More Than Sport
noun - MORE Than Sport™ is an organization headquartered on the Big Island of Hawaii, founded by professional triathlete Chris Lieto, that aims to inspire others to help those the world forgets.
Contents
Objective
MORE Than Sport™ believes in the power of sport to Inspire, Transform, and Redeem a broken world. It is a global movement of professional athletes, corporations, charities, and everyday heroes who live for MORE than simply competing to win.
Means of Change
MORE Than Sport™ is a group of storytellers. They shares stories of incredible transformation and change for good in the world through sport - whether it's everyday athletes coming together to fund a mobile library in Thailand or installing water filtration systems in Vietnam, professional cyclists building homes in Mexico, pro surfers inspiring youth, or businesses funding cleft palate surgeries.
Partners
- Professional Athletes - these individuals are some of the best in their field athletically who posses an equally impressive dedication to utilizing their fame for more than just personal gain. MORE Than Sport™ provides these athletes with a global platform to share their heart and passion for positive change, raise money for causes they are dedicated to, and encourage their fans to join with them in doing and being MORE.
- Charities - MORE Than Sport™ partners with a select number of causes and charities. These are organizations who have a proven track-record of tackling issues head on, with passion, creativity, and efficiency and operate in a manner that MORE Than Sport™ is proud to represent, tell the story of, and encourage its fans, ambassadors, and partners to rally behind.
- Everyday Heroes - individuals who find a way to connect and join in a global movement that’s changing the face of sport for the better.
- Corporations - companies that actively encourage their employees to engage in improving the communities in which they work, live and play. They believe the legacy they leave behind will be greater because of it. Many of these great organizations have existing social responsibility programs that we are excited to be the platform for - and to share the incredible work they are doing with others.
Origins
Founder Chris Lieto explains, "It was the day before a big race in Mexico where I was staying in a beautiful all-inclusive resort. As I left my air conditioned room to bike along the coastline course something caught my eye. Only 5 miles from the resort I saw several young children perched in the trees. What I saw next changed my life. I peered in deeper and just beyond the tall shrubs lived a family in conditions not fit for any human being. It was an overwhelming contrast from the safe brick walls that form my home, their house was constructed of flimsy cardboard boxes and scraps of wood. My wheels kept spinning and between the trees I saw snapshots of extreme poverty. There was an entire village of people living on the land, with only the trees to protect them from the blazing hot sun.
As a husband and a father, my heart broke for these people. My mind immediately turned to the thousands back at the resort. Most people simply fly into this beautiful tourist town, spend lots of money, and never see the desperation outside the hotel gates. I realized that not only is this kind of poverty apparent in third world countries, it's happening in the very places we're competing. The grounds we race on belong to a people in need. Instead of ignoring the problem, why not use sport as a vehicle for change? I decided that very moment that I would find a way to bring hope and restoration to those in need and MORE Than Sport was born.''
Contact
Open Water Swimming Project
MORE Than Sport™ ambassador Meredith Novack is an American channel swimmer who will attempt a 220-mile (354 km) stage swim around the island of Oahu in August 2015 called the Swim Around Oahu. She expects to complete the tropical island circumnavigation in 3 weeks where she will swim 5 hours a day. Novack will raise money and awareness for SurfAid that aims to improve the health, wellbeing and self-reliance of people living in isolated regions by providing education in nutrition, hygiene, healthy environments and disease prevention.
