A generous donation of $8 million dollars from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation will enhance the quality of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and allow 200 underprivileged Utah children to experience the Opening or Closing Ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Mitt Romney, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games of 2002, announced the gift.

The Eccles Foundation funds will go towards a number of areas, including the 2002 Olympic Winter Games Opening or Closing Ceremonies, the Olympic Cauldron at Rice-Eccles Stadium and the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games. In addition, the Eccles Foundation Gold Medalist Program will give 200 children, aged 10-18, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the Opening or Closing Ceremonies.

“Thanks to the generosity of the Eccles Foundation, 200 boys and girls will have the extraordinary opportunity of watching the Opening or Closing Ceremonies and, possibly, seeing their dreams come true,” said Romney. “The donation will also transform the artistic beauty of the Ceremonies and the Olympic Cauldron from great to superb.”

Spencer F. Eccles, president of the Eccles Foundation, said “Just like Olympic athletes, we have only one chance to ‘win’ in staging these Games. When people from around the world focus on Utah in February and March of 2002, it’s vital that what they see and experience is absolutely first rate in every aspect. We’ve never before had such potential to make a lasting, positive impact on Utah,” Eccles said.

“We’re especially excited to recognize and reward some of the wonderful young people in our state who are great role models and who succeed despite tough challenges in their lives,” said Lisa Eccles, executive director of the Eccles Foundation. “We have invited some of the state’s leading non-profit organizations with whom we’ve worked closely through the years to help us identify and select outstanding boys and girls to receive this honor,” Ms. Eccles added. “These kids are ‘Gold Medalists’ in their own right, without a doubt.”

Jim Jensen, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake, one of the participating youth organizations in the Eccles Foundation Gold Medalist Program, said the children will remember the experience forever. “It will give them such a sense of pride in themselves and their community, and will allow them to be involved with the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in a way they never thought possible,” Jensen said.