dollars to 30 local charities since 1995 to the not for profit community affecting children.


FUTURE PLANS
Corporate Sports Unlimited has a bright future ahead. Reorganizing the company with an effective Vice President/General Manager for the event services side, an operational health club division manager along with a health club systems manager, the company is poised for continued growth and profitability.

The company continues to fine-tune its procedures and systems, which is known for providing excellent quality of service, attention to the finest details, and client satisfaction. The company's goals in the next five years is to be the finest design/development/management company for 35 executive health clubs in Atlanta, and increase event sales by 250% while continuing to provide the best quality of service for the best value.

The United States 10K Classic goals will have 20,000+ participants by the year 2015, and be contributing over $500,000 per year to the not-for-profit community for children in need. Through the United States 10K Classic's Business to Business Program for sponsors, Don's goal is for sponsorship to be a winning venture with all companies involved, always exceeding a sponsor's expectations and connects businesses together allowing them to partner with one another for the common cause of helping children in need.

Don's next venture is to build a sustainable community called the "World Children's Center". The World Children's Center is a planned community serving homeless, orphaned, and/or neglected children. When completed, the Center will serve an estimated 800+ children in total. The Center's ground breaking commenced in 2007 with infrastructure which includes roads, water, gas, sewer, fiber and front entrance and Model Student Home. The first neighborhood of children’s homes being built by nationally recognized Builder of the Year John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods. With his can-do attitude and heart for the cause, the Center is bound for success. He was a guest on Dr. Robert Schuller's Hour of Power television show (Crystal Cathedral) on June 21, 1998 speaking on the World Children's Center and The United States 10K Classic (please click to see video). The show reaches 20 million people weekly in the U. S. and over 184 foreign countries worldwide.


PEOPLE/PHILOSOPHY
Don Whitney has created an environment within Corporate Sports different from many organizations. His values are centered around his deeply held Christian faith, his value on family, and respect for the individual. Don wants people to be and achieve their best, but keeping priorities such as family foremost. Don's integrity is an asset in his dealings and relationship building with clients, sponsors, employees, and the many vendors and public officials that he deals with. Corporate Sports has always given back as an organization, through corporate donations, fundraising for needy causes, and through providing events for many worthwhile organizations. Associates are encouraged to grow and develop, with Don's strong belief of promotion from within where possible. Associates often learn and work in different areas of the company, the clubs, events, and volunteering for The U. S. 10K Classic event.

The U. S. 10K and now the World Children's Center are the foremost social responsibilities of Don, his passion for the cause touches people every day, as he is very open with everyone on his beliefs and causes. He has touched many people; associates, clients, sponsors, vendors, and many others; many through his example have become more socially responsible and reexamined their values and belief systems. It is a great witness to the community to see a business, which is not afraid to call itself a Christian business, which has been blessed and continues to grow through ethical business practices. The contributions to children's charities from The United States 10K Classic has touched thousands of lives, and will continue to expand and grow.


SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Don models the behavior and emphasizes the importance of "doing well by doing good". He believes that each of us has a responsibility to leave this world a little better off than the way we found it. Don has used his experiences, relationships developed, and successful track record as a businessman to serve as a foundation on which he launched The U.S. 10K Classic presented by Publix and Gatorade and the World Children's Center.

Don Whitney’s Personal Statement of his Faith – I Believe:

1. In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
2. In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3. That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.
4. That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
5. That justification, regeneration and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
6. In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word and by the Holy Spirit.
7. Holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people.
8. In the baptism with the Holy Spirit subsequent to a clean heart.
9. In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
10. In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
11. Divine healing is provided for all in the Atonement.
12. In the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saints’ feet.
13. In the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
14. In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous and eternal punishment for the wicked.

Drawing his salary solely from his private business Corporate Sports Unlimited, Don has contributed thousands of hours to ensuring the success and continued growth of both 501(c)(3) nonprofits - personally contributing in excess of a one million dollars. His passion is contagious and is modeled by the professionals who work in his private business who provide hundreds of volunteer hours and in-kind support annually to community efforts that support children and families in need.

Don has been or is a member of and is active in such organizations as: Society of Incentive Travel Executives, Meeting Planners International, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, SHRM Atlanta (Society for Human Resource Management), and has served on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters (United Way), Junior Acheivement, Special Olympics and presently is a Board Member of the U.S. 10K Classic and the World Children’s Center. He has been actively involved with Compassion International, World Vision, World Help, IFCJ (International Fellowship of Christians and Jews) and the Christian Children's Fund since 1976. Don was honored by the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Atlanta Business Chronicle as the "1995 Small Business Person of the Year" and was the finalist in the 2002 Business Division for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. Don
was named Citizen of the Year by the City of Smyrna, Georgia in 2010.