ACOG - News - IBM

(26 July 1996; Day 07)

USA Men's Volleyball Captain Gives Back During Olympic Games

Volleyball has provided United States men's captain Bob CTVRTLIK with a vehicle by which he has accomplished things that most people just dream about. He has seen the world, won a gold medal and is widely recognized as one of the top all-around players in the world.

During the Olympic Games, CTVRTLIK is using that same vehicle to help the dreams of children throughout the United States come true.

CTVRTLIK has created the Give Back Foundation, which is designed to assist underprivileged, abused and terminally ill children. This is done through contributions based on the number of spikes, or kills, that CTVRTLIK records during the course of the Olympic Games.

The idea for the foundation came after he was approached by the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) about recording his thoughts in a daily diary on the Internet.

"They (NBC) told me that a million people would be reading my diary," he said. "I was talking with my wife Cosette and we thought, heck if we can reach a million people maybe we could raise some money for a good cause.

"I have a two and one-half year old boy (Josef) and a one-year old boy (Erik) and it all just kind of clicked together. Hey, let's raise money for kids that are having some problems."

As a result, the money that he raises during the course of the Olympic Games will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Children's Hospitals throughout the United States and a crisis center in San Diego, California which assists abused children.

Another aspect of the foundation that pleases CTVRTLIK is that in addition to helping the children it also provides positive influences in their lives.

"Both of my children are healthy and I just watch them every day. I'm kind of like the pied piper and they're following me around. You can shape kids and have such a huge impact in their lives.

"If you can help a little kid you will be helping for the rest of their lives. You can really make a difference in a kids life because they watch you."

CTVRTLIK has been surprised by the results to date.

"At first I thought this was going to be something where I raised one or two thousand dollars," said CTVRTLIK. "But we have people calling in and pledging one thousand dollars and it looks like I might be able to raise over one-half million dollars."

CTVRTLIK is able to combine the foundation with the sport he loves, which only makes it more enjoyable for him.

"I've always heard since I was a young boy that you have to give something back," he said. "I really have been blessed. I have a wonderful wife, healthy kids, I've made a lot of money and I've had a great career.

"This is my third Olympic Games and it was a way that I could give something back. It's been a big motivating factor for me this third time around because I know that every ball that I put down I'm raising money for children."

To date, CTVRTLIK has 33 kills in three matches with a high of 14 against Cuba. If the United States were to capture the gold medal, CTVRTLIK would realize another dream, but none is more important than his dream of helping children across the United States.

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Roger McAfee.


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