08.28.12
Worldwide Olympic Partner Procter & Gamble (P&G) donated a grant of $50,000 to fund youth sports programs targeting children with physical disabilities. The grant is part of the company’s donation to the United States Olympic Committee’s (USOC) P&G Team USA Youth Sports Fund.
P&G is also supporting moms of US Paralympians through the “Thank you, Mom” gift of a $1,000 Visa reward card to help offset the travel costs of athletes’ families to the London 2012 Paralympic Games, as well as beauty services from P&G brands including Pantene and CoverGirl for moms and families of US Paralympians while in London.
“The story of raising a Paralympic athlete is so inspirational to us. Every family has a story about the obstacles they have overcome in raising a world-class athlete,” said Jodi Allen, P&G vice president – North America, and herself a mother of four, at a luncheon in London for Paralympian families. “We’ve heard time and time again from moms of kids with a physical disability that all they want is for their kids to have the same opportunities others get. And this includes having better access to community sports programs. After listening to these parents, we’ve decided to help.”
The grant consists of support for both The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) and US Club Sitting Volleyball. The USABA grant will go toward the organization’s “Sport 4 All” initiative, which provides recreational and competitive sport opportunities for youth who are blind and visually impaired. The Sitting Volleyball grant will be used to expand grassroots clinics and to support the first annual sitting volleyball summer camp for disabled youth.
P&G’s support for families of Paralympians in London, in addition to the grants and the gift, includes salon services such as haircuts, styling, makeup treatments and manicures provided by leading P&G brands including Gillette, Pantene, CoverGirl and Clairol. Athletes will enjoy a similar salon in the Athlete Village, along with a dental clinic with services provided by Crest and Oral-B.