This post was created in partnership with Citi®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The internet is a buzz with talk of Sochi and the 2014 Winter Olympics! While there has been a bit of controversy surrounding the conditions in Sochi and Russia's stance on equal opportunity and gay rights, I am trying to focus on the positive: our U.S. Olympic team kicking butt and taking names! To that end, Citi has teamed up with nine Team USA Olympians as well as Paralympians to make a $500,000 charitable donation to causes that our athletes are passionate about.
Each Team Citi athlete has teamed up with a specific organization to help, and it's all about opportunity and athleticism, with athletes choosing organizations near and dear to their hearts. Citi's Every Step of the Way® program lets those of us watching and supporting our Olympians at home the opportunity to pick which causes we want to be supported too! How exciting is that? We can choose campaigns to award $5 of the total $500,000.
The 9 Team Citi Athlete Organizations
Alana Nichols - Team USA Paralympic Champion Fund
Billy Demong - Team for Tomorrow
Dan Jensen - The Olympians for Olympians Relief Fund
Erin Hamlin - USA Luge Slider Search
Evan Lysacek - Figure Skating in Harlem
Julie Chu - The USA Hockey Foundation
Picabo Street - The Team USA Stay on the Slopes Initiative
Rico Roman - Operation Comfort
Ted Ligety - Youth Enrichment Services
Out of the nine Olympians involved in Citi's Every Step of the Way program, my favorite is Evan Lysacek, a speed skater. Evan began skating at eight years old, basically just to show up his sister. I had to laugh when I read that - we all know what sibling rivalry is like! Evan wasn't naturally talented and worked incredibly hard to achieve his dreams, making it on the Junior Olympic team in 1996! Not only did he make it to the Olympics, but he won the gold! He made it back to the Olympics in 2010, winning another gold for Team USA.
Evan is proof of how determination can make any dream possible.
Evan knows what you can accomplish with hard work and determination, and that is why he is supporting figure skating in Harlem. I gave my $5 donation to this program and hope that you will too!
You can vote for Citi’s Every Step of the Way® program by visiting their website and learning more about each of the causes.
Scott
We've been watching the Olympics every day as a family. Curling is our favorite with short-track skating a close second. Neat to see what Citi is doing in conjunction with it.
Wendy | Around My Family Table
What a neat program. I will have to go look into more. Thanks for sharing.
Jennifer Soltys
I hate to admit I haven't been following them as much as I usually do. My hubby has been watching them a lot, though!!!
Angela
I am so with you on focusing on the positives from the Olympics. There is so much to be excited about, and I am super proud of Team USA!
Ellen Christian
What a fantastic thing to do. I really love when companies give back to the community. Such a great program.
Pam
I haven't been watching the Olympics a lot, but think this is a great program. Kudos to companies who give back!
Tammilee
We finally set up our TV just so we can watch the Olympics. This sounds like a fantastic program.
So many great athletes and programs.
Michele Brosius
We are a family of sports nuts, so the Olympics has been on the TV non-stop. We are also looking forward to the Para-Olympics in March. Thanks for letting me know about Citi program, I am going to check it out.
Debi
I have been trying to catch as much of the Olympics as I can
Mama to 5 BLessings
WE love the Olympics, we Tivo it all and watch them everyday? It's great for kids to watch too, they get to see and learn about new sports they have never heard of before.
Liz
I've been watching the Olympics a TON! I'm going to read a little more on each of these and pick one. Thanks!
Nancy L. StyleDecor
Such a great program. I love watching figure skating, ski jumping, and sometimes even curling.
Jen Temcio
I would love to learn more about the causes at citi. We are watching the Olympics right now 🙂
brett
we're loving the Olympics. it's so fun to watch. and yay for Citi for supporting organizations to give back to the community
Kristin Wheeler (
What a great program! I need to start watching the Olympics.
mel
Such a neat program! I definitely need to look into this. Thanks!
Melanie Roberts
What a great way to give back, such a cool program.. I love the Olympics and try to watch every chance I get; it's a tradition that started when I was a little girl and I still keep it up..thanks for sharing