EMERYVILLE, Calif., June 13,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CLIF BAR today announced
the 2024 line-up for the CLIF CORPS' Athlete Coalition featuring
several of its world-renowned athlete partners—including WNBA MVP
Breanna "Stewie'' Stewart, top-ranked tennis pro Frances Tiafoe,
NWSL soccer star Sophia Smith and
Paralympian and Marathon Champion Daniel
Romanchuk. Working together with CLIF BAR, these athletes
are embracing their national platform to help advance equitable
access to sports and the outdoors.
CLIF BAR is honored to continue partnering with like-minded
athletes and advocates to further support youth sports clinics and
specific nonprofit programming in local communities. Research from
the CDC shows that there is a significant gap in youth sports
participation tied to family income level, from 31.2% among
children with a family income of less than 100% of the federal
poverty level (FPL) to 70.2% among children with a family income of
400% or more of FPL. CLIF CORPS' Athlete Coalition partnerships are
rooted in purpose with the goal of removing barriers to sport and
expanding access nationwide.
"We are inspired by the journeys of our athlete partners to get
where they are in their careers and we want to ensure that everyone
has the opportunity to pursue their athletic dreams and passions,"
said Brooke Donberg, Director of
Partnerships and Activation at CLIF BAR. "We are proud to be
working with our partners to expand access and equity in sports,
and to continue to make a positive impact in the local communities
we touch."
Working together with its partner athletes, the CLIF CORPS' 2024
effort will feature a variety of initiatives nationwide
including:
- WNBA MVP and Olympian Breanna "Stewie" Stewart is
partnering with CLIF BAR and THE ARK to fund basketball court
hoops as a part of a court build-out for youth in Jackson, Mississippi. THE ARK is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to empowering youth and young adults in the
Greater Jackson area through
sports, fitness, mentorship and community building programs.
- Top-ranked U.S. tennis professional Frances
Tiafoe, is supporting the USTA Foundation's Frances Tiafoe
Fund through appearing at a series of USTA Foundation community
tennis clinics in cities across the U.S. CLIF BAR is a supporter of
these USTA Foundation tennis clinics, which provide young athletes
greater access to the sport and a unique opportunity to meet and
play on-court with Tiafoe. This year, CLIF BAR is also helping fund
USTA Foundation program and individual player grants through its
Frances Tiafoe Fund. These grants will be presented to individuals
and National Junior Tennis and Learning chapters to support their
efforts of combining tennis with education to enrich the lives of
under-resourced youth.
- National Women's Soccer League player and Olympian Sophia
Smith, most recently named the 2024 SheBelieves Cup MVP, is
partnering with Outdoor Afro, a not-for-profit organization that
celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature.
CLIF BAR has been a proud partner of Outdoor Afro for over a
decade.
- Paralympian and Marathon Champion, Daniel Romanchuk, is launching a
first-of-its-kind nonprofit, Wheels for Change, that will loan
racing wheelchairs to young athletes in communities across the
country to inspire the next generation of Paralympians. CLIF BAR is
committed to providing seed funding to launch this nonprofit later
this year.
Launched in 2022, the Athlete Coalition is part of CLIF BAR's
long-standing community service program, CLIF CORPS, through which
CLIF BAR aims to further expand access and equity to sports
nationwide. For CLIF BAR, giving back to communities is at the
brand's core and includes cash donations totaling $73 million since 2000 and contribution of more
than 200,000 employee volunteer service hours since 2001.
For more information on the CLIF BAR Athlete Coalition's access
and equity efforts and partnerships,
visit www.clifbar.com/values.
About CLIF BAR
For more than 30 years, CLIF has crafted delicious and organic
food under its CLIF BAR, Zbar, and LUNA brands. In 2022, CLIF
became part of the Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ)
portfolio of brands empowering people to snack right in over 150
countries around the world. With 2023 net revenue of approximately
$36 billion, Mondelēz is leading the
future of snacking with other iconic global and local brands such
as Oreo, Ritz, Belvita, Lu, and Tate's Bake Shop biscuits and baked
snacks, as well as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone
chocolate. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard
and Poor's 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
For more information about CLIF BAR please visit Clif |
Mondelēz International, Inc. (mondelezinternational.com)
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SOURCE CLIF