PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES

Elite Athlete Program (EAP)

THE PROGRAM

The Elite Athlete Program (EAP) is an initiative of the National Kidney Foundation designed to provide an opportunity for extraordinary transplant athletes to earn direct financial assistance to compete in the World Transplant Games and represent the United States on the world stage as the best in transplant athletics. The EAP will also raise the standard of health and fitness in all transplant recipients, promote organ and tissue donation awareness, and elevate the National Kidney Foundation's visibility in the media and in the transplant community, both locally and nationally.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

  • To increase public awareness of the success of transplantation and the National Kidney Foundation's support of the donation of all organs detail
  • To help Team USA improve performance and excel at the World Transplant Games through the recruitment of elite transplant athletes at the U.S. Transplant Games
  • To identify exceptional transplant athletes during U.S. Transplant Games competition, and provide financial assistance to those athletes to compete in the World Transplant Games
  • To stimulate media interest for sports, health, human interest and other stories year-round leading up to the U.S. and World Transplant Games
  • To enhance the performance, fitness, health, and quality of life of transplant recipients/athletes

 

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Transplant recipients who are part of the National Kidney Foundation’s Elite Athlete Program (EAP) will be guaranteed a position on Team USA. EAP athletes include the Jerry Cound Outstanding Male and Female athletes from the U.S. Transplant Games immediately preceding the current World Transplant Games.

2005 Elite Athletes

National: Padraic McCole, Melissa Choi Salvador

 

Local:

Team Connecticut: Matthew Criscuolo, Patsy Twohill

 

Team Maine: Mark Dewever, Martha Black

 

Team MA/RI/NH/VT: Chris Chiarello

 

Team Philadelphia: Albert Gutierrez, Richard Hicks, Suzanne Ahmie

 

Team Western New York: Cheryl Chambers

 

Team Upper Midwest: Chad Gerber, Marisa Mcfate

 

Team MO-Kan: Chris Paxton, Cheryl Jones

 

Team Illinois: Jeff Schiff, Janice Gill

 

Team Liberty: Rita Solimene, Michael DiPiano

 

Team St. Louis: DJ Lampert, Amy Holdorf

2003 Elite Athletes

National: Tom Glennon, Juanna Boyland

Contact your Team Manager for additional information on your local Elite Athlete Program.

 

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