Sports Endeavors, Inc.

 431 US Highway 70A East

  Hillsborough, NC 27278

  919-640-6800

MEDIA CONTACT: For Immediate Release

Patti Latimer 919.640.6048

platimer@sportsendeavors.com

Sports Endeavors, Inc announces acquisition of Vivo Girls Sports, Inc.

HILLSBOROUGH, NC October 4, 2011: Sports Endeavors, Inc today announced the acquisition of Vivo Girls Sports, Inc. (vivoGS), based in Mill Valley, California.  vivoGS is a thriving online community and resource for teenagers and young female athletes who share a passion for sports. The acquisition will enhance Sports Endeavor’s recent launch of HERosport, the female brand extension of SOCCER.COM.  “Half the young athletes in this country are girls. vivoGS has done an excellent job tapping into what they need and want in order to play their sports and to communicate with each other. This brings an influential, very sophisticated audience into the SOCCER.COM community,” says Brendan Moylan, Sports Endeavors, Inc. co-Founder and COO.

Over 15 million female athletes 13-24 years old will participate in organized sports in 2011 and the number is growing rapidly, over 10% per year.  “In addition to team sports participants, with another 10 million young female athletes participating in other fitness activities, you’ve got a very broad and powerful niche of female consumers,” says Mr. Moylan.

“We are thrilled to tell our vast network of hundreds of thousands of young athletes, parents and coaches across the country about the commitment SOCCER.COM is making to the female side of sports, especially soccer players, “says vivoGS founder and CEO Marilou McFarlane, mother of two teenage girl athletes, recognized expert in teen and college marketing and social media, and a lifelong competitive athlete herself. “Young female athletes crave a place to communicate with their peers on Facebook and easily find and buy all they need to play from one place, with one-stop shopping to find all the best gear and apparel.”

The vivoGS community, founded in 2009 in Mill Valley, California, is made up of prominent and well-respected experts in sports medicine, nutrition, female health, physical therapy, and sports psychology, as well as professional and college female athletes who all donated their time to offer answers and support that teenage girls need. “Teenage girls communicate differently from the boys; vivoGS provides a unique community that encourages female athletes to keep playing, by telling them they’re not alone with their concerns and questions,” says Ms. McFarlane.  

Betsey Stevenson, an economist at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, showed that increasing girls’ sports participation had a direct effect on women’s education and employment. Changes set in motion by Title IX, celebrating its 40th anniversary this month, explain about 20% of the increase in women’s education and about 40% of the rise in employment for 25-to-35-year-old women. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/as-girls-become-women-sports-pay-dividends/

“There needed to be an outlet where girls could get information, and get as much attention and respect as boys,” vivoGS founder’s 16-year-old daughter Darcy McFarlane says. “To have this open place where you can get help and advice that you wouldn’t have access to, it’s great. Plus I can find what I need to play soccer easily now at SOCCER.COM.”

“As parents of two competitive girl athletes, my husband and I were continually frustrated by how difficult it was to find the apparel, cleats, sports bras, compression shorts, socks, all the things they continually need because they wore them out or grew out of them so fast. I don’t spend a nickel on my own sportswear until they have what they need to play,” explains Ms. McFarlane. “The commitment that Sports Endeavors is showing to this vibrant side of their potential customer base is very gratifying and I’m thrilled that our global community of fans on Facebook will continue to be inspired and supported by such a popular and successful sports organization.”

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.