Posted By Roberto Benitez on December 11th, 2009

I feel it is very important that Professional athletes have some type of Obligation to give back to their communities, because it is the best way to keep oneself humble and show the value they have for their roots, where it all began. Without the struggle most athletes would have not created the success they have today. Alot of the struggles come from these communities they were raised in and by giving back it shows that us athletes care for our people who came from our same community. Our Obligation of giving back gives “Hope” to those young kids and families that they can amount to be somebody in life. We set an example and become role models and heroes to these individuals who we give back to. We are living examples who came from that environment. In reality giving back is the most respectful thing to do on our behalf for others. Our success as champions is more valued as how we serve others out ofour arena. By giving back to our communities we are much more in tune of being “real” and humble in life.


Roberto Benitez

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Posted By Angela Knopf on December 11th, 2009

I once heard that if when we were born it was light and then when we die its dark, we are constantly chasing daylight. Our story lies in that journey and how we write it has a lot to do with our decisions and passions. If we are constantly chasing daylight, what will be our legacy? I have seen “wealth” in the monetary sense, but have seen true “richness” in relationships. This is why I am passionate about helping others out. Do I feel “obligated?” Absolutely not. It’s quite the contrary, I feel passionate about it! Not because I feel that I owe something, but because I believe in the value of relationships and helping others.If someone feels “obligated” then they won’t be invested in it and wouldn’t have near the impact like someone who believes in the good they could do.It’s evident when athletes or people in general are forced to do things they don’t want to, their body language and eyes show it and others can read it around them.

I feel athletes shouldn’t feel “obligated” but wish they knew or could see the potential that lies inside them. It’s like having a huge treasure to share with people and you might be the only one with the key to it. What happens if you never open it? All that potential is unused and what could have been will never come to fruition. It’s funny that people think to really give back, you must give money, when some of the most “priceless” moments have happened in a high-five or a piece of inspiration. All of us athletes recognize that it’s taken a LOT of work to get where we are and have had people along the way help us in some way, whether encouragement, money, or just time. I wish every athlete would sit down and write about 1 or 2 people who have really made a difference in their life and maybe they would see the potential that lies inside of them to make a difference for others. Why should an athlete’s potential for impacting others around them end on the court, the half pipe, the track, the field?

What triggers people/athletes to be more involved? At what point do athletes become the influencer’s vs. the one’s influenced? Would we do more if we were still the ones being influenced? Why are athletes “obligated” more than your average business person, doctor, electrician, teacher, etc. What are some of the main reasons why athletes hesitate getting involved in their communities?

www.angelaknopf.com

Posted By Nancy Goffi on December 11th, 2009

First of all, I want to say thank you for having this debate. This is an issue that I feel very strongly about. I played professional soccer for 4 years in the US and a couple of years overseas. It was a dream job, but I found that I had a lot of free time on my hands, so I decided to start volunteering in the community. I felt that I was fortunate enough to be placed in a role where I could positively influence the lives of people, especially children. This was the most important thing about being a professional athlete for me. Everyone can help inspire kids, but it happens to go further if it comes from a professional athlete and we as professionals must take advantage of that fact. I’m not saying that you have to be a professional athlete inspire and motivate kids, but it definitely helps! It doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal where you go to an organization and give a speech, but you could just give a little bit of your time. That’s inspiring right there… the fact that a professional athlete would take time out of their busy day and spend it with the Boys and Girls Club or whatever organization. We can change the lives of so many kids just with our time. Every child knows how to dream and with our help we can give them an understanding of what it will take for them to make that dream into a reality, whether it is a professional athlete, a doctor, or a teacher. I also feel that by inspiring children, we can inspire the community around them. Athletes shouldn’t feel obligated to serve the community, they should want to serve the community! Not many people have that kind of power to change, motivate, inspire and teach the people (adults and children) in their community. Service is never-ending… hopefully the people you give your time to will do the same for
others and so on.

Posted By Missy Foy on December 11th, 2009

First of all, every one of us has an obligation to help those whose lives we have the ability to touch. My Aunt Cele used to tell me that “charity starts at your own front door.” As a professional athlete, my front door opens wider than most so I have the ability to touch a lot of lives. Secondly, as athletes, part of our job is to perform for an audience whether we like to admit that or not – if this wasn’t so, we would simply run against our own watch. The audience we perform for makes our careers and makes our front doors open wide and deep. Finally, I think it would be selfish and irresponsible of me to ignore all this and not give back.

Posted By Yolanda Griffith on December 11th, 2009

I do not believe that it is an athlete’s obligation to give back to the community. I believe that it is everyone’s responsibility to give back to the community. Athletes, superstars, and celebrities have a unique opportunity to have a platform for visibility for the work they do and should use their platform wisely. Most people, however, may not have the same visibility, but can most definitely have same impact on the community. Moreover, I think that everyone needs to have a better understanding of how she or he can make an impact. It is not always about the amount of money you can give to a charity. Raising a healthy community is similar to raising a healthy child. The time, effort, love, and attention you give produces more positive results than any amount of money can.

Chrissie Zartman on December 11th, 2009

I think that my answer can best be summed up in the following quote by one of the best athletes of all time. Muhammad Ali said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” I believe that everyone (not only athletes) has an obligation to give back. We are all put on this earth to make a difference and it is up to each what of us what that difference is. Giving back does not have to be one huge act or one huge donation. It can be a lifetime full of little gifts. Giving back can range anywhere from giving someone a smile, to giving someone your time, to giving someone your money. With so many varieties of ways to give back, I think that every person can, and should manage to give back in some way.


Many people look toward high profile people as an example because they are in the public eye and are seen as inspirations. But the truth is that every person (whether in the public eye or not) should want to help and inspire others. It can all be summed up by Ghandi : “Be the change that you want to see in the world.”

Chrissie Zartman

Posted Abby Crumpton on December 11th, 2009

Hmmm… are pro athletes obligated?? This is always a touchy subject which inspires strong feelings on both sides of the coin. But as a professional athlete, I personally feel strongly about making the most of my talent, and that isn’t just what I do on the field in a game, or at practice. We can’t deny that people are watching –it’s a public setting 24/7 (for some more than others:))- but what we do, both negative and positive can have a huge effect on people.


I believe that making the most of my talent means that I consistently rise to the occasion to inspire others, to encourage others, to help others in whatever area that I can. Many people define that differently, but for me that is what is. Sometimes it’s really hard – I’m tired, I’m over-extended… etc., but then I think about my life and how blessed and lucky I am to do what I do – it makes it all worth it. I have been blessed to be a blessing to others, and that can take many different forms – money, time… etc.


Not every charitable thing we do has to be public knowledge, and you don’t have to donate thousands to have an effect on others – most times, all people want is to know someone cares about them enough to pay attention to them and their immediate needs. One of the most humbling experiences of my life was volunteering at a homeless shelter for paroled men and women in Boston. Nobody cared about who I was or what I did. These were people who didn’t have anything but their clothes on their back and a mat to sleep on at night but they loved to just talk to you. That’s all they wanted from me – my help and attention. Sometimes “charity” can be as simple as serving someone a warm meal, or having a conversation.


At times, it can feel like an obligation, but I don’t think that should be an excuse to not reach out and help people. If I stopped training in the off season every time I felt like it was an obligation, I wouldn’t get anywhere! It’s like anything else – when you see the results from what you have done, whether in your sport, or with helping people less fortunate than you, it makes you desire to do it more because it feels good. Eventually you get to a place where you don’t need to see the results, because you know you are sowing good seed into other people’s lives. You may not see the benefit that it may have immediately, but you trust that the positive things that you do are going to have a ripple effect far beyond what you can imagine. I think keeping that influence to yourself is selfish – it’s like burying the talent you have and not allowing anyone to reap the benefits but yourself.

Posted Fatimoh Muhammed on December 11th, 2009

I believe that athletes should be able to give back to communities without any obligation (or in other words, willingly). While giving and loving is a blessing from God, not everyone can give back. For example, some athletes do not have the capability to contribute to their communities and some wealthy individuals do not practice philanthropy as well.

Everyone that is been blessed by God should be able to bless the less privileged. People don’t need to have a lots of money, giving back comes in various forms such as contributing financially or volunteering.

Giving back to community or to the people is great thing to do. I believe that God rewards people that give back. Like my mother use to say, if you have a dollar and another person is in need of 50 cents, you should be to help.



Fatimoh Muhammed

Posted Larry Nance on December 11th, 2009

For me, it’s a moral obligation, not a professional one. Everyone should try hard to be a good person every day. It has nothing to do with how much money that you make. Because I have played professional basketball, and with all of the exposure surrounding that, I have the power to create attention surrounding a wide range of causes. I am allowed the privilege to be involved in so many things… anywhere from talking to groups of kids about what it takes to set and reach their goals, and anti- drug messages, all the way to creating awareness for Alzheimer’s disease, and helping to raise funds for cancer research. That’s really a great position to be in for helping others.

Most of what I do has nothing to do with a salary. It is because my parents raised me to be a good person, to do the right things, and help others whenever possible.


Larry Nance

Posted By Etan Thomas on December 7th, 2009

I think that athletes have just as much as an obligation to give back to the community as anyone else does. I don’t think that it is exclusively an obligation for athletes. Any working individual in this society should be able to help someone who is less fortunate than they are. It doesn’t have to be simply writing a check or donating money. It can be passing out food at a homeless shelter on thanksgiving, being a big brother with various groups like the boys and girls club, etc. For me personally, I am very thankful, greatful, and appreciative of the many blessings that I have. The life that I am allowed to live playing a sport that I love. So for me personally, I feel that I want to be a blessing to others.

Carin Gabarra on December 11th, 2009

Success requires passion and unwavering commitment, but is not without struggle. No one gets to the top without the support of others. And to make a difference in your community that same desire and energy is necessary. At one time or another, we have all relied upon those around us –in our homes, in our classrooms and in our community. I think it’s important for anyone with the means to give back and make a difference to think of all those people who played a role in our own success and carry on that same willingness to open doors for others. We cannot be successful as a community with a mentality that every individual need only worry about him or herself. To this day, some of my fondest memories of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta still involve the people who volunteered their time and effort to make our team’s magical run possible. As much as anyone else, athletes are byproducts of the communities in which they were raised. It’s by no coincidence, that hometowns are still listed beside athlete’s names and are always announced prior to major athletic competitions. We have all experienced the rewarding feelings of giving and it is important that we embrace the influence we hold and provide chances for others to achieve.

Courtney Thompson on December 11th, 2009

I do not think professional athletes are obligated to give back to the community more than any other person within the community. I believe that any person who has the ability to influence another life in a positive way should take advantage of that and use their sphere of influence as productively as possible. Because of the nature of sports in our society, many professional athletes are in a position of influence. As much as I would want every athlete to use their platform for good, I don’t think athletes are ‘obligated’ to do so, but I think they should. It only takes a little effort from someone who plays at a high level to make a huge difference on a younger athletes life, and a little love goes a long way. It would be great if every athlete took advantage of this and gave back to the community that allows them to do what they love for a living.

Katie Hooker on December 11th, 2009

Growing up playing soccer I had many coaches that influenced the player I was to become. I made it my personal goal to learn from each and every one of these people something specific about coaching. I was always intrigued by the decisions they have to make when preparing a team for competition. I wanted to know why we did certain things at practice and who was going to start the next game. I wanted to know things like what to say to people to motivate them and how to pick a captain. I would watch my coaches put down cones and talk to players and I would make mental notes of the drills we did and how our sessions went. For me coaching was inevitable, why because I wanted to give back. So now contemplating the question of whether or not as a professional athlete I am obligated to give back, it’s tough cause I am already doing that in other ways (as I am currently a coach for youth and college players alike). However, if someone came to me and said I was obligated to do something I would not want to comply. No one likes to be told to do anything you have to be driven internally to want to make a difference. Since we all made it to the professional level being driven then the equation is simple. When given the opportunity, I believe athletes will make the right choice.

Posted By Nicole Branagh on December 11th, 2009

The word “obligated” implies one must do something – even if he or she would rather not. As a professional athlete, I think it is an honor and a privilege to give back. Rather than feel “obligated,” I feel blessed that my career allows m…e the time and the opportunity to work in the community. My passion is working with kids; my motivation comes from the heart rather than from a rule book. While I truly love being a professional beach volleyball player, it, alone, does not define who I am. Volunteering is an important part of my life and I definitely “get” more than I “give.”

So, should a professional athlete be obligated to give back: No. Should athletes find something about which they are passionate and lend a helping hand: Yes. The result: Everyone wins.

Posted By Misty May on December 4th, 2009

Pro athletes are no more OBLIGATED than the rest of us. Of course we should want to help others and do our part to make a difference in the community. That is the best part of my the job, but if an athlete gives back because of obligation than it… is not genuine and will not ultimatley send the right message. What do you think Nicole Branagh , @jessmendoza

Posted By Julie Foudy on December 4th, 2009

Posted By Christen Karniski on November 27th, 2009

Should professional athletes be obligated to give back to the community? My first instinct was to say YES, of course athletes should help those around them and use their high-profile profession to inspire others on a more personal basis than just on game-day. But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed that by obligating athletes to give back, it would diminish the impact of those who truly want to help and don’t just feel like they have to. I remember when I was a little girl I met a member of the U.S. National Team and I was awestruck. I stood in line forever just to get her autograph. But it quickly became apparent to me that the athlete didn’t really want to be there, and as a result I felt, more than anything, disappointment. Kids, parents, and fans can tell if an athlete, or anyone for that matter, really wants to be there, and I believe that if athletes are obligated to give back they could actually have a negative impact on those they are supposed to be helping. Yet those athletes who want to go out in the community and make a difference in the lives of individuals have the ability to truly change someone’s life for the better. So no, I do not believe professional athletes should be obligated to give back to the community; but I do believe they should choose to do so. By taking just a few hours out of each week to help others out, whether it’s in the role of a professional athlete or even as an anonymous volunteer, we can positively impact our communities and help those who need it most.

Christen Karniski

Posted By Erin McLeod on November 27th, 2009

Obligation or Opportunity?

Hello my name is Erin McLeod. I am an athlete who plays soccer for the Washington Freedom in the new WPS league. I also have been playing for the Canadian National team for almost a decade and started doing volunteer work with them.

Athletes for Hope came and did a presentation on what volunteer work meant to everyone, whether it was an opportunity to give back to the communities or whether it was an obligation. This is my first year as a professional athlete and there is no doubt when you are training full time and not having to work a part-time job on top of it you have more free time. I in no way do I think it is an obligation to give back as a professional athlete but because there is only a certain amount of training per day there is more time to do other things.

In the past I have done some volunteer work with the national team whether it was coaching or visiting a children’s hospital, which I thought was an incredible experience. However, before this year I never did any volunteer work on my own. After meeting with Athletes for Hope and already knowing what our schedule with the Freedom was I knew I would have the time to give back and still be able to focus on my sport. There were several activities that I participated in right away; reading to a underprivileged class of young children, attending a prom at a children’s hospital (where Johanna Lohman and I danced up at storm), and also becoming involved with Doorways for women, which is an organization that helps women and families who have been affected by domestic abuse.

I never expected to go to these events getting much more out of the experience than I put in. Working with children especially has been such a wonderful opportunity because of the way they find happiness in all situations. It is refreshing when some of the athletes are far from home and you can meet some of these people for the first time and you feel as though they need your help, I guess it is a selfish way of looking at it, but it makes you want to be there for them every chance you get.

I once thought that the best way to give back was to write a check and because there isn’t a lot of money in women’s soccer I have never been able to do so but I have been wrong all along. Giving back is about the quality of the time you put in, not necessarily the quantity. Every time I give back I know I am doing the right thing but I think the reason it is so rewarding is because I choose to be there when I can instead of feeling like I have to. I am so grateful I have been able to work with Athletes for Hope I feel like because of the opportunities they have set up for me I am becoming a better person and realizing that there is so much more to life than just sport.

Posted By Sue Weber on November 27th, 2009

Perhaps the greatest power we have as human beings is the ability to impact the life of another person. Whether our life leads us to a position of power, popularity, or simply to a place where we are engaged in the rigors of the average person’s day to day life, our contacts with persons of all ages and experiences remain endless. Albert Einstein is credited for once stating, “It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.” However, it’s up to each person to recognize the moments where their influence can be injected into the life of another and to make use of these opportunities simply because of our ability to do so.

The circumstances and resources which affect the lives of people, while possibly similar, are never identical. For example, two professional athletes may have very different financial circumstances and therefore not be in the same position to contribute financial resources for the benefit of another. Similarly, a college athlete and a professional athlete’s ability to contribute personal time and services may be very different because of personal circumstances. Whatever the case may be, whoever the person may be, the value of one’s contribution back to the general community is beyond measure when it impacts the lives of another person.

Our society conceptually believes that we are obligated to give back to our respective communities. This fundamental belief is evidenced in so many ways. During my childhood years it was common to hear of “community service” requirements for students graduating high school or participating in certain school sponsored clubs. We are often educated to help those who are less fortunate and less learned. I can recall volunteering time at the soup kitchen at a local church to satisfy my community service obligation necessary to graduate. Additionally, I can recall my first volunteer experience with the Access Sports of America in Boston where I had an opportunity to interact with physically disabled children. I remember feeling good about my contribution, particularly after looking at the faces of the people I had supported.

In taking a look back at my days as a child I can fondly recall many influences in my life which have helped shape my life. I do not feel that any one particular person, professional athlete or not, is obligated to perform certain tasks simply because they have reached a certain status in life. Instead, I believe we are obligated to one another as people who are powerful enough to make a difference in each other’s life for the better. With great power and success comes great responsibility. With humanity comes the obligation to preserve society. The challenge is recognizing the opportunity and satisfying your commitment.

I don’t believe in mandatory obligations for professional athletes to contribute back to their community. Instead, I believe that contributing back to your community is a necessary and inherent quality in order to be revered as a true professional athlete. My main motivation for contributing back to my community is to say thank you for all that I have been able to achieve through the support of the community. The opportunity to make a contribution has value that compounds with every contact and influence.

Posted By Alison Bartosik on November 27th, 2009

Athletes need to give back to their community and sport. There are many networks that allow athletes to succeed: family, coaches, teammates, friends, cities, governing bodies, etc. There is merit to the statement that it takes a village. That said, I think obligation is a harsh term to use for advocacy. It shouldn’t feel cold or contractual, but it should be a personal and wonderful choice that is made for the right reasons. Only then do all parties benefit from a long lasting and fulfilling relationship.

Alison Bartosik
2004 Olympian Synchronized Swimming – Duet & Team Double Bronze Medalist

Posted By Emily Janss on November 27th, 2009

I am 31 years old now and have been playing soccer since I was 5 years old. I had no idea where soccer was going to lead me. I turned pro the first time after college and played on the New York Power, for three years before the league suspended operation. AKA all of us playing in the WUSA who were not on the National Team had to move on to jobs in the real world or go play in another country that offered professional women’s soccer leagues. What a bummer after having felt the passion, enjoyment and excitement of playing professionally. I understood at that point how much of an impact I could have based on my success with my sport. I felt an obligation to women’s soccer to pass along every ounce of positive energy I had to everyone I came into contact with. I believe it should be every athletes’ priority to give back to their community and help in anyway they can, as long as it is within reason. There should be a level of responsibility to lend a hand, an athlete does not have to donate all the money they have to a cause, but time is a very powerful thing to give. At every level from the local sports club team to the Pro football player who makes millions a game, there should be an underlying responsibility to be a role model.

Emily Janss, Professional Soccer Player

Posted By Jeritt Thayer on November 30th, 2009

Posted By Tony DiCicco on November 26th, 2009

Posted By Ginna Gutierrez on November 26th, 2009

As the wife of a professional soccer player, I absolutely and wholeheartedly believe that athletes are obligated to give back. I realized, very early into my 12-year marraige to Diego Gutierrez(Major League Soccer), that we have been blessed with many gifts. My husband was blessed with the gift and the ability to play soccer at the highest level, putting him in the public eye and giving him an elevated platform and a voice louder than I could ever have imagined. I found that when I spoke of certain issues alone, without dropping my husband’s name, I was heard but it was nothing like the attention I got when I went into a room and told people that my husband was a professional athlete. Like it or not, athletes and celebrities are role models and idolized by millions. With their skills and their direct access to the world’s stage and to the media, they can touch lives personally and in a unique way. I realize that some are introverts, some are wild and wreckless, some make WAY more money than others, some are more educated than others, some are not good with the media and some are brilliant public speakers. While they are all given different gifts and talents outside of their ability to participate in their sport, they ALL have the ability to give back in some way. It can be the giving of time, their voice, their strength, their sport, or their skills. Just their presence or the appereance of an athlete at an event can totally make the difference. I am certain that every athlete can give, at least, one hour of their time, at some point, in their professioal career to attend an event for charity or sign some autographs for the greater good. It can and will directly inspire others to give back. EVERYONE is able to give back in some possible way!

Posted By Heather Mitts on November 25th, 2009

As athletes, we are in a very fortunate role. I have had a hard time with this question because I think it could go either way. However, I don’t think we should be required, I feel that we should want to give back. It is a personal choice. Athletes are role models whether we want to be or not. We have been given a special gift and luckily it puts us on a platform to be able to connect with a larger audience. Soccer has given me a great opportunity to touch people’s lives. Even if it is one or two. It is making a difference in someone else’s life. I have teamed up with the Homeless Soccer League, Bride to Cross which connects with those less fortunate in South Africa and the Boys and Girls Club. I have been able to give back through my sport and because I am an athlete. Being an athlete is a dream come true but being able to give back makes me feel like a complete person.

Posted By Brittany Hochevar on November 24th, 2009

Generosity is the habit of giving freely without coercion. However, I do believe that as athletes we are obligated to make a difference using the platform we been given, about matters that are larger than us or the sport we play. We are speaking about matters of the heart in which we are able to help another breath a little bit easier. Generosity doesn’t happen once you get more than you need. It is a state of being. Everyone can give; give time, give energy, give expertise, give self. Furthermore, there is no obligation to those that feel “deserving” of an athlete’s funds.

Posted By Andy Macdonald on November 23, 2009

My two cents when asked the question: Do professional athletes have an obligation to give back?

Posted By Andy Roddick on November 23, 2009 7:21pm

 yes tony we absolutely have to give back.there is no reason not to.props for throwing this out there.u in london? hit me up if yes

Posted By Ryan Sheckler on November 23, 2009

Everyone should RT @tonyhawk: Do professional athletes have an #obligation to give back? http://are-athletes-obligated.org/category/are-obligated/