US Water Polo Foundation Fundraiser: Athletes First 2024

THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE

PUTTING ATHLETES FIRST

LET’S DO IT AGAIN!

For 39 years, the US WATER POLO FOUNDATION has faithfully adhered to its mission: support athletes first. Since its inception in 1985, The US Water Polo Foundation has provided financial support to the members of every US Olympic Water Polo Team.

First, a sincere thank you to those who made a difference and put athletes first by contributing to last year’s US WATER POLO FOUNDATION fundraising campaign. Each of your gifts was multiplied over five times by the US Water Polo Foundation’s 2023 grant of $140,000 of DIRECT TO ATHLETE SUPPORT, split equally between the Women’s and Men’s National Teams. Very simply, for every dollar donated last year, nearly five additional dollars went directly to the athletes in a ‘check’ . . . no fees, no overhead, no hype, no joke.

Every day our Women's and Men's US National Team members train to represent the United States, their communities, and families in international competition and this year – right now - at the Olympic Games in Paris. As many of you know, this pursuit of excellence demands commitment, sacrifice — and teamwork.

Today, we urge you to make a gift — 100% of which will again be directed, sustainable support for each athlete participating in the US National Teams’ training. We pledge to multiply every dollar contributed by September 30, 2024, just like last year. We hope you will help us raise the bar and support the US WATER POLO FOUNDATION’s efforts to provide new levels of much needed direct athlete support.

100% of the funds you donate to the US WATER POLO FOUNDATION are tax-deductible, to the fullest extent of the law. Further, the US WATER POLO FOUNDATION is an all-volunteer organization so 100% of your donation flows directly to support US Water Polo’s national team athletes.

Your participation is essential. As a non-profit, we are required to have annual public support – for us that means we need $25,000. More importantly, each contribution makes a difference and increases the support for our National Team — the team behind the team! Please join us by contributing, you will make an appreciable difference to each member of Team USA!

For your convenience, you may contribute through GoFundMe using the link on this page. 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

About the US WATER POLO FOUNDATION:

After the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Peter Ueberroth — the organizer and 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 — informed the National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of the participating Olympic sports that the LAOOC would distribute a sum of $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 share to benefit its future Olympic athletes. USWP decided the best course to achieve its objective was to separate the money from the NGB (National Governing Body), and create and endow an independent Foundation, charged with the specific tasks of preserving and enhancing the endowment to benefit its future Olympians.

On February 8, 1985, the NGB 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 it 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 and an investment strategy reflecting its long-term mission, the USWPF has supported every U.S. Olympic Water Polo Team since its inception. Over the past thirty-nine years, the Foundation has faithfully adhered to its mandate by distributing over $4 million back to the Olympic Team athletes while increasing the endowment to $4 million. Most recently in 2023, the Foundation provided $140,000 of direct athlete financial support for Olympic Team athletes.

A volunteer Board of Trustees governs the Foundation. Over the years, many well-known members of the water polo community have served as Trustees and helped to preserve and grow the 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, Don McQuade, Chris Duplanty, and Maureen O’Toole [among others], have served as Trustees, establishing a strong legacy of leadership, experience, and commitment to our Olympic Teams.

There are five members of the Board of the United States Water Polo: Andrew McDonald, Lynn Kachmarik, Peter Hudnut, Christopher Dorst, 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. Four Trustees are members of the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame. The Foundation has long been committed to athlete participation and all five 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 provide the necessary expertise to support and fulfill the mission of the US Water Polo Foundation.