Team for Tomorrow Fund

 

Team for Tomorrow is a humanitarian relief fund through which America's Olympic and Paralympic athletes provide support and give back to local communities and people in need throughout the world. Launched in 2008 in partnership with America's athletes, the fund also serves as a platform for athletes to continue spreading the Olympic Ideals of peace, goodwill, tolerance and harmony.

Today's Olympians and Paralympians have expressed a deep interest in humanitarianism - in giving back through a wide variety of social and civic causes. America's athletes are looking for ways to make a difference in the world and to gain an even deeper meaning out of representing the United States as an Olympic or Paralympic athlete.

This impactful initiative is entering its second cycle, with 2010 U.S. Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls embracing the opportunity to give back. Team for Tomorrow 2010 consists of:

ATHLETE AMBASSADORS

For 2010, a new class of Athlete Ambassadors is leading the charge for Team for Tomorrow, acting as champions and captains of the program on behalf of the entire U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams. Team for Tomorrow Athlete Ambassadors for the 2010 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams represent all eight winter National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and U.S. Paralympics:

• Tony Benshoof, Luge
• John Benton, Curling
• Caitlin Cahow, Ice Hockey
• Rachael Flatt, Figure Skating
• Haley Johnson, Biathlon
• Taylor Lipsett, Sled Hockey
• Steven Nyman, Alpine Skiing
• Augusto "Goose" Perez, Paralympic Curling
• Noelle Pikus-Pace, Skeleton
• Katherine Reutter, Speedskating
• Liz Stephen, CC Skiing
• Curt Tomasevicz, Bobsled
• Stephani Victor, Paralympic Alpine Skiing

CAUSES

• Habitat for Humanity

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 St. Paul, Minn.

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.

Click HERE for photos, video and stories from Team for Tomorrow builds.

• Donations to youth around the globe

As an extension of the USOC’s commitment to assist the Haitian Olympic Committee (HOC) following the catastrophic earthquake in Port au Prince on Jan. 12, 2010, the U.S. Olympic family made two rounds of donations as part of the Team for Tomorrow effort totaling nearly $140,000 worth of sporting equipment.

The first round of donations was sent in March and supported the HOC and UNICEF in running psycho-social programs for more than 50,000 children who were left homeless after the earthquake. Through 200 trained sport specialists, the HOC and UNICEF offered sport and social programs to help children take their mind off the devastation and play again. These programs were particularly crucial during the first few months when schools had not yet reopened and continue to play a role in helping children engage in fun social games and sport while learning positive social and life values.

The second donation, sent Sept. 12 to commemorate the eight month anniversary of the tragedy, includes items such as shoes, shirts, duffle bags, water filtration systems, various sport balls, first aid kits, jump ropes, hula hoops, table tennis tables and equipment, which were requested by the HOC in meetings following the earthquake. Team for Tomorrow has been able to make these contributions to Haiti thanks to the support of U.S. National Governing Bodies (NGBs), the Athletes Advisory Council (AAC), Multi-Sport Organizations (MSOs), individual Americans and other sporting organizations in the United States.

In the fall of 2009, the USOC donated nearly 25,000 items of athletic apparel and equipment to youth in Afghanistan, Guinea, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia on behalf of Team for Tomorrow. Donations included such items as T-shirts, pants, backpacks and volleyballs.

• International goodwill

In addition to donations, the USOC has worked in conjunction with the Haitian Olympic Committee, the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), and the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO) to bring hope and inspiration to earthquake-wrecked Haiti through the participation of Haitian athletes in the Central American and Caribbean Games, which took place July 18-Aug. 1 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. CACSO member National Olympic Committees covered all costs related to the training and logistics for the participation of Haitian athletes in the Games, while the USOC covered air transportation for all Haitian athletes living in the United States to travel to the Games, as well as the costs of U.S. visas. Additionally, the USOC, on behalf of Nike and NGBs, provided the competition clothing for 95 athletes competing at the Central American and Caribbean Games in eight sports.

In cooperation with the Olympic Movement, the USOC’s Team for Tomorrow will continue to support the HOC through its next phase of rebuilding the sporting infrastructure in Haiti.

• Holiday giving to those in need

Leading up to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Athlete Ambassadors, their teammates and NGBs will visit children's hospitals and schools during the 2009 holiday season. The athletes will discuss their journey through sport, the Olympic Ideals and how kids can follow the magic of the Games. In addition, Team for Tomorrow has empowered each winter NGB to select a deserving institution in their hometowns and training town communities to distribute digital cameras as giveaways during the holiday visits.

Team for Tomorrow was born through America's civic-minded athletes. The program provides a platform for athletes to give back and to make the world a little better place everyday. It empowers athletes to join the team within the team, showing the world that the Olympic Movement is bigger than sport alone.