USOC more than doubles fundraising goal

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The U. S. Olympic Committee (USOC) more than doubled the initial fundraising goal of $2 million centered around its new initiative "America Supports Team USA."  During the six-week period, which began Memorial Day weekend and continued through the July 4^th weekend, the USOC raised $4.4 million and it represents the biggest June fundraising success ever by the USOC and its eleventh highest on record.  The total amount includes a $500,000 match from longtime Olympic Sponsor Visa.   

The "America Supports Team USA" initiative celebrates patriotism and raises money to support Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls.  The campaign tagline, "Together We Win," underscores the importance that private donations play in providing Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls with essential programs and services designed to "achieve sustained competitive excellence and to preserve the Olympic Ideals, and thereby inspire all Americans," as stated in the USOC mission statement. 

"The fact that we were able to double our initial fundraising goal and enjoy the most successful June ever, especially in the current economic climate, shows the strength of our brand and how much Team USA means to Americans," said Acting USOC CEO Stephanie Streeter.  "I am very encouraged by the outcome of this campaign and am thankful for the support of our Olympic sponsors, media partners, national governing bodies and athletes who participated in the campaign and am also deeply grateful to the Americans who gave so generously." 

Olympic sponsors Visa, United, Nike, Anheuser-Busch, Hilton, Coca-Cola and Jet Set Sports partnered with the USOC to launch the inaugural campaign.  This is the largest number of sponsors activating around a USOC initiative in a non-Games year.   

The initiative was also supported by multiple media partners and included public service announcements (PSAs) and print advertisements that appeared in media outlets including NBC, Charter Communications, CBS, Comcast, ESPN, the NHL Network, Time Inc. News Group publications and USA Today.  NBC Universal, the broadcaster of the 2010 and 2012 Olympic Games, supported the USOC's campaign across all NBC Universal networks.   

U.S. professional sports leagues also extended their support of the initiative.  The NBA aired the PSA on NBA TV, NBA.com and during WNBA games on ESPN 2.  The NHL supported the initiative on NHL.com in addition to airing the PSA on the NHL Network, Major League Baseball teams supported the initiative as several teams ran the PSA at ballparks around the nation and Olympians and Paralympians threw out ceremonial first pitches at ballparks across the country.   

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) were also heavily involved.  "America Supports Team USA" was featured at events such as USA Baseball's games against Guatemala and Canada in Durham, N.C.; the USA Swimming National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind.; the USA Track & Field National Championships in Eugene, Ore.; and USA Volleyball's Girl's Junior Championships and Women's Pan Am Cup in Miami, Fla.  NGBs also featured the PSAs and print advertisements in their publications as well as on their websites. 

This initiative, which served as the centerpiece for overall fundraising efforts by the USOC during the summer months, will continue to accept donations to aid Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls training to represent Team USA.  The T-shirts, pins and team rings wristbands are also still available for purchase on TeamUSA.org. 

Tags: Team USA, USOC, Vancouver, Vancouver 2010