Athletes for Hope connects athletes across the country with charities for first official September 11th Day of Service


Washington, D.C., (September 2, 2009) Athletes for Hope, a non-profit organization founded by an elite group of athletes with a shared passion for philanthropy, announced today that it has partnered with the United We Serve campaign and is participating in the first official September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance. Through the partnership, Athletes for Hope will help professional and Olympic athletes with a passion for philanthropy connect with charitable causes throughout the country to help make a difference in their local communities.

“We are pleased to join this national effort as Americans come together in service across all 50 states to pay tribute to the victims and heroes of 9/11,” said Ivan Blumberg, CEO of Athletes for Hope. “This is an opportunity to not only remember and honor the sacrifice made eight years ago, but also pledge our continued service. On this day, we combine the participation and passion of professional athletes with the philanthropic effort of the general public and corporate communities, to achieve an ongoing commitment to service.”

Since its inception in 2007, Athletes for Hope has quickly advanced to the forefront of sports philanthropy by offering a free service to athletes that educates them about philanthropic opportunities, connects them with charities that best fit their passions, and recognizes their efforts to inspire others. In just over two years, more than 600 athletes spanning over 50 professional and Olympic sports have joined forces with Athletes for Hope to get involved in philanthropy efforts on a local and national level. Athletes for Hope has completed over 300 matches between athletes and charities and has delivered its educational workshop detailing how the organization can help athletes get started in philanthropic initiatives to more than 500 professionals including members of the NBA, MLS, LPGA, ATP, WTA, NFLPA, AVP, and members of the US Olympic movement.

“Every professional athlete has the opportunity to inspire those around them to make a lasting impact,” said Athletes for Hope founding member, Andre Agassi, “but what I’ve realized through my own work and the work of Athletes for Hope, is that we are much stronger standing shoulder to shoulder.”

The Day of Service and Remembrance was established to honor the sacrifices of 9/11 heroes and engage more Americans in serving their communities. United We Serve is President Obama’s national call to service, challenging all Americans to engage in sustained, collaborative and focused service in their communities. United We Serve is being led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that improves lives and strengthens communities through volunteering and service, that strives to make service a way of life for all Americans.

About Athletes for Hope Athletes for Hope’s is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization founded by an elite group of 12 professional athletes with a shared passion for philanthropy. Its mission is to educate, encourage, and assist athletes in their efforts to contribute to community and charitable causes; to increase public awareness of those efforts; and to inspire others to do the same. For more information, go to: www.athletesforhope.org.

Athletes for Hope’s 12 Founding Athletes 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.