Walmart launches fundraiser for P.R. Olympic team


Olympic athletes and representatives from the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee and Walmart Puerto Rico offer details of their fundraising partnership.
Walmart Puerto Rico announced Tuesday an alliance with the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee to launch a fundraising campaign to support athletes training to represent the island in the next Olympic event in Brazil.
The 40-athlete delegation needs $150,000 to prepare for the international event slated to take place in August.
“We’re inviting the public to donate the spare change from their purchases made at any of our Walmart, Walmart Supercenter, Supermercados Amigo and Sam’s Clubs during June and July to support our athletes to reach their goal of representing us worthily in the 2016 Olympic Games,” said Iván Báez, director of Corporate Affairs for Walmart Puerto Rico.
The collected funds will be donated to the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee, he said.
“Through this partnership with Walmart, we will be able to raise additional funds needed to, through a strategic training plan implemented for each discipline, strengthen the performance of athletes who will make up our delegation at the Olympic Games 2016,” said Sara Rosario, president of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee. “We know that the generosity of our people will help our athletes shine in the Olympic firmament.”
Local athletes will compete in tennis, triathlon, weightlifting, boxing, beach volleyball, swimming, athletics and basketball events.