As a child growing up my hero was pro beach volleyball player, Sinjin Smith. I can remember watching him on TV and dreaming that one day I too would feel the glory of sand between my toes on a championship court. Little did I know that 3 days shy of my thirteenth birthday, my childhood dreams of being the next Sinjin Smith would be shattered when I was diagnosed with bi-lateral osteosarcoma.

Today, I am a sixteen year and only known survivor of my diagnosis, a survival I owe greatly to the kindness of Sinjin Smith. Just weeks after my first knee reconstruction surgery Sinjin was signing signatures at my local mall. I recall being stoked beyond belief to get the chance to just shake his hand, I never imagined what would come next. Sinjin noticed me in my cast, asking what happened, he expected to hear nothing more than a sports injury, not “I have cancer.” Sinjin immediately called for a chair for me to sit in, invited me to join him at the beach the next day, and to hang with him behind the players tent. Needless to say, I was beyond excited, in the only way they could, my childhood dream was coming true. But, Sinjin didn’t stop there, the story goes on for the next 18 years, and to this day I am still friends with Sinjin, and he is still my hero. Sinjin was the Michael Jordan of beach volleyball then, and he had no obligation to take on a sick kids from Milwaukee, but without hesitation, he did just that…Inspired a kid from Milwaukee to keep fighting! I can never thank Sinjin enough for his generosity over the last 18 years! It is amazing to be able to call your hero, your friend!

So, are Athletes obligated to give back, to inspire, to instill hope and help people realize their dreams, to be role models? Well, no one’s obligated to do anything, but wouldn’t you like to have a story like Sinjin’s? To be part of a reason that a child survives a death sentence, simply because of your willingness to give back and take them under your wing? Because of Sinjin I am now alive and doing everything I can to give back myself, because of my disABILITY I have found Super Gimp Services for disABLED Athletics. Though I’m not a professional athlete, I hope that my survivorship will inspire other disABLED children and individuals to be active, to participate and to “play.” And in turn I hope it will inspire professional athletes to give back to their communities with their hearts and their pockets…You all have the ability to change the world!

Thanks for the challenge, Mia. I’m always up for a good debate. For me it’s really all about passion. If I can feel it then I can live it. A person doesn’t always have to give a lot of money or aim to have a widespread impact to be philanthropic. When my mom died, I didn’t know at the time I would be given the opportunities I’ve had in life but I knew I wanted to honor her memory. I started my Foundation www.warrickdunnfoundation.org because I had a deep desire to connect with her. Creating a program that rewards single parents who are working to become homeowners is my way of recognizing my mom’s dream of homeownership that she never got to realize. Each time I escort a single parent through the doors of their new home that my Foundation has fully furnished, I feel my mom there with me. That’s why I give, because I want my mom to be proud of me. I’m just lucky that football gave me the resources to do it. I use my life as a guide for my philanthropy because I can relate to others who have had the same struggles. All of us who are Athletes for Hope founders have a similar story. Somewhere along the way, a person or experience impacted us so greatly that it changed our lives. That’s why I believe it’s so important to have passion. Anyone can give money or even ask for money but if there’s no personal connection and passion behind the act, it’s pointless. That’s just my opinion.

Annika Sorenstam

Growing up in a small town in Sweden I played all kinds of sports. I loved the competition, camaraderie, and travel that came with playing those sports. As I grew older and more focused on golf, I met so many people around the world and learned many life lessons. I was very fortunate to have great parents, coaches, and mentors. However, it always seemed to be my heroes in sports who inspired me. It wasn’t just because they were winning tournaments, breaking records or making lots of money. It was because I felt emotionally tied to them and their actions outside of the arena. They were cool, they were humble, they influenced others, and they gave back. These athletes helped in the community, which showed us that a difference can be made with a strong will, had work, and a big heart. They inspired me to one day follow their footsteps.

Therefore, I always knew that I would give back once I was successful in my sport. My dream to start a Foundation came to fruition in 2007. The ANNIKA Foundation was created to help kids live a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and to help aspiring junior golfers reach their potential. Childhood obesity is an epidemic in our country, and if we don’t act immediately, this generation of children could be the first to not outlive the prior generation. Think about that…..it is disgusting!

These initiatives are part of my life and my story. They come from my heart and do not feel like an “obligation” to me, but rather a passion. I will do all that I can to help others live their dreams, because that is exactly what my heroes did for me. My journey would not be complete if I didn’t close the loop and help the next generation on and off the playing field.