Living the Dream Medal Fund contributor list goes over 100
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by Gary Abbott
In just its first month in existence, the list of contributors for the new Living the Dream Medal Fund has gone over 100.
On Friday, May 30, USA Wrestling made a major announcement that this new program was established to substantially increase the financial rewards for U.S. wrestlers who win Olympic and World medals during the next four-year Olympic cycle.
On Tuesday, June 30, the list of contributors to the fund reached 101 people.
Of the first 101 donors, there were 30 states represented. Colorado had the most individual donors with 21. Other states with five or more donors in the first month were New York, Iowa, New Jersey and California.
There were some prominent names on the list including Olympic champions Dan Gable, John Smith, Bruce Baumgartner and Momir Petkovic and World champion Zeke Jones.
The first donor was Al Bevilacqua of Amityville, N.Y., the 2008 USA Wrestling Man of the Year, who has taken a leadership role in helping promote the program and educate the wrestling community about its importance.
However, a majority of the donors so far have been wrestling supporters, people who have a strong love and commitment to the sport and want to see the United States athletes succeed on the Olympic and World stage.
For the current list of Living the Dream Medal Fund donors, click here:
http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=3&page=showarticle&ArticleID=20465
The Living the Dream Medal Fund has a simple approach. Any U.S. wrestler who wins a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England will receive a quarter-million dollars ($250,000).
Silver medalists in London will earn $50,000 and bronze medalists in London will receive $25,000. The payout for a World Championships medal in 2009, 2010 and 2011 will be $50,000 for a gold, $25,000 for a silver and $15,000 for a bronze.
The Fund will be maintained as a restricted and segregated fund by USA Wrestling.* It will be overseen by a board that includes representatives of USA Wrestling as well as the group of stewards who have helped establish the Fund and will assist in financially underwriting it. In addition to the support of the stewards, funding will also come from a public fundraising program as well as from existing support from USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Included among the stewards are all three Team Leaders for the U.S. wrestling programs: Mike Novogratz (freestyle), Dave Barry (Greco-Roman) and the family of Kim Martori-Wickey (women). Other initial stewards in the program include Rich Tavoso, Stan Dziedzic and Joe Alpert.
USA Wrestling has set up a website for the Living the Dream Medal Fund, where wrestling supporters can make donations to the project. People have been asked to give donations from $5 to $5,000 to the fund.
To make an online donation, click here:
https://www.usawmembership.com/MakeDonation.jsp?programId=501
Supporters can also send their contribution by mail. Checks should be made out to USA Wrestling, and sent to:
Living the Dream Medal Fund
c/o USA Wrestling
6155 Lehman Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80917
The goal is to include thousands of people from all across the nation, all who share a passion for wrestling. In the first month, there were 101 contributors. How many will join the list in the second month?
U.S. athletes have responded with appreciation and excitement to the development of this progressive new project.
"It just shows how close-knit the wrestling community is. This sport brings all these amazing people together for a great cause. It's everybody helping everybody," U.S. Freestyle World Team member Jake Herbert told the Associated Press.
USA Wrestling will reach out to the wrestling community in numerous ways in the upcoming month, explaining the program and encouraging people to participate. Those that contribute will also be asked to help spread the word.
You can make a difference and be a part of the success of our American wrestlers. JOIN THE LIST today!!!
*This announcement summarizes the purpose of and provides general information regarding the living the dream medal fund. Additional information pertaining to the fund may be obtained from USA Wrestling, including information regarding return of contributions to donors in the event the full amount of the fund is not awarded after conclusion of the 2012 Olympic Games based on the performance of the USA Wrestling 2009, 2010 and 2011 World Teams and 2012 USA Olympic Wrestling Teams.
On Friday, May 30, USA Wrestling made a major announcement that this new program was established to substantially increase the financial rewards for U.S. wrestlers who win Olympic and World medals during the next four-year Olympic cycle.
On Tuesday, June 30, the list of contributors to the fund reached 101 people.
Of the first 101 donors, there were 30 states represented. Colorado had the most individual donors with 21. Other states with five or more donors in the first month were New York, Iowa, New Jersey and California.
There were some prominent names on the list including Olympic champions Dan Gable, John Smith, Bruce Baumgartner and Momir Petkovic and World champion Zeke Jones.
The first donor was Al Bevilacqua of Amityville, N.Y., the 2008 USA Wrestling Man of the Year, who has taken a leadership role in helping promote the program and educate the wrestling community about its importance.
However, a majority of the donors so far have been wrestling supporters, people who have a strong love and commitment to the sport and want to see the United States athletes succeed on the Olympic and World stage.
For the current list of Living the Dream Medal Fund donors, click here:
http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=3&page=showarticle&ArticleID=20465
The Living the Dream Medal Fund has a simple approach. Any U.S. wrestler who wins a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England will receive a quarter-million dollars ($250,000).
Silver medalists in London will earn $50,000 and bronze medalists in London will receive $25,000. The payout for a World Championships medal in 2009, 2010 and 2011 will be $50,000 for a gold, $25,000 for a silver and $15,000 for a bronze.
The Fund will be maintained as a restricted and segregated fund by USA Wrestling.* It will be overseen by a board that includes representatives of USA Wrestling as well as the group of stewards who have helped establish the Fund and will assist in financially underwriting it. In addition to the support of the stewards, funding will also come from a public fundraising program as well as from existing support from USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Included among the stewards are all three Team Leaders for the U.S. wrestling programs: Mike Novogratz (freestyle), Dave Barry (Greco-Roman) and the family of Kim Martori-Wickey (women). Other initial stewards in the program include Rich Tavoso, Stan Dziedzic and Joe Alpert.
USA Wrestling has set up a website for the Living the Dream Medal Fund, where wrestling supporters can make donations to the project. People have been asked to give donations from $5 to $5,000 to the fund.
To make an online donation, click here:
https://www.usawmembership.com/MakeDonation.jsp?programId=501
Supporters can also send their contribution by mail. Checks should be made out to USA Wrestling, and sent to:
Living the Dream Medal Fund
c/o USA Wrestling
6155 Lehman Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80917
The goal is to include thousands of people from all across the nation, all who share a passion for wrestling. In the first month, there were 101 contributors. How many will join the list in the second month?
U.S. athletes have responded with appreciation and excitement to the development of this progressive new project.
"It just shows how close-knit the wrestling community is. This sport brings all these amazing people together for a great cause. It's everybody helping everybody," U.S. Freestyle World Team member Jake Herbert told the Associated Press.
USA Wrestling will reach out to the wrestling community in numerous ways in the upcoming month, explaining the program and encouraging people to participate. Those that contribute will also be asked to help spread the word.
You can make a difference and be a part of the success of our American wrestlers. JOIN THE LIST today!!!
*This announcement summarizes the purpose of and provides general information regarding the living the dream medal fund. Additional information pertaining to the fund may be obtained from USA Wrestling, including information regarding return of contributions to donors in the event the full amount of the fund is not awarded after conclusion of the 2012 Olympic Games based on the performance of the USA Wrestling 2009, 2010 and 2011 World Teams and 2012 USA Olympic Wrestling Teams.
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