Chapter 6 1 Community Service Community Service Athletes
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Chapter 6. 1 Community Service
Community Service �Athletes don’t have to look for negative publicity. �Contract disputes, multimillion-dollar contracts, athletes involved in drugs or gambling, and other instances of poor conduct always find their way to the front pages of sports section and sports magazines. �Many athletes, however, use their extra time and money to support charitable organizations and special events to help others.
Raising Awareness and Visibility �Sports figures increase the public’s awareness of important causes in many ways. They: organize special events become spokespersons for charities take part in promotional campaigns and contribute financial support to charitable organizations.
�Michael Jordan gave $5 million to Hales Franciscan High School, a historically black all -boys school in Chicago. �Eric Lindros donated $5 million to the London Health Sciences Center, where he was treated throughout his career. �Athletes must work with public relations firms to create press releases about the events and charities that will benefit.
Tournaments for Charities �Golf is a sport that capitalizes on creating tournaments for charity. �Corporate partners benefit from the association with some of the biggest, most influential names in sports and entertainment. �Corporations also gain invaluable exposure through telecasts, media coverage, and promotions centered around high-profile events.
Foundations �A foundation is an organization that is established to maintain, assist, or finance other institutions or programs that are of an educational, charitable, or social nature. �Recent examples: The seven-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong, donated $5 million in 2007 to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The foundation is set up to help people suffering from cancer.
� Tiger Woods gave $1. 35 million last year to the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Orange County, Calif. , to get kids thinking about their education through after-school classes that explore future careers. The TWLC is part of the Tiger Woods Foundation, which also gives grants and sponsors junior golfers.
� Former tennis champion Andre Agassi gave $1. 3 million last year to the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, which is dedicated to providing education for underserved youth. The foundation also created the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy located in an at-risk neighborhood in Las Vegas, and several other child-focused programs. � Some athletes experience the personal pain of losing a family member to a disease. � In response, they organize foundations to research the disease and find possible cures.
