Agassi, Ali launch Athletes for Hope

It's a philanthropic Dream Team. Andre Agassi, Lance Armstrong and Mia Hamm are among 12 founders of Athletes for Hope, a charitable organization that aims to pass on their passion for good works to athletes, fans and corporations.

"We all probably regret the same thing in life, not starting our foundations earlier," Agassi said at a press conference Wednesday. "Athletes have real short windows. Those windows need to be maximized. We have the heart and desire to give."

It's the brainchild of the three stars, and they've joined forces with Muhammad Ali, Warrick Dunn, Jeff Gordon, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning and Cal Ripken Jr.

The plan is to educate pro athletes about charity work through their leagues and rookie orientations.

"We think it's a perfect opportunity to use the examples these founders have set to inspire the young athletes that are coming up," said Ivan Blumberg, the CEO of Athletes for Hope. "Once they become part of the organization, then we will match them up with charities or work with them to create charitable programs on their own."

Ali appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" with seven other founders to launch the effort on Wednesday. Ali's wife, Lonnie, credited Blumberg for getting the boxing great on board.

"He said three words," Lonnie Ali said. "He said Lance, Andre and charity. That clicked. This has been the work we've done for the last 20 years."

The Ali's helped establish the Muhammad Ali Parkinson's Center at Barrow's Neurological Institute in Phoenix, and opened the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Ky., in 2005.

"Being able to get that kind of stature in the athletic community, to join hands together, to do anything philanthropic, was an opportunity," Lonnie Ali said. "It was like a call to duty. (It's about) talking to athletes, getting them to understand the purpose of philanthropy and spreading that passion."

Armstrong sees many ways for young athletes to hook up with Athletes for Hope.

"Let's say the Rams draft some kid in the first round," Armstrong said. "He comes into town and he wants to do something. He's never felt loss, he's never felt pain. So he doesn't know his cause.

"He could contact Athletes for Hope. They could say, 'Are you interested in helping Jackie (Joyner-Kersee) with her center in East St. Louis?' So you've paired up a cause that needs more faces or more momentum and an athlete that has a desire to effect change."

Agassi, Armstrong and Hamm met with members of their foundations about six months ago to hammer out the concept. The 12 founding athletes have raised more than $500 million for charitable and health-related causes, Blumberg said.

"We've helped each other through our foundations," Agassi said. "We realized as much as we can effect (change) individually, you can effect more profoundly collectively. It's an exponential message."

The collaborative effort involves a "brotherhood and sisterhood that is so powerful," Hamm said in a phone interview. "It's about networking, mentoring, connecting and celebrating."

She started her foundation in 1997 to encourage girls to play sports and help families with individuals going through bone marrow treatments. Her brother Garrett died of a rare blood disorder.

Hamm, at home with her month-old twins Grace and Ava in Manhattan Beach, Calif., said she plans to connect other athletes with her charity events.

"A lot of athletes and female athletes might not have the name recognition and could do so much," Hamm said. "I can say 'I'm having a golf tournament in North Carolina or in D.C., would you like to be a part of it?'"

All 18 members of the U.S. women's soccer team recently joined Athletes for Hope to pursue their charitable interests.

Fans can donate, participate in local community work and buy Athletes for Hope dog-tag style necklaces.

___

On the Net: http://www.athletesforhope.org