November 10, 2008 (Colorado Spring, CO) – For gold-medal hopefuls like the 2008 U.S. Weightlifting Team’s Carissa Gump, who competed in Beijing this summer, the road to international athletic competition is paved with financial obstacles. While costs are hard to compete with, non-profit organization America for Gold (AFG) wants to take the weight off athletes’ shoulders through need-based grants.

Depending on the sport, a Summer or Winter Games athlete’s costs can range from $12,000 to $120,000 annually for equipment, travel, coaching, nutrition, event fees and transportation. Training at such a level makes it hard for athletes to even hold a part-time job, but Carissa Gump, who began weightlifting at age 12, manages this delicate balance. A student studying business administration at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, she works two jobs and dedicates nearly every spare moment to training.

“You must have excellent time management,” said Gump, an AFG supporter and spokesperson. “Education is very important to me, so I find a way to fit it in with training and working. It has taken me three and a half years to get a two-year degree, because I have so many other responsibilities, but it’s all worth it.”

Founder and Executive Director of America for Gold, Kevin Montford was a member of the U.S. Modern Pentathlon National Team, and he witnessed many athletes encounter financial roadblocks after years of training. Now that his athletic career has come full-circle, he has turned his passion for sports into supporting America’s athletes and helping these role models fulfill their dreams.

“If I want Americans to be aware of anything, it’s that these athletes have trained their entire lives, and most don’t have the means necessary to make it to the Games they’ve been training so hard for,” said Montford. “These athletes don’t stop training once the Games are complete; they are training 365 days a year.”

With summer drawn to a close, Gump now enjoys making appearances and sharing stories and experiences from Beijing, but she is already preparing for the 2012 London Games. Along with Montford, she takes every opportunity to share AFG’s mission with other athletes and potential supporters, adding that success is not achieved alone. She says she is fortunate to have had the support of her husband, family, training group and sponsors, adding that, “the financial support from America for Gold can help take worries out of the long journey to the Games.”

To support AFG, one-time or monthly contributions are accepted. Donations can be made online, by phone at (877) 477-4488 or by U.S. mail. To learn more about America for Gold or the many ways to help, please visit AmericaForGold.org .