Longtime Olympic Sponsor Enlists Athletes to Raise Awareness and Support for Increasing and Improving Spaces for Kids to Play
Longtime Olympic Sponsor Enlists Athletes to Raise Awareness and Support for Increasing and Improving Spaces for Kids to Play
SAN FRANCISCO, WASHINGTON DC, August 6, 2007
Visa USA, along with legendary Olympic gold medalist Summer Sanders and World Champion swimmer Katie Hoff, kicked off an initiative today to raise national awareness and support for increasing and improving the spaces where America's youth can play. As part of the effort, Visa presented the National Capitol YMCA in Washington DC with a $20,000 jump-start grant that will help enhance their swimming facilities, while providing fun and safe places to play and giving children more opportunities to get involved in Olympic sports in their community. The grant will go towards free swimming lessons for 72 underprivileged children, a portable handicap lift, lap lanes, handicap access steps and a lifeguard chair.
Today's event coincides with the impending one-year countdown to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, which will begin on August 8, 2008.
"For America's kids, the time to play is today," said Summer Sanders, who as a swimmer earned two gold, a silver, and a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympic Games. "We need everyone's help in providing all kids with access to safe and well-equipped spaces and places where they can exercise, have fun and maybe even pursue their own Olympic dreams."
According to a Stanford University School of Medicine report commissioned by the Partnership for Play Every Day - Building "Generation Play" - America's youth are facing a growing problem when it comes to their health. Today, eighteen percent of U.S. children are overweight and many are facing "adult-type" diseases including Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
The Partnership is bringing together organizations including non-profits, businesses, and government agencies to ensure that all children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Federal funding for local parks, playgrounds, trails and open spaces has decreased in recent years and one of the Partnership's objectives is to increase the number of settings where kids can engage in physical activity.
"As a longtime proud Olympic sponsor, we're committed to empowering current and future Olympic team hopefuls to reach for and achieve their dreams," said Michael Lynch, senior vice president, Visa USA. "We believe in the Play Every Day call-to-action and saw an opportunity to involve our Olympic family in an initiative that addresses a growing health issue and will get more kids participating in Olympic sports."
Lynch said Visa USA, with the help of other Beijing Olympic hopefuls, will hold similar jump-start grant events in New York and San Francisco in the months ahead with the goal of encouraging other businesses and individuals to improve local parks, facilities, and playgrounds in their communities.
"If I wasn't able to start swimming at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club I don't know if I'd be preparing for Beijing today," said world-record holder Katie Hoff. "I hope everyone will visit www.playeveryday.org to find out how they can improve and increase play spaces in their hometowns."
As a proud sponsor of America's Olympic Team, the Play Every Day collaboration is a logical extension of Visa's sponsorship that has long included support for national governing bodies and athletes. In addition to partnering with the USA Track and Field, USA Swimming, USA Gymnastics, US Soccer, and the US Ski and Snowboard Association, Visa also supports dozens of individual American hopefuls through its Visa Gold Medal Athlete Program, offering financial and promotional support, as well as life skills training necessary to compete in life after the Olympic Games.
"We're thrilled to welcome Visa and these Olympic athletes to the Partnership for Play Every Day team," said Audrey Tayse Haynes, senior vice president, YMCA of the USA. "To reach our ultimate goal of getting America's youth moving, we need influential voices like these to rally all Americans around increasing the spaces and places where our kids can play."
About Visa USA
Visa USA is a leading payments brand and the nation's largest payments system, enabling banks to provide their consumer and business customers with a wide variety of payment alternatives tailored to meet their evolving needs. Visa USA is committed to increasing the choice, convenience, acceptance and security of Visa payments for all stakeholders - financial institutions, cardholders and merchants. As of March 31, 2007, in the United States, more than 521 million Visa-branded cards have been issued by more than 13,000 financial institution customers.
Visa products generated $1.8 trillion in total volume in the United States during the four quarters ended March 31, 2007. Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the globe. For more information, visit www.visa.com/media
About Play Every Day
In a voluntary and collaborative initiative of unprecedented scope, the YMCA of the USA, the National Recreation and Park Association and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education are working together as conveners of The Partnership for Play Every Day to increase the spaces and quality of play for our country's children and youth. These organizations have a proud legacy of providing physical education, physical activity, childcare, after school programs and youth sports to millions of children throughout the country. The challenge today is to reach all our kids, especially those who aren't afforded these same opportunities. Through this dynamic collaboration with more than 30 of the nation's leading non-profits, government agencies, academic organizations and corporations, we can create and sustain the momentum for a national movement to ensure that all kids get 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
CONTACT
Steve Hickok
Fleishman Hillard for Visa USA
212.453.2353
hickoks@fleishman.comKelly Kennai Grunig
YMCA of the USA
202.835.9043 ext. 15
Kelly.Kennai@ymca.netPortions © Copyright 2001-2007 Visa USA Inc.
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