2008 Team for Tomorrow

Team for Tomorrow History

Team for Tomorrow was launched in 2008 by America's Olympians and Paralympians and the U.S. Olympic Committee. The fund provides a vehicle through which U.S. athletes will offer their assistance and support to those in the United States and around the world who are in need.

In its pilot year, Team for Tomorrow consisted of 10 Athlete Ambassadors, the donation of relief tents to earthquake survivors in China and service hours with Habitat for Humanity affiliates around the United States.

2008 Athlete Ambassadors

The first class of Athlete Ambassadors led the charge for the impactful humanitarian initiative by serving as advocates and supporters of the fund. Team for Tomorrow Athlete Ambassadors for the 2008 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams were:


Recent Earthquake in China

On behalf of America's Olympic and Paralympic athletes, the USOC donated 1,000 relief tents to survivors of the May 12 earthquake in China's Sichuan Province that left approximately 5 million people homeless. The Yurt Dome Relief Tents are durable to last several years and can each sleep 8-10 people, providing housing for up to 10,000 displaced victims. Weighing 42 pounds each, the tents were shipped from the United States to China and arrived at the Beijing International Airport in June 2008, from which they were transported to Chengdu, Sichuan, China, one of the hardest hit areas of the earthquake.

Habitat for Humanity

To assist those in need in the United States, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams donated hundreds of service hours to Habitat for Humanity following the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, building houses in partnership with families in need. The athletes donated their time to Habitat for Humanity local affiliates in their hometown areas, assisting in the building of new homes throughout the United States.

Olympic and Paralympic Build Day with Habitat for Humanity

In November 2008, Team for Tomorrow brought together 12 Olympic athletes, coaches and hopefuls to spread the spirit of Olympism while making a difference in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the first ever "Olympic and Paralympic Build Day with Habitat for Humanity." Athletes worked on two houses throughout the all-day build, doing everything from cutting steel beams to installing insulation to nailing down sub-flooring.

Beijing Olympians who volunteered for the build included U.S. flag bearer and track & field athlete Lopez Lomong, volleyball silver medalist Nicole Davis, pentathlete Eli Bremer and wrestler Brad Vering, as well as three-time kayak Olympian and U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Chief Operating Officer Norman Bellingham.