Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek each announce new charity initiatives
The two Wimbledon champions are supporting the efforts of the next generation.
Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, this year's Wimbledon champions, have each announced new charity initiatives in recent weeks, aimed at supporting the efforts of the next generation on and off their fields of play.
Through her eponymous charity foundation, launched in July, Swiatek aims to promote healthy lifestyles, social education and equal opportunities for young athletes. Its first initiative, announced in mid-September, is a scholarship program for standout Polish competitors.
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The pilot program is open to applicants aged 15 to 22 who compete in Olympic sports and can represent Poland abroad. Up to five recipients will be selected to receive guidance from Swiatek's own team, and nearly half a million Polish zloty (about $140,000) in funding to "pursue their passions and consciously build healthy, sustainable careers."
“This project means a lot to me because it combines my experience as an athlete with the chance to genuinely support young talent,” Swiatek went on to write on her official website.
“Tennis has made me recognizable, and with that I’ve gained the ability to influence issues that really matter to me. I want to use this opportunity to help make the world a better place—sometimes on a small scale, sometimes on a larger one. I can’t help everyone who needs support, but I’ll do everything I can, on and off the court, to make things at least a little better."
Meanwhile, Sinner's namesake foundation officially launched last Thursday with an event in Milan that was attended by 100 people. The Jannik Sinner Foundation will collaborate with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the world’s largest fund dedicated to improving educational opportunities in lower-income countries, as well as Südtirol Sporthilfe, a non-profit that supports young athletes through funding, mentorship and development.
“I’ve been lucky to pursue my passion through tennis, but I know millions of children never get the chance to follow their dreams because they don’t have access to school,” Sinner said in event remarks. “Standing here tonight, I see the project is finally alive, and we are ready to help children realize their dreams.”