USOPC Receives $10 Million Gift to Improve Mental Health Program
The Rieschel Family Foundation's donation will create resources for athletes
Posted On: March 8, 2023 By :The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, in partnership with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Foundation, has announced that Yucca and Gary Rieschel have committed $10 million in support of Team USA’s mental health program. The donation, made through The Rieschel Family Foundation, is the largest standalone gift in foundation history.
“We are immeasurably grateful for Yucca and Gary’s generosity and their passion for the well-being of Team USA athletes,” said USOPC Chief Executive Officer Sarah Hirshland. “The Rieschel family’s support has already transformed the USOPC’s mental health service offerings, allowing us to better meet the needs of athletes while helping the USOPC become a world leader in athlete mental health care. We are thrilled that they have chosen to further invest in our mental health program and our efforts to support current and future generations of Team USA athletes on the road to Paris 2024, Milan-Cortina 2026, Los Angeles 2028 and beyond.”
Since 2020, the USOPC has hired eight new licensed providers, created a mental health registry with more than 200 participating providers across the country and utilized mental health officers on the ground in Tokyo and Beijing during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The $10 million gift commitment puts in motion the first of three phases of the USOPC’s mental health program expansion, culminating in the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in Los Angeles.
The Rieschels have been supporters of the foundation since its inception in 2013. They made their first gift in support of the USOPC’s mental health program in 2020 to become the organization’s first mental health ambassadors.
“This gift reflects our family’s commitment to supporting Team USA athletes during and after their time as Olympians and Paralympians,” said Gary Rieschel. “We strongly believe that our athletes engaging with their local communities will reduce the stigma associated with seeking help and create relevance for the Olympic and Paralympic movements in those communities. We must succeed in this mission if we are to guarantee safe, fair and universal sport in the United States.”
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