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Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Lance Armstrong among sports stars to launch Athletes for Hope

Posted April 26th, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

An elite group of professional athletes have joined forces to launch Athletes for Hope, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to help athletes, their fans, and the corporate community do more to make the world a better place.

Athletes for Hope’s 12 Founding Athletes hail from different sports but share a common passion for philanthropy. They are: Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Warrick Dunn, Jeff Gordon, Mia Hamm, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning and Cal Ripken, Jr.

athletes for hope banner athletes_ArmstrongAliAgassiRipken

These Founding Athletes have come together to “Pass the Passion” and ignite a movement of giving back.

“Combined, our 12 Founding Athletes have raised more than $500 million for charitable and health-related causes, have built schools, community centers, hospitals, parks, and stadiums, while touching countless lives in ways that can’t be calculated,” said Ivan Blumberg, Athletes for Hope’s CEO.

“By bringing together athletes, fans, charities, and corporations through programs focused on education, connection, and recognition, Athletes for Hope is starting a philanthropic movement that has the potential to inspire millions of people to positive change.”

Educate
By connecting with professional athletes and teaching them about their philanthropic options, Athletes for Hope will equip them with the tools to effectively give back to their community, educate their peers, and inspire many others to support charitable causes.

athletes for hope banner athletes_DunnHammKersee

Connect
Athletes for Hope’s will connect athletes, charities, corporations and individuals to create a movement for positive change. Athletes for Hope will work with athletes to match their philanthropic goals with the needs of charities and will also help businesses design effective charitable programs that involve athletes. By building upon the special bond between athletes and their fans, Athletes for Hope strives to inspire millions of people to follow the lead of athletes in a philanthropic movement.

Recognize
Athletes for Hope’s will recognize the contributions that professional athletes make to the charitable world. Through this recognition, the organization hopes to celebrate the significant impact that athletes can have on the lives of others, increase the visibility of the athletes, charities, and corporations involved, and inspire others to become part of the philanthropic movement.

athletes for hope banner athletes_Mourning_Gordon_Lemieux

Get Involved
Athletes for Hope’s Founding Athletes are inviting fans to join this movement and inspire others to get active in their local communities. Fans have a number of ways to get involved with Athletes for Hope:

Get Tagged – Fans can purchase and wear an AFH Tag to show support for Athletes for Hope. AFH Tags are available for purchase at: www.athletesforhope.org. All proceeds go to support Athletes for Hope’s initiatives.
Join the Team – Fans can join the Athletes for Hope’s team and receive the latest news and updates by going to www.athletesforhope.org.
Share Your Stories of Inspiration – Fans who are interested in supporting charitable causes can connect with volunteer opportunities at the www.athletesforhope.org Web site, through an Athletes for Hope search engine powered by VolunteerMatch.

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Athletes for Hope