For Immediate Release
2008 Olympians raise $450,000 for children in need through Hearts of Gold Medal Grants Program
BEIJING, CHINA (August 24, 2008) In keeping with what it truly means to be an Olympian, many of the athletes of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games have used their medal-winning performances to raise $450,000 to help deserving children around the world through the Johnson & Johnson Hearts of Gold program. Among the Olympians who elected to turn their athletic success into a donation for the international humanitarian organization Right To Play are Americans Natalie Coughlin and Christine Magnuson from USA Swimming; Heather O’Reilly from USA Soccer; Jessica Mendoza from USA Softball; and Ogonna Nnamani from USA Volleyball. Other medal grant winners from around the world include Canadians Adam Kreek, Ben Rutledge and Adam van Koeverden; Deborah Gravenstijn and Ruben Houkes from the Netherlands; and Tim Brabants from Great Britain.
Johnson & Johnson designed Hearts of Gold exclusively for the Beijing Olympians to inspire and enable them to help make a difference through simple yet meaningful acts of caring. For every medal earned by a Right To Play Athlete Ambassador, Johnson & Johnson is making a financial donation to the organization in the athlete’s name: $20,000 per gold medal, $15,000 per silver medal and $10,000 per bronze medal.
Right To Play, which uses sport and play programs to improve health, build life skills, and foster peace for children and communities affected by war, poverty and disease, currently has projects in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The funding will enable critical programs for Right To Play including training new coaches in HIV and AIDS education and prevention programs in Liberia; development and rehabilitation of safe play spaces in Uganda; and providing sport and play equipment for children in Azerbaijan. Thousands of children will directly benefit from these donations.
Right To Play Athlete Ambassadors are selected for their ability to be positive role models for children and willingness to contribute their time to the organization. The Medal Grants program featured more than 40 Athlete Ambassadors from 13 countries and representing 25 sports. The Athlete Ambassadors who won medals at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games are:
1. Betsey Armstrong, USA, water polo, silver ($15,000)
2. Tim Brabants, GBR, kayak, gold, bronze ($30,000)
3. Crystal Bustos, USA, softball, silver ($15,000)
4. Jose Calderon, ESP, basketball, silver ($15,000)
5. Natalie Coughlin, USA, swimming, 1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze ($80,000)
6. Anna Cummins, USA, rowing, gold ($20,000)
7. Jenny Finch, USA, softball, silver ($15,000)
8. Deborah Gravenstijn, NED, judo, silver ($15,000)
9. Michelle Guerette, USA, rowing, silver ($15,000)
10. Ruben Houkes, NED, judo, bronze ($10,000)
11. Adam Kreek, CAN, rowing, gold ($20,000)
12. Christine Magnuson, USA, swimming, 2 silver ($30,000)
13. Kate Markgraf, USA, football, gold ($20,000)
14. Jessica Mendoza, USA, softball, silver ($15,000)
15. Ogonna Nnamani, USA, volleyball, silver ($15,000)
16. Norway Handball Team, gold ($20,000)
17. Stacey Nuveman, USA, softball, silver ($15,000)
18. Heather O’Reilly, USA, soccer, gold ($20,000)
19. Ben Rutledge, CAN, rowing, gold ($20,000)
20. Imke Schellekens-Bartels, NED, equestrian, silver ($15,000)
21. Nina Solheim, NOR, taekwondo, silver ($15,000)
22. Adam van Koeverden, CAN, flatwater kayak, silver ($15,000)
"I was fortunate to reach the medal stand after each of my events," said Natalie Coughlin, a spokesperson for Hearts of Gold and the most decorated female athlete of the Beijing Olympic Games. "I’m thrilled that by achieving my Olympic goals I was also able to raise $80,000 for Right To Play, their coaches and programs around the world."
The Hearts of Gold medal grants program was inspired by the generous actions of Norway’s Johann Olav Koss, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and Right To Play’s founder, president and CEO. In 1994, Koss donated a large portion of his medal winnings to start "Olympic Aid," the organization that would later become Right To Play.
"Johann’s story demonstrates the powerful and positive impact an Olympian can have on others," said Owen Rankin, Vice President, Corporate Equity and Olympic Sponsorship, Johnson & Johnson. "These Beijing 2008 Olympians have so much to celebrate both their own personal achievements and the knowledge that they’ve helped raise $450,000 for deserving children and communities in need. Their Olympic moment is now guaranteed to last well into the future."
In addition to the medal grants program, Beijing Olympians could also engage in Hearts of Gold by applying for a fully-funded service fellowship, participating in a benefit auction, and sharing a special Olympian gift.
About Johnson & Johnson
Caring for the world, one person at a time ... inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science—bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our 120,200 employees at more than 250 Johnson & Johnson companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world. Johnson & Johnson is an Official Partner of the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a Worldwide Partner of the International Olympic Committee, and a Proud Partner of the United States Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic Team.
About Right To Play
Right To Play is an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, build life skills, and foster peace for children and communities affected by war, poverty and disease. Right To Play has projects in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Top athletes from more than 40 countries already volunteer their support for the organization as Athlete Ambassadors. Right To Play programs aim to teach children important life skills and values, educate communities around health issues and disease prevention, encourage integration and tolerance and empower people to make a difference in their communities.