Athletes First - US Water Polo Foundation

SUPPORTING USA WATER POLO ATHLETES – PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

As we all enjoyed watching and cheering on the athletes at the Tokyo Olympics, we are reminded of the support the athletes need to chase their Olympic Dreams.

Certainly, as many of you know from personal experience, the pursuit of excellence in any endeavor demands commitment, sacrifice - and teamwork. Teamwork is required both in and out of the pool.

Established after the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, for over 35 years the US WATER POLO FOUNDATION has faithfully adhered to its mission by putting athletes first and supporting every US Olympic Water Polo Team since its inception. Most recently and in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympic Games, in 2020, the Foundation provided $150,000 of badly needed direct financial support to our National and Olympic Water Polo Team athletes. With the exception of the US Olympic Committee, this grant represented the largest grant of direct financial support made to our athletes.

In no small measure, it is the generosity of individuals like yourself who make grants like this possible for our athletes.

With this in mind, we are pleased to announce our goal of raising $25,000 in the next 60 days as we begin our campaign to support the National Team athletes and launch their journey to the podium in Paris. 100% of the funds you donate to the US WATER POLO FOUNDATION will go directly to our athletes and supplement the Foundation’s athlete support.

Your participation is essential. Both the number of contributions and the support you give matter. Any contribution will help make difference and show our National Team athletes the team behind the team.

If you prefer, you may contribute directly to the US WATER POLO FOUNDATION by sending a check payable to:

US WATER POLO FOUNDATION

4 Orinda Way, Suite 120-D

Orinda, CA 94563

Please join the team, contribute and make a difference. Your gifts and pledges are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

 

About the US WATER POLO FOUNDATION:

 

After the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Peter Ueberroth — the leader of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (LAOOC) for the 1984 Olympic Games and a member of the United States Water Polo Hall of Fame — and the LAOOC distributed $1,000,000 to each sport from the surplus generated from the conduct of the 1984 Olympic Games.

After careful consideration, USWP chose to preserve its allotment to benefit future Olympic athletes. USWP separated the capital from the USWP corporation, and created and endowed an independent Foundation, charged with the specific tasks of preserving and enhancing the endowment to benefit its future Olympians.

On February 8, 1985, the federation established the United States Water Polo Foundation (USWPF) as an independent nonprofit public benefit corporation qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and Section 214 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code and endowed with $1,000,000 from the LAOOC. Honoring the intent of its founding, the Trustees adopted a mission statement:

The mission of the United States Water Polo Foundation is to act as a fiduciary to preserve and enhance its endowment for the benefit of Olympic athletes, both present and future.

Through responsible oversight, the USWPF has supported every U.S. Olympic Water Polo Team since its inception. Over the past thirty-six years, the Foundation has faithfully adhered to its mandate by distributing millions of dollars back to the Olympic Team athletes while increasing the endowment to $3.8 million. Most recently in 2020, the Foundation provided $150,000 of direct athlete support to Olympic Team athletes, more than any benefactor except for the US Olympic Committee.

A volunteer Board of Trustees governs the Foundation. Over the years, many distinguished individuals have served as Trustees to ensure that the USWPF continued to preserve and grow its endowment, maintain its independence, and fulfill its mission. Monte Nitzkowski, Dr. Barbara Kalbus, Burt Shaw, Bret Bernard, Dr. Ralph Hale, Chuck Metz, Richard Foster, Scott Schulte, Leland Faust and Maureen O’Toole [among others], have served as Trustees, establishing a strong legacy of leadership, experience, and commitment to our Olympic Teams.

The Board of the United States Water Polo Foundation consists of five members – Andrew McDonald, Lynn Kachmarik, Chris Duplanty, Don McQuade and Dr. Erika Figge - who have deep roots in the Olympic movement and a breadth and depth of experience. Three current members of the Foundation have represented the United States at an Olympic Games. Three Trustees are members of the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame. The Foundation has long been committed to athlete participation and four members of the Foundation were athletes on the Men’s or Women’s Olympic or World Championship Water Polo Teams. The experience and professional backgrounds of the Trustees complement one another and provides the necessary expertise to support and fulfill the mission of the US Water Polo Foundation.

Reflective of their passion and dedication to making a difference and putting athletes first, each one of the Trustees has donated and made financial contributions to the Foundation.