These USA Triathlon Foundation 2024 Endeavor-Tri Grant Recipients Make a Difference in Their Communities
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by USA Triathlon
I Challenge Myself uses fitness, cycling, and triathlon to empower students to connect them with career and college opportunities outside of their neighborhoods.
COLORADO SPRINGS — Three youth-focused triathlon organizations from across the country received the USA Triathlon Foundation’s 2024 Endeavor-Tri Grants, which are awarded to triathlon organizations that are committed to making a difference in their respective communities.
The Endeavor-Tri Grants are a part of the USA Triathlon Foundation’s Together We Thrive: Pathway to An Inclusive Triathlon Community Grant Program, which celebrates and awards triathlon organizations that cultivate belonging, foster community and enhance access in their communities through triathlon and multisport access.
The 2024 Endeavor-Tri Grants were awarded to three organizations:
I Challenge Myself, which is bringing triathlon opportunities to New York City schools to inspire physical and academic growth.
Wayland Water Warriors, a swim and safety program for METCO students in Boston that now includes triathlon programming and training.
Clermont Triathlon Club, which is committed to helping local youth experience their first multisport race.
Requirements for consideration of this grant include:
- Organizations that want to “Tri” something new to help others gain access to multisport
- Organizations with a solid idea and detailed plan to launch an initiative to enhance DEIA impact within their existing organization
- New organizations with a detailed plan and purpose of growing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) in triathlon
More information on the 2025 Endeavor-Tri Grant is coming soon.
Learn more about each Endeavor-Tri Grant recipient and the impact each is making in their communities:
I Challenge Myself
Mission: I Challenge Myself uses fitness, cycling, and triathlon to empower students to connect them with career and college opportunities outside of their neighborhoods. Since 2005, ICM has served over 5,000 students in New York City schools with programs that equally prioritize physical and mental health.
Community they serve: I Challenge Myself works with middle and high school students in Washington Heights, Harlem, and the Bronx. Ninety-nine percent of ICM's students are of color and the majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
“This grant brings an exciting new sport to an area of NYC (Washington Heights) that would not otherwise be exposed to triathlon. Triathlon appeals to so many students in our programs as it is competitive, exciting, and is outside of the traditional soccer-baseball-basketball trio.” — I Challenge Myself
Wayland Water Warriors
Mission: The Wayland High School Water Warriors' Program teaches swimming and water safety lessons to elementary and middle school METCO students from Boston. During the lessons, swimmers work to improve their skills in the water and learn essential water safety skills. Some swimmers will become comfortable letting go of the wall for the first time while others will swim their first length of the pool. The more experienced swimmers set fitness goals by swimming “workouts” designed by high school swim team members.
Community they serve: School District of Wayland METCO elementary and middle school students. The METCO program is a bussing program that allows Boston residents to be bussed to suburban school districts.
“The Together We Thrive grant will not only allow us to better serve our swimmers with more equipment and staffing but will also expand our swim offerings to include the basics of triathlon. The swimmers have some down time between the end of school and the beginning of Water Warriors; we plan to introduce to the swimmers in this time triathlon-specific activities with the hope that some will participate in a kids tri.” — Wayland Water Warriors
Clermont Triathlon Club
Mission: Launched in 2019, the Clermont Triathlon Club (CTC) is a 501(c)(3) with the mission to make multisport activities accessible and affordable for the Clermont, Florida, community so that individuals of all ages, abilities, and income levels can enhance personal health, elevate performance, and establish meaningful relationships. Thanks to community sponsors and our volunteer coaches, the Clermont Triathlon Club is able to offer a wide variety of activities at a very low cost. The club offers free memberships for ages 17 and younger, and adult memberships for $25 per year. The club has averaged between 250-280 members, with members ranging from toddlers to professionals!
Community they serve: Clermont is in Lake County, Florida, about 30 minutes west of Orlando, and is a favorite training destination for endurance athletes from all over the world — especially in the winter. Clermont has great bike trails, state parks and the nation's longest-running triathlon series, organized by local race production company Sommer Sports.
“We are excited to win this grant because we are going to use it to get local kids to the starting line of a quality multisport race! We know once they get to the starting line, they are going to have a great experience and it will be life-changing for some of them. Sadly, multisport events have become expensive and many kids and families simply cannot afford to do races. We will be using our funds to get at least 20 kids registered and ready for an event that our club produces: The Super Bowl Duathlon. Not only will we get them signed up for this fun race, but we will also help them prepare for it and we will also make sure they have the equipment they need to do it safely and successfully. Thank you USAT for partnering with CTC!” — Clermont Triathlon Club
About USA Triathlon Foundation
The USA Triathlon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the charitable arm of USA Triathlon. With its mission to transform lives through sport by providing opportunities to swim, bike and run, the Foundation serves to generate a greater impact on the multisport community through charitable giveback and grants that advance the Foundation’s three pillars: (1) Encourage youth participation; (2) Inspire pathways to access and inclusion; and (3) Ignite Olympic/Paralympic dreams. Since the Foundation was established in 2014, it has provided millions of dollars in grants to organizations and individuals in pursuit of its mission and pillars to create a healthier United States through triathlon.
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 3,500 events and races and connects with and supports more than 300,000 unique active members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
