Team USA and Dow, Inc.'s Salute The Troops program honors Paralympic athletes with $100,000 donation ahead of Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020
by USOPC
Games time program support includes active-duty military and family stationed in Tokyo
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Dow, Inc., with support from the Reese's brand, today announced a $100,000 donation via its Salute The Troops campaign to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation in support of Team USA's Paralympic athletes, including those with military ties. This donation also honors the 21 athletes who self-identify as military, including three active duty who continue to serve in the Army, that are scheduled to compete in the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 along with those who competed in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
The donation will be split evenly between two initiatives. Fifty-thousand dollars will directly support the athletes who currently or previously have served in the military, while the other $50,000 will directly support resources that help fund Paralympic athletes in their pursuit of excellence at the Games. Both initiatives help increase access to adaptive sports and introduce new generations to the power and excitement of sport.
“Dow believes in the power of material science and sport, and honors the value veterans bring to all they do, whether in the workplace or on the field,” said Mike Reed, VP Olympic & Sport Solutions, Dow, Inc.
“As part of our longstanding and ongoing efforts to support veterans and sport, we’re proud to bring financial support to our armed forces in Tokyo and to help empower Team USA’s Paralympic athletes.”
Team USA, Dow, Inc. and Reese’s also collaborated with Salute the Troops to provide recreational fitness equipment – a rock climbing wall and box gym – to military personnel currently stationed in Tokyo at the Yokota Air Base and Japan Air Self-Defense Force Base. A dedication ceremony, presented by Olympic skeleton gold medalist and military spouse Tristan Gale Geisler, took place on July 30 in celebration of Tokyo 2020. The equipment will be available for the base’s community of 14,000 personnel and family members.
“The Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 prove sport is able to transcend competition and become a vehicle for connecting and inspiring the world,” said Christine Walshe, Chief Development Officer and President, USOPF. “We’re so grateful for the Salute the Troops program. With Dow’s financial support, we’ll continue to ensure our active duty and veteran athletes, along with all Paralympic athletes, will have the sport support and resources they need to compete on the global stage.”
About Team USA
Team USA is the world’s largest and most diverse team of athletes from across the United States who compete at the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, founded in 1894, serves as the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States and is responsible for protecting, supporting and empowering Team USA athletes. For more information, visit TeamUSA.org.