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CIGNA presents a Special Advertising Feature: The Power of Caring
(People Magazine 9/13/99)
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When Kristi Yamaguchi was a kid headed for skating practice, her young eyes were already trained on Olympic Glory and a pro career, she would tote along a doll of gold medalist Dorothy Hamill as a symbol of her dreams.
One Olympic gold (1992 in Albertville) and four World Professional Figure Skating championships later, Yamaguchi's dreams have come true. Now she wants to help others have the same experience.
"Always Dream," once just a personal motto she wrote above her autograph, became the message of a mission when Yamaguchi created the Always Dream Foundation in 1996. The foundation assists organizations that have a positive influence on economically and socially disadvantaged children in California, Nevada and Hawaii. (It hopes eventually to work with groups nationwide.)
"'Always Dream' was something I wanted to translate into work with kids," she says. "We wanted to give them the encouragement and support they needed to dream big."
The foundation raises money through events, corporate sponsorships, individual donations and Yamaguchi's own endorsements and appearance fees. The Fulfilling Dreams grant-making initiative then distributes funds to organizations that send lists of needed items, such as clothing, educational materials, sports equipment and furniture. Yamaguchi personally signs every check. Always Dream has provided shopping sprees for underprivileged kids to buy back-to-school clothes, planned holiday parties for children's shelters and invited groups to Yamaguchi's performances on the Stars On Ice tour.
"It's all an appreciation of the love and support she got from her family when she was growing up," says Dean Osaki, Always Dream's executive director. "She's so level headed despite her success."
Pat Loomes would agree. Loomes is the executive director of the San Leandro, Calif., branch of Girls Inc., an organization that promotes self-sufficiency in young women. Always Dream purchased computers as part of a Girls Inc. educational center for teenage mothers, whom Yamaguchi visited, gifts in tow, for a holiday party last year. Her genuine concern and compassion overwhelmed Loomes. "She stayed with us all day," Loomes says. "Several girls said it was the greatest day of their lives."
This year, Yamaguchi has added women's issues to Always Dream's focus. She is producing A Golden Moment, a Sept. 18th skating concert that she hopes will raise at least $200,000 for the fight against breast cancer. To be held in Oakland, across the bay from Yamaguchi's San Francisco home, and recorded to air nationally in November, Yamaguchi and other former Olympic Gold Medalists will skate to live performances by a 40-piece orchestra and some of the world's leading female musicians.
But helping children remains Yamaguchi's passion. "All kids have dreams of what they want to be when they grow up," Yamaguchi says. "Some of them don't have the resources to do it on their own. That's where we come in."
Written by Brad Young
For more information or to make a contribution, write the Always Dream Foundation, 1203 Preservation Parkway, S-103, Oakland, CA 94612 or visit kristi.yahoo.com.
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