STRATTON, Vt., March 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With the U.S. Open Snowboarding finals this weekend, Olympic snowboarding champion Hannah Teter teams up with other professional athletes to fight child poverty through Children International, a U.S.-based humanitarian organization.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childreninternational/46388/

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110309/MM58738 )

The two-time medalist was joined by Burton Team Snowboarder Gabi Viteri and Nike 6.0 surfer Monyca Byrne-Wickey recently to visit Children International's agency in Guadalajara, Mexico, to learn more about the needs of impoverished children there and how Children International's sponsorship program meets the needs of those children.

Teter, a supporter of Children International since 2007, sponsors seven children whose families live in extreme and crushing poverty. Because of her support, her sponsored children receive important medical check-ups, dental care, nutritional support and educational assistance.

Teter had the opportunity to meet Dona Maria and her 3 grandchildren who have lived with her since their parents abandoned them. Maria supports Valeria, 7, Juan, 11 and Miguel, 10, on $100 a month. Knowing she is old and has no other family nearby, she is concerned about the welfare of the children should she become ill.

"Children International is bringing a lot of hope to families who start out with nothing. They have nothing. Then Children International comes in, puts them in school, gets them what they need," said Teter.

Believing so firmly in Children International's mission, Teter has committed to donate 40% of the proceeds from the sale of her clothing line, Sweet Cheeks Panties, to help feed malnourished children through Children International's nutrition program.

Children International's President and CEO Jim Cook said, "We are so grateful to Hannah Teter for being such a dedicated advocate on behalf of impoverished children. Her efforts are changing the lives of so many children around the world."

While in Guadalajara, the athletes also saw Children International's Game On! Sports program in action and enthusiastically participated in some of the activities with the children. Game On! offers children and youth an opportunity to participate in organized sports leagues while teaching them leadership and life skills. Game On! benefits entire impoverished communities by involving parents and community volunteers, offering them interpersonal communication and leadership training, and providing them with a positive recreational outlet away from drugs and gangs.

About Children International:

Established in 1936, Children International is a humanitarian organization with its headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. Children International's programs help more than 335,000 children and their families in 11 countries around the world including Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Zambia, Honduras, India, the Philippines and the United States. For more information about Children International or to sponsor a child, visit www.children.org

SOURCE Children International