USA BOBSLED/SKELETON GIVES BACK TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WHILE AT TEAM CAMP IN CHARLOTTE

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 14, 2023) - USA Bobsled/Skeleton (USABS) hosted its annual Team Camp in Charlotte, N.C. this past week (June 9-11). In addition to a variety of team-building activities, meetings, open discussions, and receptions, the USABS athletes, coaches, and staff members used this time as an opportunity to give back to the community by assisting three separate charities within the Charlotte area: The Ronald McDonald House Charlotte, The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte and Dream on 3 (DO3). This initiative was made possible by Athletes for Hope, an organization that works to better educate and involves athletes in supporting important causes and initiatives.

On Saturday, June 10, the USABS members participating in the annual Team Camp were divided into three groups to visit each charity after a presentation by Athletes for Hope to learn more about its mission and impact on the community. 

Hosted at a local Charlotte Topgolf facility, DO3 welcomed 60 kids and families from Take On Sports, which provides athletes with special needs an opportunity to participate in sports, learn new athletic skills and benefit from being a member of a team, to play some golf and meet all of USABS’ athletes and members of the USA team.

“These kids [from Take on Sports] are also athletes themselves, so they have been so excited to meet the USABS team. They love hearing the USABS athletes’ stories, and are enjoying the healthy competition in some Topgolf!” Elizabeth Lindsey, one of the co-founders of DO3, shared about the event. 

At The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte, the USABS team partook in an ice cream social event with children and their mothers who reside at the Center for Hope Shelter. 

Lastly, at the Ronald McDonald House Charlotte, the team had the opportunity to meet the families and kids who live at the house while their loved ones are hospitalized. Additionally, they helped to assemble toiletry kits, cater dinner, and bring gifts to the children. 

“Our main mission is to connect athletes with opportunities to support causes they truly care about, so it is wonderful to see how involved and passionate all of these USABS athletes have been with giving back to the local Charlotte community,” Joy Burke, director of Athletes for Hope shared about the three-part initiative.

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About USA Bobsled/Skeleton

USA Bobsled/Skeleton (USABS), based in Lake Placid, N.Y., is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the United States. For more information, please visit the USABS website at www.usabs.com. Individuals interested in becoming a bobsled or skeleton athlete can visit www.usabobsledskeleton.com. 

About Athletes for Hope

By reaching out to professional, amateur, and youth athletes alike, Athletes for Hope was designed to bring all types of athletes together to educate and inspire them to channel their energy for a common goal: to make a difference in the world. Since our inception over 16 years ago, AFH has expanded our network and now works with thousands of athletes across virtually all sports and promotes equality, inclusion and diversity for all. For more information, visit athletesforhope.org.

About The Salvation Army

Since 1865, The Salvation Army has been working to fulfill its mission of meeting human needs without discrimination. As a whole, the organization serves over 25 million Americans annually and serves 130 different countries across the globe. For more information, visit https://www.salvationarmyusa.org.

About Ronald McDonald Charities

Imagine having a child in the hospital who is seriously ill or critically injured – not overnight, but for weeks or even months. Worried and uncertain, you never want to leave his or her side yet you’re longing to close your eyes, if only for a minute. Comfort of any kind is a blessing in these moments. Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) provides a soft bed, a hot meal, a quiet place to gather your thoughts and more – but still only steps away from your child. RMHC offers this comfort to every family that comes through our doors – all at no cost to the families we serve. For more information, visit rmhc.org.

About Dream On 3 (DO3)

DO3 is a national 501c3 organization headquartered in Charlotte, NC with chapters serving the Carolinas, Colorado, Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, and Georgia. The organization celebrates its 10th Anniversary in 2023 and has recently announced plans for additional chapters across the country. The organization makes sports-themed “dreams” come true for kids and teens living with terminal and life-altering medical conditions including those with mental health challenges and intellectual disabilities. For more information, visit https://dreamon3.org.