The Ubuntu Award

2006 Ubuntu Award Winner Paul Carrozza

Paul Carrozza of RunTex in Austin was named as the first ever recipient of the Ubuntu Award, a special honor created by Balega International to recognize a leading running specialty store for outstanding community service and involvement.

"The word 'Ubuntu' has no literal translation in English, but in essence it means humanism, a shared world view or vision of humanity," said Russell Clark, C.E.O. of Balega in presenting the award at the recent Running Event conference and trade show. "It's about the principle of caring for each other, and a spirit of mutual support. A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, generous, hospitable, caring and compassionate. More broadly it is the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity."

Carrozza has long been active in the Austin community. RunTex sponsors, supports or produces more than 100 events annually which raise more than $5 million annually for a range of non-profit organizations. He is also co-founder of Shoes for Austin, which sources closeout shoes from top vendors and uses them as incentives for United Way agencies that offer programs to improve health, fitness, education and life skills. Carrozza has also served as an unofficial mentor to numerous youth, coaches and aspiring running store owners.

Balega created The Ubuntu Award to recognize the running store or individual who "manages to best encapsulate the Ubuntu philosophy through their everyday interaction with customers and community," Clark said. The actual award is a South African craft piece in the form of two hands coming together. Balega commissioned the piece from a Cape Town artist who specializes in intricate wire and beadwork, both of which are local handicrafts. Each year the winner will be invited to South Africa as the guest of Balega to experience the spirit of Ubuntu first hand.

"While doing background research for this award, I was struck by two things about Paul," Clark said. "First, there was the sheer volume and diversity of work that he has done. It seems amazing to me that one individual can find enough energy, motivation and time to achieve so much. The second thing was the unqualified admiration that this individual commands amongst his peers. Two separate individuals, both now running store owners themselves told me that they would never be able to repay him for the help, assistance and motivation he gave them."

In conjunction with the presentation of The Ubuntu Award, Balega announced an expansion of The Lesedi Project, a program in which running retailers help raise money for the Ethembeni School for physically disabled children. The school is situated along the route of the famous Comrades marathon in South Africa. The Lesedi Project promoted the sale of beaded bracelets hand-made by children from the Ethembeni school. The program launched in January 2006 through more than 50 Fleet Feet stores nationwide and helped raise $40,000. Effective December 1, 2006, the program will roll out to independently owned running stores.