Athletes and Their Charities

SI Staff | Nov 25, 2008

Athletes and Their Charities /

Athletes and Their Charities

Peyton Manning

Since its founding in 1999, the foundation has donated more than $3 million to youth organizations in Indiana, Tennessee and Louisiana. The foundation focuses on disadvantaged and at-risk youth, and fundraises with events like the PeyBack Bowl, a celebrity Bowling tournament.

Tiger Woods

Established in 1996 by Tiger and Earl Woods, the Tiger Woods Foundation supports community-based organizations that promote the health, education and welfare of children across the country. It also sponsors a number of events, including the Chevron World Challenge (formerly the Target World Challenge) -- a non-PGA tournament Woods has won three times, donating the winner's check to the Foundation each time.

Warrick Dunn

Since 1998, the Warrick Dunn Foundation and Dunn's "Homes for the Holidays" program have sought to help economically-disadvantaged single parents and their children. As of December 2007, "Homes for the Holidays" had assisted 81 single parents and 213 dependents achieve first-time homeownership, including Maria Gomez and her two children, Juan (left) and Roberto.

Kyle Petty

Petty and his wife, Pattie, founded Victory Junction Gang Camp in 2004 in honor of their son, Adam, who was killed on the racetrack in 2000. The Camp provides a fun, safe atmosphere and medical care for chronically ill and terminally ill children. Petty raises money for the Camp with the Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, which has raised more than $10.5 million for children's charities since 1995.

Kurt Warner

Warner's foundation provides funds for a wide array of programs and projects ranging from "Homes for the Holidays" to the Special Olympics. They also help organize trips to Disney World with the Make A Wish Foundation, and have built recreation centers at children's hospitals.

Lance Armstrong

The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) unites people through programs and experiences to empower cancer survivors to live life on their own terms. It also raises awareness and funds for the fight against cancer. Since 1997 LAF has raised more than $260 million for cancer research and treatment.

Brett Favre

Founded in 1995, Favre's foundation's mission is to provide aid to disadvantaged or disabled children in Wisconsin and Mississippi by working with agencies such as Special Olympics, Make A Wish Foundation, Boys and Girls Club and Gaits to Success. Additionally, Favre hosts an annual golf tournament, softball tournament and steak dinner to raise funds for the foundation.

Derek Jeter

The Turn 2 Foundation was founded in 1996 by Derek Jeter to promote a healthy lifestyle for youth. The program's activities are designed to motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol and "TURN 2 healthy lifestyles." The Turn 2 Foundation has awarded more than $8 million in grants since its founding, sending funds to afterschool programs, abuse prevention programs and college scholarships.

Elton Brand

Brand's foundation focuses on after-school education programs, fostering and encouraging children's participation in sports, and supporting single parents. The foundation focuses its attention on the places Brand has played and lived.

Steve Smith

Along with former Charlotte Hornet Dell Curry, Smith formed Athletes United to provide mentoring, after-school programs and summer camps for low-income and underserved young people in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community of North Carolina.

Ben Roethlisberger

The Steelers' quarterback established his foundation two years ago to provide grants to police and fire departments across the country for their canine units. The grants have helped pay for new service dogs, in addition to providing ballistic vests for the police.

Kerry Collins

The Titans' quarterback and his foundation are active in a number of efforts, and have disbursed more than $2 million to community-based organizations and charities like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the American Red Cross' post-Katrina efforts. Collins has donated more than $500,000 for the renovation of the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, a children's unit within the NYU Medical Center

Dwayne Wade

The Wade's World Foundation provides support to community-based organizations that promote education, health and social skills for children in at-risk situations. Wade has hosted week-long free basketball camps, partnered on park improvement programs and donated shoes and clothing to Katrina victims.<br><br>Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.

Andre Agassi

Founded in 1994 by the eight-time Grand Slam champion, the Andre Agassi Foundation supports education and recreation programs for at-risk children. In addition to the $40 million Agassi Prep -- a K-11 public charter school it opened in Las Vegas -- the Foundation has built a Boys & Girls Club and contributed millions of dollars to an array of projects that have touched more than 180,000 children.

Published Nov 25, 2008

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