USOPC Foundation announces 2023 Team USA Community Champions in partnership with Comcast
The USOPC Foundation, USOPC, and Team USA Partner, Comcast, announced the 2023 Team USA Community Champions honorees.
Foundation:
Team USA Community Champions in partnership with Comcast (formerly named the Team USA Service & Hope Award) recognizes Olympic and Paralympic athletes on a yearly basis for their commitment to serving and bettering their communities through nonprofit work. The award honors athletes who embody the Olympic values of Excellence, Respect and Friendship and the Paralympic values of Determination, Inspiration, Equality and Courage, as well as charitable organizations whose missions focus on youth sport, physical activity, or health and well-being.
Through this award program, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation and Comcast are proud to celebrate athletes not only as members of Team USA, but as citizens who have the unique ability to inspire positive change through meaningful service and engagement.
The award is funded in part by Comcast and will be disbursed annually by the USOPF through 2028.
Application Status
The application period closed on March 23, 2025.
Award Status
Award determinations will be made by June 30, 2025.
FAQ#
An annual grant awarded to both Team USA athletes who embody the Olympic values of Excellence, Respect, Friendship and the Paralympic values of Determination, Inspiration, Equality and Courage, as well as charitable organizations whose missions are focused on youth sport, physical activity, or health and well-being.
Organizations selected by the athletes must be tax-exempt United States organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The 2025 application period is now closed.
February 12, 2025: Application opens
March 23, 2025: Application closes
Up to four $25,000 grants will be awarded on a yearly basis, with half of each award being directed to the award recipient’s nonprofit of choice. The remaining half will be awarded to the selected athlete to support their continued pursuit of excellence as they represent the Olympic and Paralympic ideals.
Team USA Community Champions in partnership with Comcast is funded in part by Comcast as well as USOPF donors.
Eligibility
All athletes that meet the Team USA Athlete Eligibility Criteria who have contributed a significant number of volunteer or working hours to a single nonprofit organization that focuses on youth sport, physical activity, or health and well-being in the past 18 months are eligible to apply.
Applicant Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must meet the Team USA Athlete Eligibility Criteria.
- Applicants must have contributed a significant number of volunteer or working hours to a registered nonprofit organization
- Applicants may not be under a suspension or period of ineligibility - temporarily or otherwise - from USADA, WADA, the U.S. Center for SafeSport, the USOPC, a National Governing Body (NGB), or International Federation.
- Applicants must agree to the terms and conditions of the grant, which include agreeing that their likeness may be used by the USOPC, USOPF, Comcast and its affiliated brands** in promotion of the program and to participate in activities to promote the initiative and their selection as an awardee in perpetuity.
- Applicants may not be employed or otherwise directly benefit from any funds awarded to the organization they nominate.
- Applicants may not be employed by the USOPC.
- Individuals may not complete an application on behalf of/submit a nomination for a deserving a Team USA athlete.
Nonprofit Organization Requirements
- The organization must be a tax-exempt United States organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that is based on U.S. soil.
- The organization’s mission focuses on youth sport, physical activity, or health and well-being.
- The organization must administer programming and events that support its mission.
- The organization must be in good standing to receive award funding.
- The organization must not be a private family foundation or a university foundation.
A selection committee will convene each year for meetings throughout the year to review applications, make determinations on grant award recipients, and announcement of such award recipients. This selection committee will consist of the following:
- One (1) NGB representative, to be selected by the NGB Council
- Two (2) AAC athlete representatives, to be selected by AAC leadership
- One (1) USOPA athlete representative, to be selected by USOPA leadership
- No more than five (5) USOPF Directors or Trustees
- One (1) Comcast representative, to be selected by Comcast
- At least one (1) non-voting USOPF staff liaison
*The committee will be chaired by at least one USOPF Director or Trustee and the total number of voting committee members shall not exceed ten (10).
For questions, please email us at communitychampions@usopc.org
Award Winners #
2024 #
Athlete | Organization |
|---|---|
Connie Carpenter Phinney | Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's |
Alysia Montaño | &Mother |
Tara Peterson | Hope Dental Clinic |
Rico Roman | Bridge City Inclusive Sports |
2023 #
Athlete | Organization |
|---|---|
Jamal Hill | Swim Up Hill Foundation |
Peter Westbrook | The Peter Westbrook Foundation |
Staci Mannella | Sisters in Sport |
Kait Miller | New England Nordic Ski Association |
2022 #
Athlete | Organization |
|---|---|
Mary Cain | Atlanta NYC |
Kelsey Dickinson | Women Ski Coaches Association |
Tyler Merren | U.S. Association of Blind Athletes |
Billy Mills | Running Strong for American Indian Youth |
2021 #
Athlete | Organization |
|---|---|
Shea Hammond | CP Soccer US |
Darlene Hunter | National Wheelchair Basketball Association |
Kai Lightner | Climbing for Change |
Nzingha Prescod | Fencing in the Park |
Community Champions News#
United States Olympic & Paralympic Foundation announces 2022 award recipients for Team USA Community Champions in partnership with Comcast
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Foundation, in partnership with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and Comcast, today announced its 2022 award recipients for Team USA Community Champions, awarding four $25,000 grants to four honore...
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