Kimberly Vandenberg, Olympic bronze medalist, writer, swim teacher and motivational speaker, has been named an ambassador for Room to Read, a global non-profit focused on literacy and girls’ education. The announcement was made last night during a Room to Read benefit, with Vandenberg in attendance, held in Woodside, CA, by Dr. Geetha Murali, Room to Read CEO. Vandenberg has set a personal fundraising goal of $15,000 to support 50 girls to complete secondary school and develop key life skills through Room to Read’s Girls’ Education Program. Fans and supporters can donate to her campaign at https://give.roomtoread.org/kimberly. As a professional athlete, Vandenberg’s philanthropic commitment is aligned with Room to Read’s global movement called Active for Education, https://www.roomtoread.org/get-active, which encourages supporters around the world to activate their body and mind through personalized fundraising campaigns.
“As an advocate for women in sports, a mentor for young athletes, and a champion for children, Kimberly Vandenberg embodies many of Room to Read’s organizational values and we look forward to the impact that we will have together,” said Murali.
A bronze medalist in the 2008 Summer Olympics, Vandenberg specializes in both the butterfly and freestyle. She is the gold medalist from the 2011 Pan American Games in the 200m butterfly and the 4x200m freestyle relay, a silver medalist from the 2007 World Championships in the 200m butterfly and a three-time U.S. National Champion in the 200m butterfly and French Champion in the 100m butterfly. Vandenberg is an Ambassador for Up2Us Sports and Kids Play International, a contributing writer for the Women’s Sports Foundation, and a mentor for young athletes with Rise Athletes.
“My swimming career has taught me self-discipline, perseverance, goal-setting, teamwork, and so many other important life lessons that I have learned throughout my Olympic journey,” said Vandenberg. “Room to Read is equipping a generation of young women with these life skills so that they too can become champions in their own lives and their own communities.”
As a Room to Read ambassador, Vandenberg will participate in awareness raising activities, speaking engagements and media interviews to advocate for Room to Read’s programs in literacy and girls’ education which enable students to reach their full potential and contribute to society.