Goodwill Games' Mission

What:
The 1998 Goodwill Games have re-defined “goodwill” to mean benefiting children. To achieve this mission, the Goodwill Games are working with several domestic and international charities as well as sponsoring other children’s initiatives.

Charities:
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America is the Games’ domestic charity, and UNICEF International is the Games’ international charity.

Initiatives:
The Goodwill Games support several programs that reflect their new mission.

The SuperChallenge
TBS Superstation and the 1998 Goodwill Games have joined forces to help the Boys & Girls Clubs of America assist children in need with the SuperChallenge, a fund-matching program designed to generate one million hours of volunteer time and $1 million for the nation's number one youth organization. Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee is the spokesperson for the Challenge, which is also expected to raise $1 million for local Boys & Girls Clubs. Through the SuperChallenge, participants are encouraged to call 1-800-854-CLUB to lend their support to their local Boys & Girls Clubs by either pledging volunteer hours and/or pledging money. For each hour generated, the Goodwill Games will donate one dollar to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, up to $1 million.

Junior Goodwill Games
The Goodwill Games have introduced a new program, the Junior Goodwill Games. The program is open to all youngsters ages 8-13 and features competition in three Goodwill Games sports: track and field, swimming, and basketball. The Junior Goodwill Games begin on May 15 and are structured for children to advance through local and sectional competitions. Sectional winners will advance to the national competition, held as part of the 1998 Goodwill Games. Olympic gold medalist Dan O’Brien is the official spokesperson for the Junior Goodwill Games. Olympic Champion Jenny Thompson is the spokesperson for the swimming portion of the program and Steve Smith, guard for the Atlanta Hawks, is the spokesperson for basketball. Each of these athletes will be presenting the awards at the Junior Goodwill Games finals in New York.