U.S. Olympic Committee's Team for Tomorrow Completes Post-Vancouver Habitat for Humanity Tour

USOC August 06, 2010

 In an effort to spread the Olympic values of solidarity, compassion and peace, the U.S. Olympic Committee's (USOC) Team for Tomorrow Humanitarian Fund partnered with Habitat for Humanity in four builds around the country following the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. At these builds, 45 Team USA athletes and their family members joined together to share their Olympic spirit with local communities in Washington, DC; Anchorage, Alaska; Salt Lake City, Utah; and, most recently, on July 24, St. Paul, Minn.

 

The St. Paul build was headed by Team for Tomorrow Athlete Ambassador and Olympic curler John Benton (St. Michael, Minn.), who was joined by fellow Team USA curlers and Minnesota natives Jessica Schultz (Duluth) and John Hoffoss (Minneapolis).

 

"By volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, the group was able to bring a sense of hope to the homeowners and community where we live and train," Benton said. "This project and others like it extends the integrity and ideals of Olympism beyond the field of play, and I feel blessed to be able to give back locally."

The four Team for Tomorrow group builds were supplemented by individual efforts organized by 2010 athletes, including Athlete Ambassador and two-time Olympic medalist in ice hockey Caitlin Cahow (New Haven, Conn.), 2010 Olympic bronze medalist in bobsled Elana Meyers (Douglasville, Ga.) and two-time Paralympic alpine skier Gerald Hayden (Merced, Calif.), to name a few. During Habitat's Women's Build Week in May, reigning Olympic all-around gymnastics champion Nastia Liukin (Parker, Texas) also put in a volunteer day, and overall, Team USA athletes totaled nearly 400 hours of service to Habitat for Humanity during the first six months of 2010.

"Working with Habitat for Humanity has opened my eyes to the true heroes out there, the volunteers who give their time and effort to making the world a better place for all people," Cahow said. "As athletes, we inspire through our achievements, but I think my teammates and I would gladly say that being a part of Habitat for Humanity ranks as one of our greatest achievements to date."

All of the Habitat for Humanity builds were conducted through Team for Tomorrow, which was launched prior to the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games and serves as the ongoing humanitarian relief effort of America's Olympic and Paralympic Teams. This program provides a vehicle for America's top athletes to gain a deeper meaning from representing the United States as an Olympian or Paralympian and give back to their hometowns.

The Anchorage build embodied this hometown connection as three Vancouver Olympians from Alaska participated. The athletes included Anchorage cross country skiers James Southam and Kikkan Randall, as well as snowboard cross athlete Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (Girdwood).

"Anchorage's Olympians are already community leaders in their own right, demonstrating a work ethic and drive to which we can all aspire," said Craig Jaeger, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity - Anchorage. "Donating their time and energy to Habitat for Humanity - helping less fortunate families while demonstrating the joy of volunteerism - was yet another way that they provide their leadership to this community. We are very grateful for their individual support and that of the USOC."

Representing each of the eight Olympic winter National Governing Bodies in this post-Vancouver effort were the Team for Tomorrow Athlete Ambassadors. To read more about the 2010 Athlete Ambassadors, click HERE.

Team for Tomorrow also extends its reach beyond the United States to help people in need around the globe. On behalf of the 2010 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, the USOC donated more than 24,000 items of athletic apparel and sports items to National Olympic Committees and community organizations in Africa and Afghanistan in the fall of 2009. The items allowed impoverished children the opportunity to use sport and play to help aid their health and development.

Throughout the last eight months, U.S. Olympians and Paralympians have visited a multitude of children's hospitals and at-needs schools as part of Team for Tomorrow. They have impacted hundreds of children across the country, sharing the Olympic ideals, encouraging the kids to lead healthy and active lifestyles, and donating Team for Tomorrow digital cameras in an effort to support health and education initiatives.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 350,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit www.habitat.org.

About the USOC 
The USOC is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games.

For more information, please contact USOC Communications at (719) 866-4529 or visit www.TeamUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Tags: Caitlin Cahow, Callan Chythlok-Sifsof, Elana Meyers, Gerald Hayden, Habitat for Humanity, James Southam, Jessica Schultz, John Benton, John Hoffoss, Kikkan Randall, Nastia Liukin, Team For Tomorrow, Team for Tomorrow Humanitarian Fund, Team for Tomorrow Humanitarian Relief Fund, U.S. Olympic Committee, Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games