U.S. Olympic Team Wristbands to raise funds for the U.S. Figure Skating Memorial Fund

A tragedy shook the figure skating world on Valentine's Day in 1961 when Flight 548, carrying the U.S. World Figure Skating Team to the World Championships in Prague, crashed near Brussels, Belgium. All aboard were lost. To this day, when you hear their friends speak of the tragedy, they are overtaken with tears. From this loss arose the U.S. Figure Skating Memorial Fund. This fund benefits all future figure skaters. Their mission is to provide qualified U.S. Figure Skating skaters in need of financial aid with monetary assistance to pursue their goals both inside and outside the competitive arena. The fund is committed to awarding skating and academic scholarships to those athletes who have demonstrated excellent competitive results and/or academic achievements and who have future potential in national and international competitions. This US Figure Skating Association plans to launch this fundraising program at the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships, in Los Angeles in May 2009. The plan is to reach down into the club levels and offer the Team Rings bracelets to their members. All over the country, there are young skaters who dream of reaching their goal and skating at the Olympics. Proceeds from the Team Ring bracelets will directly benefit their dreams as well as our future Figure Skating Olympians. Pending SMISC board approval the club will have these exciting bracelets available at our annual picnic. This is a great opportunity to support the St Moritz Club and USFS and all the programs they provide.