COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Members of the U.S. National Team in all three Olympic styles will personally thank supporters who are "ON THE LIST" for their contributions to the Living the Dream Medal Fund program next week.

The Living the Dream Thank-a-thon is scheduled for Tuesday, September 1. National Team members will make phone calls to all of the contributors to the program between the hours of 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Mountain time.

Athletes from Team USA in men's freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's freestyle will come together as a group for this cause. They make phone calls from the wrestling room at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, reaching out to those who have decided to "JOIN THE LIST."

All three U.S. World Teams will be in Colorado Springs next week, all completing their training and preparations for the 2009 World Wrestling Championships, set for Herning, Denmark, Sept. 21-27.

The Living the Dream Medal Fund was unveiled in late May, a new program to substantially increase the financial rewards for U.S. wrestlers who win Olympic and World medals during the next four-year Olympic cycle.

The Living the Dream Medal Fund has a simple approach. Any U.S. wrestler who wins a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England will receive a quarter-million dollars ($250,000).

Silver medalists in London will earn $50,000 and bronze medalists in London will receive $25,000. The payout for a World Championships medal in 2009, 2010 and 2011 will be $50,000 for a gold, $25,000 for a silver and $15,000 for a bronze.

The Fund will be maintained as a restricted and segregated fund by USA Wrestling. It will be overseen by a board that includes representatives of USA Wrestling as well as the group of stewards who have helped establish the Fund and will assist in financially underwriting it. In addition to the support of the stewards, funding will also come from a public fundraising program as well as from existing support from USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

There is still time for people to 'GET ON THE LIST" over the next few days and be able to participate in the Living the Dream Thank-a-thon by receiving a phone call from a U.S. national team athlete.

People have been asked to give donations from $5 to $5,000 to the fund. A website has been established where wrestling supporters can make donations to the project. 

To say "I'M ON THE LIST" and make an online donation, click here: 
https://www.usawmembership.com/MakeDonation.jsp?programId=501

Supporters can also send their contribution by mail. Checks should be made out to USA Wrestling, and sent to:
Living the Dream Medal Fund
c/o USA Wrestling
6155 Lehman Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80918

For the current list of Living the Dream Medal Fund donors, click here:
http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=3&page=showarticle&ArticleID=20465