Americans Believe Being On Team USA Is Dream Job

91% of Americans Declare Being Part of Team USA Would be Honor of a Lifetime According to New Jif® Survey

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Jul 12, 2016, 12:45 ET

ORRVILLE, Ohio, July 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheering on Team USA is an exciting experience, but watching our country's athletes realize a lifelong journey awakens the dreamer in most of us, too. In a national co-branded survey released today by Jif®, America's leading peanut butter brand¹, Americans' feelings toward Team USA and Olympic Games dreams were revealed. From what people would do to be part of Team USA to what events they'd dream to experience on the global stage to what new sports they'd imagine if the possibilities were limitless.

U.S. Paralympic Triathlete Melissa Stockwell

"Team USA and the Olympic Games inspire us all to dream," said Maribeth Burns, Vice President, Corporate Communications, The J.M. Smucker Company. "Jif understands the path to realizing them often starts by asking 'What if?' From winning a gold medal to wishing for the chance to score the winning goal, we want to nourish the dreams of all Americans."

Team USA Inspires Personally and Professionally
Whether it's because they represent their country, inspire people to do better or compete in front of the world, there is no doubt Americans love, honor and are inspired by Team USA. According to the survey:

77% of Americans say watching Team USA inspires them to pursue their dreams
84% consider Team USA athletes real life heroes
83% say watching Team USA inspires them to be more active

"It's so gratifying to hear how many Americans want to be a part of Team USA. The truth is – they already are," said Melissa Stockwell, Paralympic Triathlete. "Team USA is bigger than just athletes like me – it includes everyone supporting us as we try to achieve our Olympic and Paralympic dreams."

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160711/388563

The effect Team USA has on Americans extends from at home to work, too

84% of Americans say watching Team USA gives them a time to bond with their families
91% of Americans believe it would be an honor of a lifetime to be part of Team USA
81% of Americans say being a part of Team USA is one of the best jobs they could imagine
51% of Americans would quit their job immediately if they could become a Team USA athlete

Fun and the Games
The survey also revealed some fun insights about the Olympic Games. For instance:

64% of Americans dream of adding a new sport to the Summer Games – with dodgeball and tug-of-war among the leading vote getters
3 out of every 4 Americans (77%) said they would play one or more sports on Team USA in the Olympic Games if they were given the chance to participate, with basketball, swimming and archery topping the list

Jif surveyed more than 2,000 nationally representative adults ages 18+ with research conducted by Lightspeed GMI, a globally integrated research organization.

For more information about Jif, visit jif.com or follow #WhatIf on Instagram and Twitter for more from Olympian Allyson Felix, Olympic hopeful Ali Krieger and Paralympians Melissa Stockwell and Brad Snyder.

About The J. M. Smucker Company
For nearly 120 years, The J.M. Smucker Company has been committed to offering consumers quality products that bring families together to share memorable meals and moments. Today, Smucker is a leading marketer and manufacturer of consumer food and beverage products and pet food and pet snacks in North America. In consumer foods and beverages, its brands include Smucker's®, Folgers®, Jif®, Dunkin' Donuts®, Crisco®, Pillsbury®, R.W. Knudsen Family®, Hungry Jack®, Café Bustelo®, Martha White®, truRoots®, Sahale Snacks®, Robin Hood®, and Bick's®. In pet food and pet snacks, its brands include Meow Mix®, Milk-Bone®, Kibbles 'n Bits®, Natural Balance®, and 9Lives®. The Company remains rooted in the Basic Beliefs of Quality, People, Ethics, Growth, and Independence established by its founder and namesake more than a century ago. For more information about the Company, visit jmsmucker.com.

The J.M. Smucker Company is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein, except for the following, which are used under license: Pillsbury® is a trademark of The Pillsbury Company, LLC and Dunkin' Donuts® is a registered trademark of DD IP Holder LLC.

Dunkin' Donuts® brand is licensed to The J.M. Smucker Company for packaged coffee products sold in retail channels such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, and drug stores. This information does not pertain to Dunkin' Donuts® coffee or other products for sale in Dunkin' Donuts® restaurants.

About Lightspeed GMI
Lightspeed GMI is an award-winning global digital data collection enterprise. Founded in 1996, its innovative technology and proven sampling methodologies deliver operational excellence throughout the online research process. With more than 5.5 million online research respondents in 40+ countries, Lightspeed GMI's proprietary panels deliver unparalleled quality, capacity and targeting. Headquartered in Warren, New Jersey, Lightspeed GMI is part of Kantar, the data investment management division of WPP, the world leader in marketing communication services. For more information, visit www.lightspeedgmi.com.

¹ Nielsen Scan Data 52 weeks ending 6.12.16

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160711/388562

SOURCE J.M. Smucker Company