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Whipple Selected as 2012 Team for Tomorrow Athlete Ambassador

May 01, 2012

PRINCETON, N.J. – Two-time Olympian and London hopeful Mary Whipple (Orangevale, Calif.) has been selected by the United States Olympic Committee to participate in Team for Tomorrow, a program launched in 2008 by America’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes and the United States Olympic Committee that makes a difference for those in need around the world.

Today, the USOC announced details of the 2012 program, including the roster of 2012 Team for Tomorrow Athlete Ambassadors and a partnership with the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs of America – both Multi-Sport Organizations within the U.S. Olympic Family.

Team for Tomorrow is a humanitarian relief effort through which U.S. athletes offer assistance and support to people around the world who are in need. Humanitarian relief and assistance takes place in the form of donations, volunteerism, disaster recovery support, advocacy and other contributions to communities. The program offers U.S. athletes a way to stay connected to sport in a meaningful way, finding new significance in what it means to represent their country.

"Most Olympians like myself rely on their community for support before, during, and after the Olympics,” said Whipple. “This program is the perfect way to show my thanks for all the support I have received in making it possible for me to represent my country at the Olympics. I believe that we all should be willing to make our communities a better place to live in and I'm excited to help spread that message and, more importantly, act on that belief."

The Team for Tomorrow Athlete Ambassadors will serve as captains of the program on behalf of the entire 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams. As ambassadors, this select group of athletes will act as advocates and champions of the effort, educating their U.S. teammates and spreading awareness about Team for Tomorrow’s causes for the 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team. The ambassadors include:

• Tony Azevedo, water polo
• Rachel Dawson, field hockey
• Anjali Forber-Pratt, Paralympic track & field
• Rudy Garcia-Tolson, Paralympic swimming
• Jessica Hardy, swimming
• Gwen Jorgensen, triathlon
• Tim Morehouse, fencing
• David Oliver, track & field
• Heather O’Reilly, soccer
• Mary Whipple, rowing

Between now and the London 2012 Games, Team for Tomorrow will connect Athlete Ambassadors and their teammates with local YMCAs and Boys & Girls Clubs in their hometown or training communities. These athletes will donate service hours helping with afterschool activities, leading sport clinics and speaking to young people about the importance of living an active and healthy lifestyle.

“We are thrilled that this incredible roster of Athlete Ambassadors and their teammates are making time to visit local Boys & Girls Clubs through Team for Tomorrow in the lead-up to the London 2012 Games,” said Wayne B. Moss, Boys & Girls Clubs of America Senior Director of Sports, Fitness & Recreation. “The inspiration that these individuals will bring to their communities will undoubtedly make this summer’s Games unforgettable for everyone involved and leave lasting memories for dozens of young people.”

Team for Tomorrow’s first initiative in 2008 provided 1,000 disaster relief tents to families that lost their homes during the earthquakes that struck China’s Sichuan Province in May of that year. Then, in 2010, nearly 25,000 items of athletic apparel and equipment were donated to National Olympic Committees in Africa, Fondation Internationale OlympAfrica, and the people of Afghanistan through Kabul’s Bagram Air Force Base.
 
In both 2008 and 2010, U.S. athletes, including Beijing women’s eight gold medalist Anna Mickelson-Cummins, donated hundreds of service hours to Habitat for Humanity after returning from both Beijing and Vancouver. For more information, visit the Team for Tomorrow page on TeamUSA.org.

About USRowing
USRowing is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. USRowing’s official suppliers include Boathouse Sports, Vespoli, WinTech, Filippi, Croker Oars, Rudy Project, Concept2, Nielsen Kellerman, PowerHTV and Ludus Tours. USRowing also receives generous support from the National Rowing Foundation and its corporate sponsors and partners ANXeBusiness Corp, Voxer, EZ Dock, EMCVenues, The Perfect SNAQUE and INDi. For more information, visit www.usrowing.org. USRowing has created The Row to London to engage sponsors leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games, with proceeds going to help ensure the U.S. team’s success. Opportunities also exist to partner with America Rows – supporting diversity initiatives and adaptive programs. For more information, please contact Beth Kohl at beth@usrowing.org.

Allison Frederick

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