ALIGN Launches: A Crowdsourced Digital Platform for Professional Athletes and Sports Fans, signs Five Professional Golfers
FAIRFIELD, N.J., Aug. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ALIGN the Sports Management start-up offering fans an opportunity to support Professional Athletes via a unique digital crowdfunding platform, launched today with five signed Professional Golfers. It's current team roster includes Professional Golfers Kendra Little, Joanna Coe, Jenny Suh, Tyler Hall and Chris Trunzer out of Germany. ALIGN, the brainchild of successful Philanthropist and Entrepreneur Robert Johnson, digitally connects sports fans to Professional athletes with a team-centric community, providing them with membership options to make micro-donations starting at $5, to the ALIGN Pro Golfers they admire via Myteamalign.com.
An integral component to the revolutionary startup is its philanthropic commitment. At launch, ALIGN Pro Golfers have agreed to donate 10% of their earnings and sponsorship revenue to the ALIGN Charitable Foundation in a series of philanthropic initiatives the Sports industry startup will be rolling out weekly, to support various causes. Previously absent from the Sports Agent model, ALIGN allocates 10% of every dollar from fan membership support and team gear sales to the Align Charitable Foundation, and over 80% going directly to ALIGN development. Says CEO Bob Johnson, "I created ALIGN because all my life, I've had a passion for two things: golf and giving. ALIGN is designed to underscore both; it gives Athletes the opportunity to focus on their game, and offers fans the chance to get inside the ropes and cultivate relationships with the Players they admire by supporting their Professional journey."
Professional Golfers, Jesse Smith and Kendra Little are prime examples of the resource viability offered within Myteamalign.com. After signing with ALIGN, both achieved notable competitive milestones with Little garnering a qualifying spot at the 2013 Ladies U.S. Open, and Smith who recently qualified for the RBC Canadian Open and went on to play with Tiger Woods in the 2013 US OPEN.
Over the course of several years, Johnson has befriended and played with Professional Golfers, who in addition to financial challenges, found that lack of holistic support mitigated their success.
His observations led him to draw from the expertise of resident Sports Psychologist, Dr. Nick Molinaro whose role as ALIGN Director of Sports Psychology and Performance Enhancement, is to teach mental skills to ALIGN Pro Golfers, positioning them for optimal performance. Additionally Dr. Molinaro, assists in the selection of prospective ALIGN Professional Golfers and their potential to compete within 'TEAM ALIGN' criteria, evaluating mental stamina, among other key performance indicators.
Revolutionizing the traditional Agent-Player model, ALIGN provides an unprecedented access to the Athlete trajectory and eliminates the persistent challenge of low-earnings, isolation and the lack-of-support most young Professional Golfers face when signed to traditional sports agencies. In turn, Myteamalign.com offers members a platform to invest in the athletes they admire, while facilitating communication with Players via Social Media, including live video tutorials from the Pros, fan give-a-ways and exclusive Athlete updates. Fans are encouraged to join the ALIGN community on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YOUTUBE and GOOGLE +.
ALIGN Teammates: Professional Golfers: Chris Trunzer, Joanna Coe, Jenny Suh, Kendra Little and Tyler Hall, Director of Sports Psychology and Performance Enhancement, Dr. Nick Molinaro, CEO Robert Johnson.
ALIGN Charitable Foundation: Consistent with its core values and focus,The Align Charitable Foundation supports qualified 501(c)(3) organizations that integrate sports and entertainment in their efforts to raise awareness, provide character education, life skills training, and improve the lives of people in these populations. We also require the athletes and professionals we support or work with to give a percentage of their earnings and sponsorships to charity. All Align Officers, Staff Members, and Align-supported athletes or professionals also donate time to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Patricia Cesaire
The Cesaire Groupe
646.421.7339
SOURCE ALIGN
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