EcoAthletes Thankful to Earn IOC/P&G ‘Athletes For Good’ Grant, Thanks to USA Rugby Star Alena Olsen
Alena Olsen (Photo credit: USA Rugby)
Being that today is the day before Thanksgiving in the United States, it is fitting that EcoAthletes give thanks for being selected for a $24,000 Athletes for Good grant from the International Olympics Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, and global partner, Procter & Gamble.
“We are extremely grateful to the IOC and P&G for choosing EcoAthletes and for their generosity,” shared EcoAthletes founder and CEO Lew Blaustein. “And special thanks go to EcoAthletes Champion and Team USA Rugby 7s stalwart Alena Olsen for nominating us for the grant. Without Alena, who has led several innovative climate-themed initiatives within USA Rugby, world rugby, and byond, this does not happen, plain and simple. We are so lucky to have her!”
ABOUT ATHLETES FOR GOOD GRANTS
According to a recent survey, conducted by the IOC, more than 90 percent of athletes said they care about important causes, but face barriers when trying to support these causes, such as lack of funding, time, or a big enough platform. To help alleviate these barriers, P&G, the IOC, and IPC created the Athletes for Good (AFG) program. It provides financial resources directly to the community impact partners/nonprofits important to Olympians and prospective Olympic athletes, to fuel the positive work they are doing together. Ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the partners awarded 20 AFG grants to charities that athletes have nominated.
More than 100 athletes from all over the world applied for this third iteration of AFG; the 20 recipients were selected based on their passion for their cause, the personal impact of their chosen nonprofit partner, and the intended uses for the grant. In addition to choosing Olsen and EcoAthletes, the IOC, IPC and P&G awarded athlete-nominated charities that mentor the next generation of athletes, increase accessibility to sport for people with disabilities, and provide resources for those struggling with their mental health.
Alena Olsen comes off the pitch after a win during the 2022 Rugby World Cup (Photo credit: USA Rugby)
OLSEN ON NOMINATING ECOATHLETES
Olsen has been one of the most active EcoAthletes Champions since joining the roster in 2020, selling an environmentally focused sponsorship for the USA Rugby Women’s 7s team, advocating for World Rugby to develop and implement a climate action plan, something that is now underway, and much more. She credits the organization with giving her important tools that help her to accelerate the #ClimateComeback.
“Being an EcoAthletes Champion has given my career much more meaning,” she reflected. “It provides me with a purpose — building a climate-action movement within rugby — that’s greater than winning and losing. I also get to be part of an incredible global athletes’ community that cares so much about climate. EcoAthletes has changed my life.”
She saw EcoAthletes as a natural fit for an Athletes for Good grant and quickly dove into the application process.
“I was excited to nominate EcoAthletes for the AFG grant and am thrilled that the IOC, IPC and P&G chose them as one of the 20 grantees,” enthused Olsen. “The great thing is that I am just one of over 100 Champions who, with EcoAthletes help, are working to lead climate action, each in their own way. So, I’m glad this award will provide EcoAthletes with the resources to amplify the #ClimateComeback even more than it has so far!”
Click here to learn more about Alena