US SAILING LAUNCHES NEW FUNDRAISING PROGRAM TO SUPPORT FUTURE U.S. OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC SAILORS

Portsmouth, RI (June 22, 2005) – US SAILING, national governing body for the sport, has announced a new fundraising program to increase support for future U.S. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls. Launched by US SAILING’s Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC), the innovative fundraising program, called the Yacht Club Partner Program, encourages sailing organizations nationwide to become involved in top-level sailing by making donations to the Olympic Sailing Program. In return, organizations and their members will enjoy exclusive benefits from the OSC and the National Sailing Teams. The program provides two levels of benefits: for the individual donors and for their sailing organization. Supporters of the program will be eligible for exclusive opportunities to interact with the U.S. Olympic program and its athletes.

The Yacht Club Partner Program offers a unique opportunity for sailing organizations to build relationships with their members by working together to meet a combined fundraising goal. Once the organization’s collective support reaches certain levels, the organization will be eligible for a separate level of benefits. Benefits will include sailing clinics conducted by members of the US Sailing Team, presentations by OSC member and renowned sailing commentator Gary Jobson, as well as Olympic flags and photos signed by members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams.

“The time has come for a significant and sustained fundraising effort on behalf of our Olympic athletes,” said Olympic Sailing Committee Chairman Dean Brenner. “Our athletes face too many hurdles in their pursuit of Olympic and Paralympic dreams and medals. Through this new and exciting program, the Olympic Sailing Committee is taking the initiative to help our top sailors achieve those dreams. We need to build a national effort to support our top athletes of today and tomorrow.”

For more information about the Olympic Program and its Yacht Club Partner Program, including details on levels of benefits, please visit www.ussailing.org/olympics/fundraising or contact Dean Brenner at dmbrenner@ussailing.org.  

The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing body for sailing and sailboat racing. Headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the organization’s mission is to encourage participation and promote excellence in sailing and racing in the U.S. US SAILING offers training and education programs, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including the US Sailing Teams and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.  

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