Related Articles
Medal Winners Wear IBEW March 7, 2002 Four American Olympic medallists who competed for gold are encouraging IBEW locals to do the same for Olympic Aids "Go for Gold" campaign.
Ross Powers, Danny Kass and Jarret Thomas, the Americans who swept the half-pipe medal competition, winning gold, silver and bronze, donned IBEW hats in Salt Lake City following their historic victories, as did free-style skier Joe Pack, who won a silver.
The strong United States showing in the Winter Games last month could translate into extra donations to Olympic Aid, a worldwide charity raising money for children. Several IBEW locals in the United States have committed to sending one dollar per member for every gold, silver or bronze medal won by the American team. It is not too late for locals in the United States and Canada to send contributions. (Canadian locals would contribute a dollar for each medal won by Canada.) "This program is win-win for the IBEW and our Olympians," said IBEW President Edwin D. Hill. Freestyle skier Joe Pack was an athlete ambassador for Olympic Aid, donating his time to volunteer activities for the charity, said Olympic Aids Christy France. France said the organizations goal is $5 million by June, with a large percentage coming from the IBEW. Go for Gold was born in 1994, when speed skater Johann Olav Koss challenged his fellow Norwegians to donate a dollar each time a Norwegian athlete won a medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. The campaign raised $18 million for those affected by the war in the former Olympic host city of Sarajevo. Olympic Aid, which administers the Go for Gold program, is a non-profit humanitarian organization based on the Olympic ideals of peace, human dignity and the promotion of human excellence. The overwhelming majority of the funds raised will go toward sport and play programs supported by Olympic Aid. Each participating local will receive a certificate of appreciation and the local with the highest donation per member will have the certificate presented by an Olympic athlete. Members should contact their business managers for additional information on IBEW participation. Click here for a link to Olympic Aid.
|
|
