12 Sports Superstars, Leaders in Philanthropy, Close Ranks to Launch Athletes for Hope

New York (April 25, 2007) / PRNewswire / – An elite group of professional athletes have joined forces to launch Athletes for Hope, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to help athletes, their fans, and the corporate community do more to make the world a better place.

Athletes for Hope's 12 Founding Athletes hail from different sports but share a common passion for philanthropy. They are: Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Warrick Dunn, Jeff Gordon, Mia Hamm, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning and Cal Ripken, Jr. These Founding Athletes have come together to "pass the passion" and ignite a movement of giving back.

"Combined, our 12 Founding Athletes have raised more than $500 million for charitable and health-related causes, have built schools, community centers, hospitals, parks, and stadiums, while touching countless lives in ways that can't be calculated," said Ivan Blumberg, Athletes for Hope CEO. "By bringing together athletes, fans, charities, and corporations through programs focused on education, connection, and recognition, Athletes for Hope is starting a philanthropic movement that has the potential to inspire millions of people to positive change."

Educate

By connecting with professional athletes and teaching them about their philanthropic options, Athletes for Hope will equip them with the tools to effectively give back to their community, educate their peers, and inspire many others to support charitable causes.

Connect

Athletes for Hope will connect athletes, charities, corporations and individuals to create a movement for positive change. Athletes for Hope will work with athletes to match their philanthropic goals with the needs of charities and will also help businesses design effective charitable programs that involve athletes. By building upon the special bond between athletes and their fans, Athletes for Hope strives to inspire millions of people to follow the lead of athletes in a philanthropic movement.

Recognize

Athletes for Hope will recognize the contributions that professional athletes make to the charitable world. Through this recognition, the organization hopes to celebrate the significant impact that athletes can have on the lives of others, increase the visibility of the athletes, charities, and corporations involved, and inspire others to become part of the philanthropic movement.

Get Involved

Athletes for Hope's Founding Athletes are inviting fans to join this movement and inspire others to get active in their local communities. Fans have a number of ways to get involved with Athletes for Hope:

Get Tagged – Fans can purchase and wear an AFH Tag to show support for Athletes for Hope. AFH Tags are available for purchase at: www.athletesforhope.org. All proceeds go to support Athletes for Hope initiatives.
Join the Team – Fans can join the Athletes for Hope team and receive the latest news and updates by going to www.athletesforhope.org.
Share Your Stories of Inspiration – Fans can go on the Athletes for Hope Web site to share their stories of how they've been inspired by athletes' charitable acts.
Fans who are interested in supporting charitable causes can connect with volunteer opportunities at the www.athletesforhope.org Web site, through an Athletes for Hope search engine powered by VolunteerMatch

Founding Corporate Partner

Athletes for Hope also announced Genworth Financial as a founding corporate partner.

"None of this would be possible without the support of our founding partner, Genworth Financial," said Blumberg. "Genworth exemplifies the qualities we look for in corporate partners, with a corporate culture substantially invested and involved in its community. Genworth's input and support have proven invaluable in implementing Athletes for Hope initiatives."

"Genworth Financial is excited to be associated with Athletes for Hope. We regard this as a natural extension of our ongoing relationship with Andre Agassi and his charitable work," said Buzz Richmond, Senior Vice President, Brand Development and External Relations for Genworth Financial. "By participating in this organization, Genworth's philanthropic reach can be multiplied many times through many more charitable organizations than we could do alone."

Genworth Financial (NYSE:GNW) is a leading insurance and investment security company. For more information, visit: www.genworth.com.

About Athletes for Hope

Athletes for Hope is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded by an elite group of 12 athletes with a shared passion for philanthropy. Its mission is to educate, encourage, and assist athletes in their efforts to contribute to community and charitable causes; to increase public awareness of those efforts; and to inspire others to do the same. For more information, go to: www.athletesforhope.org.

Athletes for Hope's 12 Founding Athletes are: Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Warrick Dunn, Jeff Gordon, Mia Hamm, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning and Cal Ripken, Jr.